By Edwin J. Viera, New York News Connection
New York colleges and universities are seeing the effects of the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action.
New data from Education Reform Now show schools such as Columbia and Cornell Universities saw Black student admissions decline. However, national admissions data has been mixed, as some schools have seen more Black and minority students admitted.
Wil Del Pilar, senior vice president of the Education Trust, said schools need to re-evaluate what they value in admissions.
“Institutions need to really alter what they value most in admissions,” Del Pilar emphasized. “Then think about, like, what are the necessary attributes of successful students, not what are the attributes that we value in admissions that overwhelmingly tend to prioritize wealthier white students.”
He noted some schools are masking or underreporting their admissions data by providing a percentage of minority students without breaking it down by race and ethnicity. Before the Supreme Court’s decision, nine states banned affirmative action in college admissions. Many studies show those states saw an increase in racial disparities in admissions and fewer minority students enrolling.
Since affirmative action ended, higher-education advocates want schools and states to end legacy admissions. Four states have banned legacy admissions with states such as New York introducing legislation to do the same.
Del Pilar argued despite ad hoc measures to end legacy admissions, it is not going away so quickly.
“When you have established power, you’re not going to release it that easily,” Del Pilar observed. “Those who have the opportunity to enroll at these institutions are going to try and maintain those policies.”
He added such practices might help schools keep in touch with wealthier families who might be donors. If schools are going to end or re-evaluate legacy admissions, Del Pilar feels it is worth looking at athletic preferences. He cited the “Varsity Blues” admissions scandal, where athletic recruiting was used as a way to get wealthy students into elite schools.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here.
