Virginia is on the verge of banning legacy college admissions with just one signature from Youngkin
The Virginia General Assembly Takes Action to End Legacy Admissions
The Virginia General Assembly has passed groundbreaking legislation that aims to level the playing field for college admissions. The bill, which is now awaiting Governor Glenn Youngkin’s signature, would prohibit admissions offices from granting special treatment to children of alumni and donors when they apply to the state’s public universities.
Sponsored by Democratic state Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, the bill received overwhelming support in both the state Senate and House. VanValkenburg explained that the discussion around admission factors gained momentum after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023, which declared that considering race in admissions decisions is not permissible.
“I think what folks realized — including myself — was how big [of] a piece legacy admission was to this process,” VanValkenburg said. ”And I think a lot of people realized how wrong that was.”
Some Virginia universities have already taken steps to reduce the influence of alumni and donors in admissions. For instance, Virginia Tech announced in August that it would no longer give preferential treatment to children of alumni and discontinued the early decision option for applicants.
A recent report by Education Reform Now revealed that most Virginia public universities provided some form of preferential treatment to legacy students during the study period. The University of Virginia, for example, allowed consideration of legacy status through an optional essay question. However, the university emphasized that no part of the application was ranked or weighted based on legacy status.
While Colorado is currently the only state to have passed legislation ending legacy preferential consideration, other states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York are also considering similar measures.
“If there’s special privilege… that shouldn’t afford someone a cut in line because of the family’s donor status, or legacy status if your parents went there,” said Democratic state Senator Jeremy McPike, who has also sponsored legislation similar to VanValkenburg’s and Helmer’s.
Democratic state Delegate Dan Helmer, who sponsored companion legislation in the state House, added, “The reality is that in too many colleges across America, we use legacy admissions in order to give folks a leg up not because of what they’ve done, but because of who their parents are.”
What message does the legislation send about promoting equality and social mobility in higher education
Hat the goal of the legislation is to promote equity in the higher education system and ensure that admissions decisions are based solely on merit.
Legacy admissions, also known as “affirmative action for the privileged,” have long been a controversial practice in college admissions. Under this system, children of alumni or donors are given preferential treatment in the admissions process, often at the expense of more qualified applicants. This perpetuates inequality and social stratification, as it allows a select group of individuals to enjoy advantages based solely on their family background or financial contributions.
While some argue that legacy admissions help foster a sense of tradition and loyalty within institutions, critics argue that it is a form of unfair privilege that undermines the principles of meritocracy and equal opportunity.
The new legislation in Virginia takes an important step towards rectifying this issue. By prohibiting the granting of special treatment to legacy applicants, it ensures that all applicants are evaluated on their individual merits, rather than their familial connections. This move will promote a fair and level playing field for all students applying to the state’s public universities.
Furthermore, the legislation sends a strong message that Virginia is committed to promoting equality and social mobility in higher education. By dismantling the practice of legacy admissions, the state is taking a stand against the perpetuation of privilege and inequality. It recognizes that access to higher education should be based on talent, potential, and hard work, rather than birthright or financial contributions.
The decision to end legacy admissions in Virginia reflects broader societal trends. In recent years, universities across the United States, including prestigious Ivy League institutions, have reevaluated their admissions policies and moved away from legacy preferences. This reflects a growing recognition that the practice perpetuates inequality and runs counter to the ideals of fairness and equal opportunity.
While some may argue that ending legacy admissions will harm fundraising efforts for universities, it is important to prioritize fairness and equal opportunity in higher education. Institutions must find alternative ways to engage with their alumni and donors that do not perpetuate privilege or undermine the principles of meritocracy.
The passing of this legislation in the Virginia General Assembly marks an important milestone in the fight for equity in college admissions. It sets a precedent for other states to follow and sends a powerful message about the importance of a level playing field in higher education.
If Governor Glenn Youngkin signs the bill into law, it will be a significant victory for fairness and equal opportunity. It will help create a more just and inclusive higher education system, where every student has an equal chance to succeed and thrive based on their abilities and achievements, rather than their family connections. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards realizing the ideals of fairness and meritocracy, and it is a testament to the power of legislative action in addressing systemic inequalities.
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