Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action, New York colleges are under pressure to end legacy admissions, a practice critics argue favors the wealthy. The practice faces legal challenges and potential state legislation, while some institutions maintain that legacy status does not impact admissions.
In the wake of last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in higher education, New York’s colleges face mounting pressure to reevaluate their practice of legacy admissions, which prioritizes the offspring of alumni.
Critics liken legacy admissions to “affirmative action for the white and wealthy,” arguing that it favors students from affluent backgrounds familiar with the college application process. According to data from Education Reform Now, over 70 percent of private colleges and around a third of public schools in New York factor an applicant’s alumni connections into admissions decisions.
Jacquelyn Martell, executive director of Education Reform Now’s New York chapter, challenged the American meritocratic ideal, citing significant economic, housing, and educational disparities in New York State.
Defenders of legacy admissions uphold it as a means of fostering intergenerational ties between families and their schools, securing donations, and potentially funding scholarships for diversifying student bodies.
However, the future of legacy admissions was threatened last year by a proposed statewide bill seeking to abolish the practice. The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities initially branded the legislation as an “unreasonable intrusion,” though the organization has since withdrawn its opposition.
“Lola Brabham, president of the CICU, acknowledged the perception that legacy admissions primarily expand privilege rather than opportunity, declaring the Independent Sector would not oppose a ban on legacy preferences in admissions.
The practice also faces a federal lawsuit. A Boston firm charged Harvard University with violating education civil rights laws by prioritizing applicants with alumni ties. This action followed closely on the heels of the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision against considering race in college admissions, a ruling that impacts New York among other states.
Legacy admissions policy drew attention at Cornell University in 2018, with a student-led petition calling for its discontinuation. Despite similar efforts by the Student Assembly in subsequent years, no changes have been made. Roughly 17 percent of Cornell’s Class of 2021 were related to alumni.
In contrast, New York University and Sarah Lawrence College maintain that legacy status does not impact their admission decisions, and their respective legacy student percentages are below two percent. The recent Supreme Court decision prompted Sarah Lawrence to introduce a new essay prompt inquiring about potential impacts on applicants’ college goals due to the end of affirmative action.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), a co-sponsor of the proposed legislation against legacy admissions, remains hopeful. The proposed bill would impose penalties on non-compliant colleges, with the collected funds aiding low-income students through the state’s Tuition Assistance Program.
In the words of Sen. Gounardes, the current climate presents “exactly the right thing to be doing at this moment in time.”
