Hildreth Institute Testifies in Support of Equity in Higher Education Admissions

Dear Honorable Chairs and Members of the Joint Higher Education Committee,

I am writing today to express my strong support for the bills aimed at advancing equity in higher education admissions: H.1282/S.821 An Act banning legacy preferences in higher education and H.3760 An Act to advance fairness, integrity, and excellence in higher education admissions. These bills address practices that perpetuate inequities in access and success, particularly for underrepresented student populations. Given the likely decision by the Supreme Court to ban affirmative action, it is imperative that we prioritize ending practices that decrease equity in admissions and refrain from giving preferential treatment to privileged students while closing opportunities for others.

Research consistently demonstrates the detrimental impact of legacy admissions on equity in higher education. Legacy preferences, which grant admission advantages to applicants with family members who attended the institution, perpetuate intergenerational advantages and reinforce socioeconomic and racial disparities. Studies by Hoxby and Avery (2013) and Espenshade and Chung (2010) have shown that legacy preferences disproportionately benefit affluent and white students while limiting opportunities for underrepresented minority and low-income students. These findings underscore the urgent need to eliminate legacy admissions, creating a more level playing field and promoting equal access to higher education.

Furthermore, considering familial relationships to graduates in admissions decisions undermines meritocracy and perpetuates privilege. Castilla and Poskanzer’s (2022) research indicates that applicants with family connections to an institution often receive preferential treatment, even when their qualifications do not match those of other applicants (Kahlenberg, 2010). Additionally, a well-regarded Harvard study conducted by Michael Hurwitz (2009) revealed that legacies enjoy a significant advantage in admit rates compared to equally qualified applicants. Studies quantified the legacy preference boost as equivalent to adding 160 points to the SAT score of relevant applicants. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen has shown that legacy students have lower SAT scores than the institutional mean and tend to earn lower grades once in college compared to their counterparts. To ensure fair evaluation based on individual merits and accomplishments, it is crucial to remove the disclosure of college attendance by relatives from admissions documents.

I would also like to bring your attention to the Federal level bill, the Fair College Admissions for Student Act, which Senator Merkley and Representative Bowman are preparing to reintroduce this year. This bill prohibits the use of legacy and donor preference in higher education admissions for Title IV-participating institutions while allowing the Department of Education to waive the legacy preference prohibition for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) if it is in the best interest of underrepresented students. Incorporating similar language into Massachusetts's regulations could be envisioned to further ensure greater equity.

In addition, H. 3760, An Act to advance fairness, integrity, and excellence in higher education admissions, seeks to end another unfair admission practice: early decision plans. Early decision plans require students to commit to attending an institution before comparing financial aid offers, disadvantaging low-income and first-generation students who rely heavily on financial aid packages to make informed decisions about their college choices. Research has shown that early decision plans tend to benefit students from privileged backgrounds, as they have more financial resources and may not require as much financial aid (Giancola & Kahlenberg, 2016). Eliminating or reforming early decision policies would promote greater equity in the college admissions process and ensure that students have the opportunity to consider financial aid options before making binding commitments.

As we anticipate the potential loss of affirmative action, it is crucial that we take proactive measures to address the resulting challenges and ensure equitable access to higher education. By eliminating legacy admissions, considering familial relationships, and reforming early decision practices, we can make significant strides towards a fairer and more inclusive admissions process.

I urge the Joint Higher Education Committee to support and advance these bills, as they align with the urgent need to prioritize fairness and equity in higher education admissions. By enacting these reforms, we can create a more just and accessible higher education system that provides equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their background or family connections.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I am available to provide any further information or answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Bahar Akman Imbdoen

References:

Castilla, E and Poskanzer, E, (2022), Through the Front Door: Why Do Organizations (Still) Prefer Legacy Applicants?American Sociological Review, 87(5), 782–826.

Espenshade, T. J., & Chung, C. Y. (2010). The opportunity cost of admission preferences at elite universities. Social Science Quarterly, 91(1), 295-305.

Giancola, J, Kahlenberg, R, (2016), True Merit, Ensuring Our Brightest Students Have Access to Our Best Colleges and Universities, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

Hoxby, C. M., & Avery, C. (2013). The missing "one-offs": The hidden supply of high-achieving, low-income students. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 2013(1), 1-65.

Hurwitz, M. (2009). The impact of legacy status on undergraduate admissions at elite

colleges and universities, The Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Kahlenberg, R., (2010) The Legacy Racket: The Problem With College Admission Preferences for Children of Alumni, The Century Foundation, Issue Brief.