California Legislature Passes Bill Banning ‘Legacy Admissions’ at Private Colleges
California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to make a decision on a new bill that would ban private colleges in the state from admitting applicants based on their relationships with alumni. The bill, passed unanimously by the California State Assembly and approved by the Senate, now awaits the governor’s signature.
Authored by Assemblymember Philip Ting, the bill was introduced in response to last summer’s US Supreme Court ruling that prohibits race-based considerations in college admissions.
“If race can’t be a factor, Ting and other supporters believe wealth or relationships shouldn’t be considered either,” Ting’s office explained in a press release.
“Equal opportunity is the name of the game here. Everyone should be considered fairly,” Ting stated. “Hard work, good grades, and a well-rounded background should earn you a spot in the incoming class – not the size of the check your family can write or who you’re related to. If we value diversity in higher education, we must level the playing field. That means making the college application process more fair and equitable.”
The practice of “legacy admissions”—where colleges favor applicants related to alumni—has already been banned in four other states. Illinois recently enacted a ban on legacy admissions for public colleges and universities, while Maryland became the only state to ban the practice in both private and public institutions, according to Fox News.
A similar bill, the “Fair College Admissions for Students Act,” was introduced in Congress last year, aiming to ban legacy admissions nationwide. Although it has not made significant progress, at the time there appeared to be potential for bipartisan support.
If Governor Newsom signs the bill into law, California would join other states in banning legacy preferences, which would dramatically reshape the admissions process at private colleges across the state.
