New State Bill Targets Harvard’s Policy That Gives Legacy Students a Leg Up

The collected funds would then be directed towards supporting financially challenged community colleges.

This move follows recent scrutiny on university admission policies, including the US Supreme Court’s decision against race-based affirmative action.

The proposed legislation employs a formula based on endowment value per student, establishing fees through a sliding scale. Harvard, with a $50.1 billion endowment, would face the largest fee, contributing to a trust fund for community colleges. The bill faces opposition from a private college association within the state.

He argues that maintaining admissions policies favoring wealthier applicants conflicts with defending race-conscious affirmative action meant to assist historically disadvantaged minorities. Harvard has faced criticism from minority groups, accusing the university of providing preferential treatment to alumni and wealthy donors’ children.

Prior attempts to enact such proposals in Massachusetts (2018) and Connecticut (2016) failed. The federal government imposed a tax on private universities with endowments exceeding $500,000 per student in 2017. The tax, affecting institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, has faced lobbying efforts for its removal.

The complaint alleges that nearly 70% of legacy applicants to Harvard are white, putting forward a 31-page argument that emphasizes the significant disadvantage faced by applicants of color due to legacy admissions.

On Wednesday, Representative Jamaal Bowman urged Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., a presidential candidate who has expressed support for ending legacy admissions, to endorse the bill. Despite the momentum, the legislation is still seeking bipartisan backing.

He suggested that Harvard should do away with any legacy programs that provide preferential treatment to students in the admission process. Emphasizing a commitment to a merit-based approach, he urged the adoption of admissions criteria solely based on academic scores.

While Amherst has eliminated legacy admissions, it employs early decision policies, contributing to wealthier students’ advantage. 

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, exempt from the proposed fees, avoids using binding early decision policies or legacy preferences.

Opponents argue that banning early admissions could disadvantage Massachusetts colleges, potentially prompting students to leave the state. They emphasize that legislative policies should focus on affordability and access to retain students and maintain the state’s leading position in higher education.

By targeting legacy admissions and endowments, lawmakers aim to address perceived inequalities in the system. The bill’s progression and potential impact on college policies underscore the ongoing efforts to reshape admissions criteria and promote fairness in higher education.