Fair College Admissions Act Proposes Ban on Legacy and Donor Preferences

The Fair College Admissions for Students Act aims to change a long-standing practice in higher education. Put simply, this bill would prohibit colleges and universities from giving preferential treatment in their admissions decisions to applicants simply because they have family ties to alumni or donors. The core idea is to make the application process more about the student's own merits and less about their connections.

What's Changing on Campus?

If enacted, Section 2 of the bill mandates a significant shift: no more bonus points for being a 'legacy' (related to an alum) or having family who's donated significantly to the institution. Imagine two students with similar academic records and extracurriculars applying to the same competitive university. Right now, if one student's parent is a major donor or attended the school and the other's isn't, the connected student might get an edge. This bill seeks to eliminate that specific advantage, theoretically leveling the playing field for applicants based more purely on their qualifications, experiences, and potential.

The Rollout Timeline

This change wouldn't happen overnight. The bill specifies that the ban takes effect starting on the first day of the second full academic award year after the law is enacted. This means institutions would have at least one full admissions cycle, possibly closer to two years, to adjust their policies and processes before the rule kicks in. It gives schools time to revamp their evaluation criteria and train admissions staff on the new standard, ensuring compliance when the ban becomes active.