Banning Legacy Admissions Now to Ensure a More Inclusive Future

By Biena Depeña As a first-generation college student and the first in my family to obtain a college degree and graduate degree, I had no idea how competitive the college process would actually be. As an immigrant, I was even more clueless about the behind-the-scenes deals many affluent parents orchestrate to ensure their privileged children

The Fair College Admissions Act: Selective Private Institution Impact Data

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker introduced the Fair College Admissions Act on March 9, 2022. It seeks to eliminate use of the legacy preference and binding early decision in admissions at public and private New York colleges and universities. The sponsors argue both policies undermine diversity and opportunity in and

NY Legislators Take Aim at College Admissions Reform

By Michael Dannenberg & James Murphy Spurred by the work of Education Reform Now, a group of New York State legislators is proposing to push public and private colleges to end the legacy preference and binding early admission policies that disproportionately harm racial minority, working class, low-income, and first generation students. Below is our summary

ERN Applauds Fair College Admissions for Students Act

ERN Applauds Fair College Admissions for Students Act “It’s long past time for the legacy preference to be sent to the dustbin of history “ WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 2, 2022) — Education Reform Now Vice President of Higher Education and Strategic Initiatives Michael Dannenberg, who led the last major federal effort to ban the legacy preference

20+ Education & Civil Rights Orgs Urge Colleges to End Legacy Preference in Admission

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 15, 2021) —In a letter released today, Education Reform Now and 21 education and civil rights organizations and thought-leaders call on college presidents and boards of trustees to end the unfair and discriminatory legacy preference practice in their respective institution’s admissions practices. The “legacy preference” provides an advantage in the college admissions process for prospective

It’s Pelloween! America’s Most Horrifying Colleges When It Comes to Access for Low-Income Students

America’s Most Horrifying Colleges When It Comes to Access for Low-Income Students By James Murphy Halloween is right around the corner, so in the spirit of the season we wanted to highlight something really scary. Forget ghosts and goblins. If you want to see something really frightening, look at the share of freshmen with Pell

ERN Partners with EdMobilizer to End Legacy Admissions in Higher Ed

ERN Partners with EdMobilizer to End Legacy Admissions in Higher Ed #LeaveYourLegacy campaign launches national boycott of alumni donations WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 5, 2021)—Education Reform Now is pleased to announce its partnership with EdMobilizer on a “Leave Your Legacy” campaign that calls on college students and alumni to pledge to withhold donations until their schools

ERN Releases 4 Recommended Congressional Actions on College Completion Fund

ERN Releases 4 Recommended Congressional Actions on College Completion Fund Report details opportunities to address higher ed retention & completion   WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 8) — As Congress takes up the Reconciliation Bill, a new report released today by Education Reform Now (ERN) details four recommendations for how existing proposals for a federal college completion

Congressional Action on the Biden College Completion Fund

By James Murphy The Biden administration and Democrats in Congress are proposing a paradigm shift in how the federal government supports Americans pursuing postsecondary degrees. In the past, federal support for students was aimed at increasing college access and affordability through individualized student grants and loans. The federal government did little, however, to address the

The Higher Ed Reconciliation Challenge

By Michael Dannenberg Didn’t get a chance to read our latest report on Virginia’s “separate and unequal” public higher education system? Here’s a handy PowerPoint summary of that report that focuses on the unequal portion. A summary of our first report that focuses on Virginia’s de facto segregated higher ed system can be read here. After viewing