Wesleyan University in Connecticut has officially discontinued its legacy admissions policy, joining a growing number of institutions abandoning preferential treatment for applicants with family ties. President Michael Roth communicated this decision in a letter to the university community, emphasizing that while multi-generational connections are still valued, legacy status will no longer factor into admissions decisions.
Roth clarified that family connections have played a minimal role in admissions for some time, and the new policy simply formalizes this practice. He underscored that applicants will be evaluated solely on their merits, regardless of family history with the university.
This move comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions, a ruling that has prompted institutions to explore alternative pathways to cultivate diverse student populations. Several other universities, including Amherst College, Carnegie Melon University, and Johns Hopkins University, have already eliminated legacy admissions.
A recent civil rights complaint filed against Harvard University further highlights the scrutiny surrounding legacy admissions. The complaint, filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights on behalf of Black and Latino community groups, alleges that legacy applicants have a significantly higher acceptance rate and disproportionately benefit white students. The group has called on Harvard to follow Wesleyan's lead and abolish legacy preferences.
Beyond ending legacy admissions, President Roth outlined Wesleyan's commitment to fostering diversity through various initiatives. These include establishing scholarships for students from Africa, improving pathways for veterans to apply, strengthening community college recruitment, and ensuring the continuation of the university's degree program for incarcerated individuals.
Roth reiterated that Wesleyan's admissions process considers a wide range of factors, including academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, and personal circumstances, to assess an applicant's potential to thrive at the university.
