App Requires Race ~Illegal?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I am writing because a college graduate application I am working on is requiring me to state my race and ethnicity. I would like to know if this is legal?</p>

<p>I have read other topics in the forum related to this matter but none specifically state if it is illegal to <em>require</em> students fill out that field. On the application, it is marked with an asterisk* and when I hit submit it keeps taking me back to that page.</p>

<p>So I can’t apply without filling that part out!</p>

<p>I called the university (located in New York State) and they said: "That information is needed by the college so it is a requirement of the application…it’s just the record keeping…it is the college policy and that information is required.” Upon my questioning the reason for this policy she confirmed, “It’s just part of our application process” </p>

<p>All the other applications I have done leave the selection is voluntary or a choice of Choose not to answer.</p>

<p>I have never encountered an application that REQUIRES you to answer the race/ethnicity question. I was under the impression that legally students have the right to self-identify or not. However, I have had a hard time finding a specific law or statute aside from peoples opinions. Any help is very much appreciated!</p>

2

<p>I thought it was prohibited to require it. Most applications that ask for it make it an optional question. For most people it isn’t a problem, but if you feel uncomfortable, I would definitely call the university again and see what is possible.</p>

3

<p>The feds require that colleges ask – so the feds can run their anti-discrimination tests.</p>

<p>However it was my understanding that federal law makes it a voluntary disclosure.</p>

4

<p>Can you put in an answer that is not an answer? “Other” “prefer not to answer” to get the application to be accepted by the computer?</p>

5

<p>Not sure if that’s legal but like everyone else is saying…everytime I encounter that stuff it’s optional.</p>

6

<p>The options you can select have a drop down bar and “other or choose not to answer” are not options. You have to select an option or the application won’t go through.</p>

<p>The drop down options are the following:</p>

<p>[[[Race]]]<br>
American Indian or Alaska Native<br>
Asian<br>
Black or African American
Hispanic
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White</p>

<p>[[[Ethnicity]]]
Hispanic or Latino
Non Hispanic or Latino</p>

<p>@bluebayou: I also thought it was voluntary to self identify or not.</p>

<p>Like the rest of you, all my applications (except this one) have had this aspect as voluntary.</p>

<p>This school does not have this option, if you do not select one of the above choices your application will not go through… Ive already contacted the university and they have said it is required.</p>

7

<p>Hmmm, I don’t remember this being optional on any of my apps.</p>

8

<p>I am sure they will figure it out when you show up and they see you.</p>

9

<p>That’s usually after you’re accepted…</p>