Equity in College Admissions

Dave_Berry
Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:22:36 +0000

"The Wall Street Journal calls the University of California System’s recent decision to eliminate the SAT and ACT in admissions ‘a historic blow to excellence in higher education,’ and declares that the regents have ‘put racial politics above merit.’

The reader comments are even harsher. ‘What next?’ writes one reader. ‘Will Olympic time trials be replaced by coaches’ recommendations, essays, and interviews?’
Now that most highly selective schools have abandoned the SAT and ACT, at least temporarily, we need to ask: How can they admit students fairly – and withstand legal scrutiny – in the absence of a standardized test.

A recent article in EdSurge, and co-published with Slate, reports that the technology sector is offering institutions admissions algorithms that will help them predict college success – and avoid discrimination lawsuits.

Even before the shift away from college entrance exams, colleges and universities had already embraced data-driven enrollment management and financial aid allocation, a subject explored by Cathy O’Neil in her influential study of Weapons of Math Destruction. Algorithms offered a seemingly objective and scientific way to balance competing institutional interests: In maximizing tuition revenue, and ensuring ethnic, racial, and socio-economic diversity and gender balance, while sustaining or raising the institution’s U.S. News and World rankings." …