John, we have some exciting news to share:
Jamaal — in partnership with Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon — has introduced the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, a bill that will reform the legacy and donor admissions practices at universities across the country and ensure equity in the admissions process.
The bill was written with the fundamental belief that all students deserve an equitable opportunity to gain admissions to institutions of higher education, no matter their family background or socioeconomic status. Even today, many highly selective institutions of higher education give preferential treatment to applicants with legacy status — meaning a relative attended the university, or whose families have donated to the university.
To give you an idea of how legacy admissions can impact students, some estimates indicate that applying as a legacy student can double to quadruple one's chances of getting into a highly selective university.
In using legacy and donor status in admissions decisions, institutions give preference to students whose families attended or donated to the university. This is all while excluding the descendants of enslaved African Americans who built and maintained many of these institutions.
We must work towards building a future in which the unlimited potential of our communities are untapped, historical policy harm is addressed, and opportunities for economic, educational, and social advancement are within reach.
We have to ensure our policies reflect equity and inclusion — including at our institutions of higher education.
Exclusionary policies must end, and Jamaal is leading the way in the House of Representatives to call for prohibiting these unfair and inequitable practices. The Fair College Admissions for Students Act helps students of all backgrounds receive equitable and fair consideration during the admissions process, and helps us manifest a future in which every student — regardless of who they are or where they come from — has a fair shot.
Please add your name to our petition to support the Fair College Admissions for Students Act today.
Thank you,
Team Bowman
