A new study conducted at Harvard University's School of Education found that legacy applicants enjoy a far greater admissions advantage than previously realized, The New York Times reported on Saturday. Although admissions officers have historically underplayed the significance of legacy status, the study carried out by doctoral student Michael Hurwitz determined that students applying to their parents' alma maters were seven times more likely to receive admission than non-legacy applicants. Education researchers predict that legacy preferences at public universities may soon be challenged as unconstitutional, on the basis of the 14th amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, The Times reported. Although Hurwitz was allowed access to the data on the condition that he not reveal the names of the colleges studied, tables showing the endowment numbers, SAT scores and high level of selectivity indicate that the colleges consist of the Ivy League institutions and twenty-two other private research universities and liberal arts colleges, according to The Times.
A $750,000 matching grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation helped fund a new program instituted by the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges'to allow students to access course materials online rather than purchase expensive textbooks each year, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Because the state pays for most textbooks bought by aid-receiving community college students, the state legislature expressed hope that the decision will save the state money in coming years. Under the new program, textbooks and other course materials for the 81 most highly enrolled courses in the state's 34 two-year colleges are now available online. The Board has capped the cost of each course's materials at $30, though many professors have found it difficult to maintain this cap, according to The Chronicle.
The annual President's Institute of the Council of Independent Colleges discussed changes in colleges' allocation of financial aid money that would set aside additional funding for need-based aid during a meeting last week, Inside Higher Ed reported. Although college officials often debate the fairness of merit-based financial aid, this year's discussion featured a greater level of consensus than in the past, as representatives at the meeting expressed hope that an agreement might be reached in the near future, according to Inside Higher Ed. Because many private colleges use financial aid to attract candidates to their schools, many have been reluctant to substantially reform their aid programs. Although the elimination of merit-based financial aid is unlikely, conference participants plan to explore the possibility of capping such aid while keeping in mind anti-trust concerns, Inside Higher Ed reported.
