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Harvard legacy admissions investigation overview:
- Who: The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced it is investigating claims made against Harvard University by a trio of nonprofits.
- Why: The DOE’s Office of Civil Rights said it will be looking into allegations Harvard gave advantages for admission to the children of donors or school alumni, including potentially on the basis of race.
- Where: Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) said it has opened a formal investigation into claims Harvard University gave advantages for admission to the children of donors or former Harvard graduates.
The investigation was revealed in a letter written by the DOE’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) to an attorney representing a group of three nonprofits who filed a complaint against Harvard earlier this month.
The nonprofits argue Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by allegedly giving an advantage during its admissions process to individuals with family or financial ties to the Ivy League school.
The lawsuit, which was filed by the Chica Project, African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Greater Boston Latino Network, comes in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action in college admissions.
The department said in its letter that its decision to investigate the claims “in no way implies that OCR has made a determination on the merits of the complaint,” while maintaining it is simply a “neutral fact-finder.”
EOD to determine whether Harvard ‘discriminates on the basis of race’ with legacy admissions practice
The investigation, meanwhile, according to the EOD, is to determine if Harvard “discriminates on the basis of race by using donor and legacy preferences in its undergraduate admissions process in violation of Title VI and its implementing regulations.”
The nonprofits argue in their complaint that almost 70% of donor-related and legacy applicants are white and receive a weighty advantage during their admissions process, with the children of donors allegedly nearly seven times more likely to be admitted, reports Law360.
Children of alumni who apply to the school are nearly six times more likely to be admitted then other applicants, meanwhile, according to the complaint.
In other news involving legacy admissions, the president of Wesleyan University announced earlier this month that the private school would formally end its legacy admissions process in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Michael S. Roth said that, while the legacy status of an applicant had for years now only played a “negligible role” in their admissions process, the university believed it was time to formally end the practice.
Do you believe your college admission process was impacted by legacy admissions? Let us know in the comments!
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One thought on DOE to investigate Harvard legacy admissions process
The way I see it, as a white woman in the states, legacies are meant to be celebrated. 70% are white with an upper hand to get in but by their donors or legacies. Why are we still pressuring the white class for having an upper hand when there are only African and only Latino and only Asian colleges with the same principles. However, The African OCR of New England and great Boston Latino really wanna spice this up along with the 3 “non profits” who filed the claim seem to only be out for money and publicity. Shame on all who are involved, it’s nots rights they are fighting for. Historic pieces in America are being wiped out due to feelings of racism. When 70% are white – who are the other 30% ??? Nobody cares because it doesn’t promote the agenda.