On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum intent on suspending race-based admission policies. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive data on how applicants can be admitted to universities that receive federal funding.
Here’s a brief overview:
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that considering race in higher education admissions infringes on students’ civil rights. Yet, the insufficient admission data from universities raises questions about the actual usage of race in admission decisions, especially in the context of increasing reliance on “diversity statements” and other apparent or concealed racial indicators.
“This memorandum mandates that higher education institutions submit the necessary data to ensure admissions are free from illegal discrimination. It also aims to inform the public about the factors these institutions consider when admitting students,” the memo states. “American students, parents, and taxpayers deserve assurance that our country’s colleges and universities will educate the next generation with fairness and integrity.”
This memorandum instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to enhance and streamline the collection of admission data from universities, broadening the reporting requirements for transparency.
Furthermore, the memo directs McMahon to implement “increased accuracy checks” on the submitted data and to take corrective measures if universities fail to provide timely or accurate information.
Following the signing of the memo, Secretary McMahon announced that she would instruct the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) to gather admission data regarding race and sex in applicant pools. This data will be essential for higher education institutions, detailing applicant demographics by race and gender, including standardized test scores and GPAs.
Amid concerns over racial prioritization in university admissions, the Trump administration is working to standardize how universities report admissions practices. McMahon remarked, “Now, universities must provide this data directly to us via existing systems. We will not let students’ aspirations be overshadowed by the notion that their skin color matters more than their hard work and accomplishments. The Trump administration is ensuring that merit and excellence once again define American higher education.”
McMahon has also tasked the NCES with developing a “rigorous audit process” to verify the precision and consistency of the data collection process, according to a press release from the Department of Education.
The NCES compiles and publishes extensive data from American educational institutions, particularly through the Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS). This system collects admission, enrollment, and financial data from universities involved in federal financial aid programs.
Universities receiving federal funds must enter agreements with the Department of Education and comply with all IPEDS data collection as a prerequisite for participating in the Student Aid Program. The previous IPEDS survey focused solely on racial demographics of enrolled students. The new requirements will extend to applicants as well.
“These new requirements will allow Americans to evaluate whether schools are favoring certain racial groups in admissions,” the department stated.
