New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington, have published an op-ed in Inside Higher Ed urging colleges and universities to adopt admissions procedures that maintain diverse student bodies. This action follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to limit affirmative action and recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice cautioning against using racial “proxies” in admissions.
The attorneys general highlighted the importance of using socioeconomic and geographic factors in admissions processes. They referenced the recent discontinuation of Landscape, a program by the College Board that provided admissions officers with data about a student’s high school and neighborhood without including race or ethnicity. According to the op-ed, “Standardized test scores and GPAs never tell the whole story. Median family income, access to Advanced Placement courses, local crime rates and other key indicators help admissions officers see the full picture and provide crucial context to help identify high-achieving students from disadvantaged communities. These are students whom universities might otherwise overlook. Tools that give context level the playing field—not by lowering standards, but by lifting students up according to their merit and the obstacles they have overcome.”
The attorneys general argued that the Supreme Court’s decision still allows universities to use race-neutral alternatives to achieve equity. They stated, “The use of socioeconomic and geographic factors is exactly such an alternative. Despite U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s recent nonbinding guidance warning against the use of geographic indicators as ‘proxies’ for race, make no mistake: abandoning consideration of these elements of an applicant’s background is not a legal requirement but a political choice, reflecting fear rather than courage.”
They warned that removing such context could lead colleges to rely on practices favoring privileged applicants, limiting opportunities for low-income and first-generation students. The op-ed continued, “Diversity is not a box to check; it is a vital engine of education and democracy. Classrooms that bring together students from different walks of life prepare all graduates to lead a diverse society, foster innovation and strengthen our communities.”
In their closing remarks, the attorneys general emphasized the responsibility of educational institutions to use available data to support diverse admissions. They wrote, “America has always promised to reward hard work and perseverance, no matter where you come from. That promise rings hollow if we allow the wealthy and well connected to monopolize educational opportunity. Colleges and universities must honor that promise by continuing to seek out and support students who have succeeded against the odds. Fairness demands it, equal opportunity requires it, and the future of our country depends on it.”
