Universities are attempting to lower enrollment rates for students of color.
From now on, American universities will be required to submit data to the federal government verifying whether they consider race in their admissions decisions. President Donald Trump announced an executive order outlining this on the 7th.The order states, “American students and taxpayers deserve assurances about the fairness of higher education institutions,” and “Race-based admissions practices are not only unfair but also threaten the national security and well-being of the United States.”
The executive order also includes a directive to the Department of Education to collect data on college applicants, including their race, gender, test scores, and grade point averages. This is to investigate whether universities are applying affirmative action policies toward minority students, which the Supreme Court has banned.
Indeed, Brown University and Columbia University recently agreed to report to federal authorities’ information on all applicants’ test scores, including the SAT, high school grade point average, and race, as part of their agreement with the Trump administration to lift the federal funding freeze. The Department of Education announced that it will require universities to submit data on applicants and admitted students to comply with President Trump’s directive.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated, “We will not tolerate destroying a student’s dreams by elevating an applicant’s race over effort and achievement.” She added, “The Trump administration will re-establish meritocracy as the hallmark of American higher education.”
However, the executive order has also faced significant criticism, calling it “yet another attack on universities by the Trump administration.” Justin Driver, a professor at Yale Law School, argued that the Trump administration’s executive order “is an attempt to intimidate Black and other people of color into lowering their enrollment.”
There are also concerns that President Trump’s executive order could face legal challenges on the grounds that it violates student privacy laws.