Several universities end legacy admissions after affirmative action ruled unconstitutional

Several colleges and universities recently ended legacy admissions, or preferential treatment of relatives of alumni, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision ending affirmative action.

The court’s June 29 ruling outlawed college application decisions based on race, and at least four universities in the last month have taken the additional step of excluding in admissions decisions other characteristics the applicant cannot control.

There is growing pressure for others to do the same. A state lawmaker in California, for example, is planning to introduce legislation that would ban federal funding to universities that use legacy admissions, putting high profile schools such as USC and Stanford in the hot seat, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.