Bryn Mawr President Kim Cassidy penned a letter to The New York Times pointing out that Bryn Mawr and many other colleges and universities have long-standing practices of not favoring legacy students in admissions. She goes on to write about the many steps all colleges can take to make the admissions process more equitable.
From The New York Times:
To the Editor:
Re “Officials End Preferences for Alumni at Wesleyan” (news article, July 20):
The significant coverage of Wesleyan University and other campuses announcing the end of legacy admissions signals an important shift in practice at these institutions — one that has long been adopted by many other colleges and universities. In fact, many higher education institutions, like Bryn Mawr College, do not advantage children of alumnae/i during the admissions process.
For some institutions, the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action added a challenge to advancing diversity on their campuses. However, there is plenty that higher education can do from the inside to increase equitable access to college for all.
Ending practices like legacy admissions, adjusting financial aid policies to help lower student debt and increase affordability, creating community-based partnerships to help students from all backgrounds and ZIP codes discover more college options, and providing specific programming to support the transition to college for students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education are all essential steps to increasing opportunity for diverse and deserving young people.
Kimberly Cassidy
Bryn Mawr, Pa.
The writer is the president of Bryn Mawr College.