California became the fifth state in the US to ban universities from admitting students based on family connections or donations after Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he had signed AB 1780 into law.
The law, proposed by Democratic state assemblyman Phil Ting, would prevent independent institutions of higher education from giving preferential consideration for legacies or donors starting September 1, 2025. This comes following the 2022 Supreme Court of the United States decision to strike down affirmative action in STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. v. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE. Affirmative action refers to a set of policies and practices that admission officers may use to prioritize admission for ‘marginalized groups.’ Rights groups have called legacy or donor admission as affirmative action for the rich.
On the passing of the law, Ting remarked, “If we value diversity in higher education, we must level the playing field. That means making the college application process more fair and equitable. Hard work, good grades, and a well-rounded background should earn you a spot in the incoming class – not the size of the check your family can write or who you’re related to.” California universities must file their first annual report to the state Legislature and Department of Justice by June 30, 2026, indicating whether they have followed the law or broken it. The act does not stipulate any punishments for violators but states it will publish the names of the institutions found to be in breach.
Multiple US schools have come under fire for their legacy admission systems. Harvard, after being ordered to end affirmative action in 2022 by the SCC, was charged with unfair admission practices by the African Community Economic Development of New England and the Greater Boston Latino Network and violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The act reads inter alia that “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Self-reported information shows that USC admitted the highest percentage of legacies and donors at 14.4pc, it was followed by Stanford and Santa Clara at 13.8pc and 13.1pc, respectively. “While we believe all institutions will comply with the bill provisions, we believe it is important to ensure that what is being required in the reporting language is both achievable and relevant,” said Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities President Kristen Soares wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee in June. The association counts USC, Stanford, and Santa Clara among its members.
