Unpacking Percent Plans: Why They Fall Short in Achieving True Equity in University Admissions

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Unpacking Percent Plans: Why They Fall Short in Achieving True Equity in University Admissions

In her 2024 State of the State address, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Top 10% Promise. This policy guarantees direct admission to the State University of New York (SUNY) for students who finish in the top 10% of their high school class. Hochul sees this as a game changer for young New Yorkers, stating that “access to higher education can transform lives.” This initiative is now active, aiming to improve educational opportunities for students across the state.

This initiative arrives after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action in 2023. Percent plans, like those seen in Texas and California, allow a set percentage of students from each high school automatic admission to state universities based on GPA. These plans are often viewed as merit-based and alternative to racial preference methods.

Looking back, Texas was the first to implement such a plan with its top 10% law in 1997, which mandates that students in the top 10% of their class get direct access to state colleges. This came after the Supreme Court’s decision in Hopwood v. Texas, which banned the use of race in college admissions in Texas. Similar laws were then adopted in California and Florida, both aimed at increasing diversity in higher education without direct reference to race.

The impact of Texas’s law has sparked varied opinions. Some studies suggest it did boost enrollment of Black and Hispanic students at the University of Texas (UT) and Texas A&M, yet it didn’t fully recover the diversity levels prior to Hopwood. In fact, while these policies aimed to increase opportunities, the actual outcomes have been debated among experts in education.

Research conducted by sociologists shows that while top 10% students did achieve higher GPAs initially, their academic performance tended to align with their peers over time. Interestingly, as admissions became more competitive, the academic gap between top 10% students and other higher-ranked students gradually narrowed.

In addition to enrollment figures, there’s been a noticeable effect on the diversity of high schools sending students to these flagship universities. A recent study indicated that after the law took effect, there was a modest increase in school diversity regarding sending students to UT and Texas A&M. However, the increases were not as significant as many had hoped.

It’s also crucial to note how standardized tests fit into this scenario. Some argue these tests should play a key role in admissions to ensure a fair assessment of student capabilities. Dartmouth College’s recent data supports this, indicating that standardized test scores remain strong predictors of college success. Yet, Texas’s top 10% law doesn’t utilize these scores in its admissions criteria.

Looking ahead, as states consider adopting or revising percent plans in light of changing affirmative action policies, it’s essential to strike a balance. The goal should be to foster equal opportunity and student success, not just to address diversity metrics. Understanding the nuances of these plans and their impacts will be pivotal as the U.S. navigates the complexities of university admissions in a post-affirmative action landscape.

For a deeper dive into the research and statistics on this topic, check resources from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Texas Education Agency, which offer valuable insights into student demographics and educational outcomes.



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