The bipartisan MERIT Act would add a new standard for accreditation to prevent accredited colleges and universities from giving preferential treatment during the admissions process

Senator Reverend Warnock recently introduced legislation to double the Pell Grant maximum award for low-income students 

Senator Reverend Warnock: “For too long, elite colleges and universities have given preferential treatment to the wealthiest few at the exclusion of qualified and ambitious low-income students across the country seeking to further their education”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) cosponsored bipartisan legislation to end legacy admissions–the practice of colleges and universities giving preferential treatment in the admissions process based on an applicant’s relationship to alumni or donors of the respective institution.

The Merit-Based Educational Reforms and Institutional Transparency Act (MERIT Act), would amend the Higher Education Act to add a new standard for accreditation in order to prevent accredited colleges and universities from giving preferential treatment during the admissions process.

“For too long, elite colleges and universities have given preferential treatment to the wealthiest few at the exclusion of qualified and ambitious low-income students across the country seeking to further their education and unlock opportunities to pursue their dreams,” said Senator Warnock.“I am proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation that will help level the playing field of higher education.”

Under the MERIT Act, “preferential treatment” is defined as making admissions decisions or providing benefits based on an applicant’s relationship with alumni or donors as the “determinative factor.”

The bill clarifies that the new standard shouldn’t be construed to prevent institutions from considering an applicant’s genuine interest in the institution as part of the admissions process. The bill ensures that religious institutions can make admissions decisions in line with their faith-based values, ensuring no infringement on religious freedom.

The bill requires a comprehensive feasibility study to assess improving data collection regarding the influence of legacy and donor relationships on admissions decisions. Since 2015, over 100 colleges and universities have ended legacy preferences, but 787 still used the practice in 2020, according to a report from the nonprofit Education Reform Now. 

Text of the legislation can be found HERE.

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