scholarly journals Evaluating the Rationale for Affirmative Action in College Admissions: Direct and Indirect Relationships between Campus Diversity and Gains in Understanding Diverse Groups

2007 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary R Pike ◽  
George D Kuh ◽  
Robert M Gonyea
Keyword(s):  
Affirmative Action ◽  
College Admissions ◽  
Campus Diversity ◽  
Diverse Groups

The Informational Value of Affirmative Action in College Admissions

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric K Furstenberg
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Affirmative Action ◽  
College Admissions ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Admissions Policies ◽  
Racial Preferences ◽  
Admissions Officers ◽  
The University ◽  
Admissions Process ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract This article develops a theoretical model of college admissions to investigate the effects of banning affirmative action admissions policies on the efficiency of the admissions process. Previous work in this area has shown that prohibiting affirmative action causes inefficiency when college quality is an increasing function of diversity. This article identifies an additional reason why colleges and universities use racial preferences in admissions, setting aside explicit demands for diversity. In the theoretical model, the racial identity of the applicants is relevant information for making inferences about an applicant's true academic ability. Preventing admissions officers from using this information results in inefficient selection of applicants, even if diversity does not explicitly enter the objective of the university. Thus, affirmative action is justified solely on informational grounds.

College Admissions in Twenty-First-Century America: The Role of Grades, Tests, and Games of Chance

2007 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
REBECCA ZWICK
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Liberal Arts Colleges ◽  
Equal Opportunity ◽  
College Admissions ◽  
Class Rank ◽  
College Selectivity ◽  
Campus Diversity ◽  
Admissions Policies ◽  
Games Of Chance ◽  
Small Liberal Arts Colleges

In this essay, Rebecca Zwick confronts the controversy surrounding the use of standardized tests in college admissions. She examines the degree to which the SAT and its lesser known cousin, the ACT, limit access to college, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities, and considers two alternative admissions policies that do not involve tests: class rank admissions systems and admissions lotteries. She finds that these initiatives carry their own controversies and have little impact on campus diversity. Zwick notes that some small liberal arts colleges have deemphasized tests and have achieved some success in increasing campus diversity while maintaining high academic standards, but highlights the difficulty of replicating these policies at large institutions. Her analysis sheds light on the ongoing tension between maintaining college selectivity and promoting equal opportunity.

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