Blue State Leaders, Academics Push Back on Trump’s Request for Proof of Fair Student Admissions

Colleges and universities have until March 18 to provide comparative information on grades, test scores, and household incomes by race and gender.

A person protests outside of the Supreme Court in Washington on June 29, 2023. Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo

Several state and university leaders are poised to resist President Donald Trump’s order requiring proof that they don’t discriminate in student admissions, according to public comments submitted before the new regulations take effect next month.

Under the memorandum issued last year, additional information to include acceptance rates, enrollment figures, incomes, average applicant grade point averages, and standardized test or SAT (scholastic aptitude tests) scores by race and gender is due on March 18. The purpose is to show the federal government and the public that higher education institutions are complying with federal Civil Rights laws and the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits racial preferences in college and university admissions.