This summer's Supreme Court decision that the University of Michigan's undergraduate admissions system was unconstitutional has launched changes in admissions policies at other colleges.
Last June the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan's much-debated use affirmative action in admissions, but ruled against its use of a "point system" that automatically afforded prospective students extra points to minority applicants based on their status as racial minorities. This system gave 20 points, out of a 150-point scale, to each black, Hispanic and American Indian applicant.
While the court wanted universities to continue to reap the benefits of having a diverse student body, it found the use of a point system formulaic, and was therefore deemed unconstitutional, according to the court's opinion.
AU has never used a point system, and Sharon Alston, director of admissions, said it was unlikely that this would change.
"We will always look at the application process as a process of people, evaluating people on very human terms," Alston said. "We are not formulaic in our review of an applicant, but instead consider multiple factors in our evaluation process."
"Diversity has and will continue to be a fundamental part of who and what we are at AU," she said. "We want students who bring diverse experiences and perspectives to campus."
To comply with the ruling, Michigan's admissions office conducted an overhaul of the application process. An admissions office publication stated that the new system, which is devoid of any type of point system, entails no less difficulty of admission.
"The University of Michigan has remained committed to an academically outstanding educational environment," the document said.
The University's president, Mary Sue Coleman, said that following the ruling, Michigan's administration set out to "find the route that continued their commitment to a richly diverse student body."
According to the document, the new application process "will provide us with much more detailed information on multiple facets of a student's background and preparation."
New essays have been added in which applicants can express how they may bring their diverse backgrounds to the college community.
In light of the ruling, Ohio State University and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, which used their own versions of a point system, considered revising their own application processes.
Mabel Freeman, assistant vice president of Ohio State's Undergraduate Admissions office, said that the use of a point system at Ohio State has been phased out and a new application has been introduced.
"We have added four short answer questions to this year's application and we have asked for more detail about the student's involvement in high school and community activities and projects," Freeman said. "This information informs our individualized review process to a greater degree, as educational diversity continues to be an extremely important goal."
Similar changes have occurred at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
According to a press release, in 2000 UMass adopted a point system to help admissions officials determine the status of applicants who had not been automatically accepted or rejected based on their SAT scores and grade point average. The scale awarded an extra point out of a total of 10 possible points to minority applicants.
UMass has now ceased such practices, according to Mike Gregano, Jr., the University's vice chancellor of student affairs. Like Michigan, UMass has added new essay questions to its application to help admissions officials factor diverse backgrounds in the decision process.
Alston said that it was important to admit students who would be able to succeed at AU. Unlike UMass, AU has "no minimum 'cut-off' standardized test scores that are considered in the admissions process," Alston said.
