Contradictory aims: How state flagship institutions undermine equity in undergraduate admissions

Abstract

Many institutions struggle to enroll students from historically underrepresented backgrounds despite voicing commitments to diversity. This struggle is often attributed to difficulty in recruiting qualified students. However, admissions offices themselves can use practices that undermine efforts to expand access. In examining two state flagship institutions, we ask: How do admissions-related policies and practices within an institution undermine racial diversity in enrollment? We identified two groups of policies: those cast as unrelated to race (e.g., early action programs, honors admissions, and out-of-state recruitment) and those meant to bolster diversity but that were ineffectively implemented (e.g., loan reduction programs, community college pathways programs). Implications are discussed.