Few Wisconsin colleges consider legacy in admissions decisions. But some offer scholarships

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to ban the consideration of race in college admissions has put pressure on institutions to end another controversial practice: preferences for children of alumni.

In Wisconsin, few colleges and universities consider "legacy" status in admissions decisions, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review. And because most Wisconsin schools accept far more students than they reject, it's likely many legacy students would have gotten in regardless of their family's history of attendance.

But there's another way in which legacy can benefit already advantaged students: Some schools offer scholarships specifically for students with a family member who graduated from there. At least 13 Wisconsin institutions do, according to the news organization's review of 28 school scholarship websites.

Richard Kahlenberg, a nonresident scholar at Georgetown University and longtime critic of legacy preference, called legacy scholarships "equally troubling." He urged institutions to phase them out, especially if scholarship criteria don't consider other factors, too, such as financial need.

"To the extent that (schools are) trying to diversify in new ways after the Supreme Court ruling, then having a scholarship for legacy students seems counterproductive," he said.

White House takes aim at legacy admissions

Giving admissions preference for legacy students has been around for decades, but there's renewed scrutiny of the practice in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, which many expect will lead to less diverse college campuses.

President Joe Biden said he'd ask the Education Department to examine “practices like legacy admissions and other systems that expand privilege instead of opportunity.”

Is legacy considered at the Wisconsin flagship?

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the most selective school in the state, legacy status is not reviewed or considered as part of the admission process, and it hasn't been for many years, according to UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas.

That's despite the university indicating the opposite for more than a decade on its Common Data Set, a questionnaire schools file annually. Beginning in 2019, "we ensured our answer was changed and properly reported," Lucas said.

In other public statements, the university has offered contradictory information about legacy preference.

In 2019, for example, then-Chancellor Rebecca Blank wrote in a blog post: “If you want to get into UW-Madison, you’ll have to rely on your own record, not the record of your parents."

The following year, the Wall Street Journal wrote a story about legacy admissions that included an interview with Blank's chief deputy, Provost John Karl Scholz.

“There’s no rule, there’s no leg up, there’s no bump, there’s no points” given to legacy applicants, Scholz told the Journal in 2020. “But there is a minuscule weight. If we have two applicants who are truly otherwise viewed as equivalent, I think legacy would favor the applicant who has that legacy.”

Asked about the conflicting information, Lucas said André Phillips, who has served as director of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment since 2017, confirmed legacy status has not been used as a factor during his entire time on campus.

Other Wisconsin schools and legacy preference

Twelve other Wisconsin institutions indicated on their most recent Common Data Set that alumni relationships are considered in the review of applications. But when contacted, seven indicated the form — assembled by their own employees — was incorrect, and legacy is not considered in admissions decisions.

"This may be a sign that there is a new stigma associated with legacy preferences," Kahlenberg said. "This is a practice that no one really wants to defend publicly."

At UW-La Crosse, which indicated on its form that legacy status is considered, university spokesperson Kyle Farris said legacy "has not been a significant consideration for admission in the past and will not be a consideration for admission in the future."

Schools that consider legacy in admissions said it plays a small role in the overall process.

UW-Platteville uses legacy status primarily to point prospective students to scholarships, spokesperson Paul Erickson said. GPA, rigor of high school classes and the student essay are much more important.

At Lawrence University in Appleton, legacy has been "a minor factor among the many factors" in the admissions process. University spokesperson Ed Berthiaume said Lawrence is currently reviewing how it will handle legacy admissions going forward.

Beloit College considers legacy status, but doesn't give preference to those applicants, spokesperson Jennifer Fetterly said. The information is used to tailor communications to specific students. College officials are mulling whether to remove information on legacy status from application reviews.

At Marquette University, the largest private institution in the state, admissions officers review a wide range of submitted materials, including legacy status if students wish to submit that information as part of their applications. Last year, 23% of the incoming freshman class were first-generation students and 19% were legacy students, university spokesperson Lynn Griffith said.

What about scholarships?

A handful of states interpreted the Supreme Court decision as forbidding them to consider race or ethnicity not only in admissions, but scholarships, too.

In Wisconsin, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, indicated the Legislature will move to repeal state laws and programs based on race, including a state-run scholarship program for students of color.

Most Wisconsin schools have said they're waiting on federal guidance to see how the court ruling will affect scholarships.

At least 13 institutions, including several that don't consider legacy status in admissions, offer scholarships for legacy students.

The scholarships can help less-selective schools on the recruiting front.

Carthage University's Alumni Council provides three $1,500 scholarships annually to direct relatives of graduates. Daughters, granddaughters, sisters or nieces of Alverno College alumnae can receive a $1,000 scholarship for up to four years.

Some schools don't require students to apply for the money. Edgewood College students with a family history at the school are automatically awarded between $500 and $3,000.

Other schools target the scholarship to returning students. Legacy students at Lakeland University who have finished their first year can receive up to $3,000 in scholarship money as upperclassmen.

"It hopefully gives us an edge in that the family has some familiarity with the institution," Lakeland spokesperson David Gallianetti said. "Maybe that young person knows Lakeland because their mom or dad came here and have memories of the place."

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin colleges weigh legacy admissions after Supreme Court ruling