Relates to admission opportunities for a city university or state university of New York

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to admission opportunities for a city university or state university of New York

Purpose

To grant students who graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class automatic admission to city and state universities, and provide other equitable admission opportunities.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new article 122 relating to admission opportunities. A New York City university (CUNY) and state university (SUNY) shall grant automatic admission to applicants whose GPA is in the top ten percent of their graduating high school class, provided they graduated high school in this state within one of the two school years preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying and submitted their application on time. After admission, the university shall review the applicant's record to determine if any additional preparation is required.

In addition, city and state universities shall determine whether to grant admission to students who graduated in the top twenty-five percent of their high school class in this state and are ineligible for top ten percent automatic admission.

Socioeconomic indicators to be considered in making first time freshman admission decisions are to include academic record, family poverty level, whether the applicant would be a first generation college student and other factors. The factors considered for admission, as well as competitive scholarship and fellowship awards, shall be published in each city and state institution's catalogue and made available to the public. All such institutions shall also provide an annual report to the Board of Regents including a demographic breakdown of students admitted under this article.

Section 2 provides this act shall take effect on the first January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

Existing law

This is a new law.

Justification

This legislation seeks to promote socioeconomic diversity in college admissions by ensuring the top students from every graduating high school class in the state are represented. Further, it sets factors for admission and scholarship that seek to achieve this goal, as well as to increase transparency in the process. The bill is modeled after the Texas Ten Percent Plan, passed in response to that state's affirmative action program being declared unconstitutional. While race based affirmative action for school admissions must meet strict scrutiny to survive a constitutional challenge, this bill creates equitable opportunities in a race neutral manner.

Legislative history

New bill

Fiscal implications

To be determined LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.