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Bill

SB 6093

Addressing transparency in college admissions.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by John Braun and 4 co-sponsors

SB 6093 requires Washington public universities to publicly post admissions criteria, rubrics, GPA weights, and demographic data of applicants and admits, plus program criteria.

First reading, referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development.
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Bill Summary · SB 6093

Summary of Senate Bill 6093 (SB 6093) — Addressing Transparency in College Admissions (Washington, 2024)

Overview

  • Bill: SB 6093 (S-3554.1SENATE BILL 6093)
  • Title: Addressing transparency in college admissions
  • Status: First reading, referred to the Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development
  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Purpose: Establish explicit requirements for public higher education institutions to publicly disclose admissions criteria and related data to enhance transparency in college and major-specific admissions.

Key Provisions

  • New section added to RCW 28B.10
    The bill adds a new section that applies to the state universities, regional universities, the state college, and each of their separate campuses.

  • Required public posting (college- and program-level admissions)
    Institutions must conspicuously post on their official websites:

    • Scoring criteria for admissions, including:
    • Rubrics for admissions scoring
    • Weights for grade point average (GPA), standardized tests, and course-taking
    • Weights for admissions components (academics, extracurriculars, personal essays, and other relevant requirements)
    • Demographic characteristics of applicants and of those accepted, including:
    • Race, ethnicity, age, gender
    • Parental income and parental education level
    • Residency
    • GPA data for applicants and for those accepted

  • Criteria and rubrics for scoring (overall and major-specific)
    Institutions must conspicuously post:

    • The criteria and rubrics used to score a candidate for admission
    • Any criteria used specifically for major- or program-specific admissions

Scope and Applicability

  • Applies to:
    • State universities
    • Regional universities
    • The state college
    • Each separate campus of these institutions
  • Applies to both general college admissions and major/program-specific admissions

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status indicates introduction and initial referral; no explicit effective date or timeline for compliance is specified in the text provided.
  • If enacted, institutions would need to implement and maintain conspicuous online postings covering the required data and criteria.

Potential Impact and Considerations

  • Transparency and accessibility: Provides the public with clearer insight into how admissions decisions are made and what factors are weighted.
  • Data availability: Demographic and GPA data could support research, policy analysis, and accountability efforts.
  • Privacy and data handling: The requirement to publish demographic details raises considerations about privacy, data aggregation, and potential misuse; institutions may need to ensure data are presented in appropriate, aggregated forms.
  • Administrative burden: Institutions may incur additional workload to compile, format, and update posting content consistently.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary: State universities, regional universities, the state college, and all their separate campuses.
  • Indirectly: Applicants, prospective students, families, researchers, and higher education watchdog groups seeking transparency in admissions practices.

Next Steps

  • Following this first reading, the bill would proceed through committee discussions, potential amendments, and subsequent readings before a full chamber vote.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to compare SB 6093 to current RCW 28B.10 provisions or provide a one-page brief for policymakers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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