Bill
S 928
The bill bans using legacy status in admissions at public Massachusetts colleges, removing consideration of familial ties for initial enrollments starting 2026–2027.
Status
- Bill number: S. 928
- Principal sponsor (filed/petition): Senator Lydia Edwards (Third Suffolk)
- Current status: Referred to Education
- Filed: January 6, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 38). Hearing scheduled 05/05/2025 (per docket information). Effective date for admissions: applies to initial enrollments in the 2026–2027 academic year.
Purpose / intent
- The bill prohibits the use of legacy preference in admissions decisions by public higher education institutions in Massachusetts and by degree‑granting institutions authorized by the state Board of Higher Education. It is intended to remove consideration of familial alumni relationships from the admissions process to promote fairness and reduce advantages tied to family ties.
Key provisions
- Definitions and scope
- Applies to “public higher education institutions” in the University of Massachusetts segment and the state university segment (Chapter 15A) and to degree‑granting institutions in the Commonwealth authorized by the Board of Higher Education (proposed additions to Chapter 15A §9 and Chapter 69 §30B).
- Admissions prohibition
- When deciding whether to grant admission, an institution shall not consider an applicant’s familial relationship to a graduate of the institution (i.e., legacy status may not be used as a factor).
- Information controls
- Institutions shall not include in documents used for admissions any information that discloses the name of any college or university that any relative of the applicant attended. (This would bar, for example, inclusion of a “legacy” flag or relatives’ alma mater names in admissions files.)
- Effective timing
- Sections 1 and 2 take effect for admission decisions that lead to an applicant’s initial enrollment in the 2026–2027 school year.
Who is affected
- Public institutions: University of Massachusetts campuses and state universities in Massachusetts.
- Degree‑granting institutions authorized by the Board of Higher Education (this language can capture private colleges that are authorized by the board).
- Prospective applicants to Massachusetts institutions (current and future applicants whose admissions decisions will be evaluated starting with initial enrollments in 2026–2027).
- Admissions offices and institutional processes (application forms, data systems, alumni‑relations interactions that feed admissions).
Implementation and enforcement
- The bill sets prohibitions but does not specify civil penalties, enforcement mechanisms, or oversight procedures in the text provided. Enforcement would likely fall to the Board of Higher Education or be addressed in subsequent implementing guidance or regulations.
- Institutions will need to change application and review workflows (remove legacy flags, modify internal documents/databases, train admissions staff).
Potential impacts (practical effects)
- Reduces or eliminates an admissions advantage historically enjoyed by applicants with family members who graduated from the institution (legacy advantage).
- Could affect institutional admissions outcomes and potentially diversity and socioeconomic composition of incoming classes, depending on how widely legacy preferences were used.
- May require operational changes (application redesign, records redaction, staff training) and could alter alumni‑relations practices that use legacy status for targeted outreach.
- The bill does not address related areas such as consideration of donor status, interviews conducted by alumni, or how legacy information discovered incidentally should be handled; institutions may need policy clarifications.
Related/ancillary information
- The bill’s text references previous similar filing (Senate No. 821, 2023–2024) and related docket entries. Legislative actions in the public record indicate committee referrals and a scheduled hearing.
Limitations / notes
- The summary is based on the bill text provided. The bill does not enumerate enforcement or penalty provisions, nor does it include detailed implementation guidance; such specifics may be addressed in subsequent amendments, regulations, or committee reports.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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