FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Sept 30, 2024, Sacramento, CA- Today, in a historic move for college access and equity, Governor Newsom signed AB1780 (Ting), which prohibits California’s private colleges and universities from providing preferential admissions to children of alumni and donors, a practice known as “legacy admissions.” This will allow for a fairer practice of admitting students based on their qualifications and accomplishments and eliminates the special treatment of people with wealth and connections.
“AJSOCAL applauds Governor Newsom and the California Legislature for their resounding support and passage of AB1780. This new law will close the unfair loophole of ‘legacy’ and financial influence at private universities, creating opportunities for disadvantaged, first-generation, and students of color. This is a key win for Asian American and Pacific Islander students in California, as research shows that 86% come from immigrant families and do not have the generations of family connections to make them shoo-ins for admissions. We thank Assemblymember Ting and our co-sponsors Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), the Campaign for College Opportunity, the College for All Coalition, Diversity of Narrative and Generation Up for their partnership and collaboration for this significant victory in the ongoing fight to provide disadvantaged students a fair shot at their future.” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL).
“If we value diversity in higher education, we must level the playing field. That means making the college application process more fair and equitable. Hard work, good grades and a well-rounded background should earn you a spot in the incoming class – not the size of the check your family can write or who you’re related to,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).
The passage of AB1780 arrives after the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning race considerations in college admissions and over 27 years of California’s affirmative action ban. The new law aims to level the playing field by ensuring that all students have a fair shot at higher education regardless of their familial connections or wealth. California joins Virginia and Maryland in passing similar measures to ban legacy admissions this year.
