On August 14, 2025, the Department of Education unveiled new guidelines regarding the collection and reporting of race-based data in college admissions. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the admissions process, inviting public input on the proposed changes.
The forthcoming proposal, set to be officially published in the Federal Register, mandates that specific higher education institutions gather and disclose detailed data on their admissions practices over the past five years. This data must be categorized by race and gender, and should also include critical metrics such as students’ high school GPAs, standardized test scores, application timing (whether early decision, early access, or regular decision), and financial aid status.
Notably, the new reporting requirements, termed the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement, will apply exclusively to four-year institutions that employ selective admissions processes. This focus arises from concerns that these institutions may be at a higher risk of violating civil rights laws, as indicated by officials in the announcement.
Interestingly, the proposal does not address the issue of legacy admissions, a practice that has faced scrutiny alongside affirmative action in recent years. This omission raises questions about the comprehensive nature of the data collection efforts.
The public will have a 60-day window to provide feedback on the proposed regulations. The Department of Education is particularly interested in understanding which institutions should be included in the new reporting framework and the potential impact on university staff tasked with compliance.
Higher education experts have already begun to express their concerns regarding the feasibility of these new requirements. For instance, Robert Kelchen, a professor at the University of Tennessee, highlighted on social media that the data collection process could pose significant challenges not only for colleges but also for the Department of Education staff responsible for managing the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
In a related note, the Department of Education recently underwent substantial staff reductions, laying off nearly half of its workforce, including many employees from the National Center for Education Statistics, which is crucial for data collection and analysis.
Carolyn Mata, a former staff member of the Association for Institutional Research, echoed these concerns, questioning the practicality of the proposed data collection methods and the implications of losing experienced personnel in the process. She emphasized the complexity of the variables involved and the need for clear definitions to ensure effective data management.
As the conversation around admissions practices continues to evolve, the Department of Education’s new guidelines represent a significant step towards greater transparency in higher education. Stakeholders across the sector will be closely monitoring the developments and implications of these changes.