Chancellor Syverud, Provost Ritter and Vice President Williams Issue Statement on Legacy Admissions at Syracuse University

Chancellor and President Kent Syverud, Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter and Vice President of Enrollment Services Ryan Williams today issued the following statement regarding legacy admissions at Syracuse University.

“There are significant and important conversations occurring at universities and colleges nationwide regarding legacy admissions, particularly in light of the recent Supreme Court decisions on race-based admissions practices. ‘Legacy’ admissions refers to how, and to what degree, an applicant’s relationship to an alumnus of the school affects that applicant’s admission decision. Legacy admissions practices vary greatly among institutions, as does their impact on the composition of admitted students.

“At Syracuse University, consideration of legacy status is, and has long been, highly limited. Still, we are examining our current practices and their outcomes to ensure that we continue to uphold our longstanding commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive campus community. That careful review will be completed shortly, at which time Syracuse University will have more to say on the future of legacy admissions.”