Columbia, Brown universities to disclose affirmative action admissions data in Trump deal

Columbia and Brown University will be disclosing their admissions data to the federal government as part of their deals with the Trump White House. The administration will get standardized test scores, GPAs, as well as information regarding the race of students admitted to their schools.

The data could reveal if the schools have been attempting to work around the 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action. Both schools have face civil rights complaints over antisemitism in connection with Gaza protests following the Oct., 7 attacks on Israel.

The deals made with both Columbia and Brown see schools paying $220 million and $50 million respectively to regain federal funding and settle lawsuits from the administration alleging racial discrimination in admissions as well as over concerns with antisemitism.

The disclosures to the Trump administration will break down accepted and rejected applicants down by “race, color, grade point average and performance on standardized tests," per the New York Times.

“If this information were obtainable by a Freedom of Information Act request or made public, it would be of great interest,” said Adam Mortara, one of the lawyers for a plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that struck down affirmative action. “If we could get this and analyze it, we would because we are constantly vigilant and looking out for those who seem not to have gotten the message.”

Both schools have now committed to conducting “merit-based admissions policies," and to cease consideration of skin color in the admissions process as part of the agreements with the Trump administration.

The schools “may not by any means unlawfully preference applicants based on race, color or national origin in admissions throughout its programs,” both agreements state. “No proxy for racial admission will be tolerated.” The data for both schools will make students' personal information anonymous.

“Because of the Trump administration’s resolution agreement with Brown University, aspiring students will be judged solely on their merits, not their race or sex,” Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said when the deal with Brown was announced.