Assistant Professor Jacob Brown from Boston University will be visiting our department and give a talk, which may be of interest to many.

Title: “Color-blind or color-conscious: Racial bias in U.S. college admissions after the end of affirmative action”.

Abstract:
The 2023 Supreme Court ruling against race-conscious college admissions has created uncertainty about how institutions have adapted to the ruling. We conducted two field experiments across over 3,000 U.S. colleges to examine changes in admissions practices. The first study recontacts schools from a 2018 email audit (Brown and Hilbig, 2022) testing racial bias in admissions correspondence, comparing pre- and post-ruling responses and analyzing changes based on schools' prior consideration of race. The second study investigates how admissions bureaucrats respond when applicants ask how race should be discussed in applications, randomizing emails from Asian, Black, or White applicants, and further randomizing reference to the Court's decision. By examining bureaucratic behavior and racial bias in admissions, we assess the ruling's broader impact. This research provides insights into how colleges and their employees navigate this new legal landscape, potentially influencing future admissions policies and practices in higher education.

No registration needed.

Note: Please contact Kim Mannemar Sønderskov if you are interested in a chat with Jacob on Tuesday or Wednesday (October 22-23), as there are a few spots available. In addition to his work on racial bias, Jacob does really interesting and well-published work on Political Geography.