U.S. Representative Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) has proposed a new bill, named the HARVARD Act, which would require colleges and universities to disclose whether they use personality tests in their admission decisions. This comes just a week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that colleges cannot consider race as a factor in admissions.
Steel expressed concern that some institutions may still be using personality tests as a means of racial discrimination. In a statement, she said that while the Supreme Court ruling put an end to universities’ discriminatory quota system, personality assessments could still disadvantage Asian American students in the admissions process.
Steel’s bill aims to shed light on these tests and prevent racial prejudice from playing a role in college admissions. She stated that all students and their families deserve to know which schools utilize personality tests, the metrics used, and the rationale behind these assessments. Students should have the right to pursue their full potential without fear of prejudice based on their skin color.
According to Steel, recent records revealed that Harvard University consistently rated Asian American applicants lower than others in categories such as positive personality, likability, courage, kindness, and being widely respected. Despite having higher test scores and grades, Asian American applicants often received lower overall admissions scores due to their personality ratings.
If passed, the HARVARD Act would require colleges receiving federal funds to disclose their use of personality tests on application and admission materials. Schools would also need to provide applicants with a statement detailing the use of personality traits in admissions decisions, the rationale for employing such tests, a description of the evaluation process, and the standards and criteria used for rating personality traits.
Steel previously introduced a similar bill in April 2022, which did not progress beyond the committee stage. However, she reintroduced it after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases involving Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The court’s subsequent ruling on June 29 determined that using race as a factor in college admissions violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
Steel praised the Supreme Court decision, emphasizing that the fight for equality in education took a significant step forward. As an immigrant from Korea who pursued education in the United States, she believes that actions, not race or ethnicity, determine success. Steel argued that American colleges and universities have historically disadvantaged Asian Americans in the name of diversity, and this ruling marks a turning point in addressing such inequality.
By introducing this legislation, Steel hopes to create greater transparency in the college admissions process and ensure that personality traits are evaluated fairly and without discrimination. The HARVARD Act aims to protect the rights of all students, regardless of their racial background, to pursue their educational aspirations.
