a) Name Blind Admissions

i) It is the intent of the Legislature to increase fairness in higher education by stopping the practice of legacy and donor admissions through the use of a name-blind admissions process for all institutions of higher education in [State].

ii) Commencing [Date – One Year from Enactment] an institution of higher education shall utilize a name-blind admissions process that meets the requirements set forth in subdivision iii) in order to remain eligible for any State funding, including but not limited to property tax exemptions [other state tax benefits, and state grants or funding].

iii) Within [six months from date of enactment] the institution of higher education  shall establish a name-blind admissions process that removes at least the following information from the admissions process:

1) Applicant’s first and last name;

2) Any details that would identify an applicant’s relationship to:

(a) Alumni or current students;

(b) Donors;

(c) Any current or former administrators for the institution of higher education; and,

(d) Any elected official or public figure.

iv) An institution of higher education shall not consider any details included in iii) 2) as an eligible criterion for admission standards to the institution.

v) An institution of higher education may ask applicants to provide information about relationships listed in iii) 2)  for the purpose of collecting data or other purposes unrelated to admissions decisions.

vi) Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted to mean that an individual’s personal achievements, including but not limited to achievements in academics, athletics, the arts or other extracurricular activities or skills, are excluded from admissions materials or the admissions review process.

b) Tuition Increase Requirements

i) An institution of higher education must submit a report to the [State Agency overseeing Higher Education] anytime a cumulative tuition or fee increase of greater than .001% in a given year is implemented.

ii) The report shall be submitted to the [State Agency overseeing Higher Education] prior to the effective date of the tuition increase.

iii) The report shall be publicly posted on the institution of higher education’s website and must show:

1) That the amount of student aid offered has increased at least proportionally to the tuition increase;

2) That the determination of financial need has adjusted in relation to the Student Aid Index at least proportionally to the tuition increase, resulting in students of additional income backgrounds being eligible for aid; and,

3) A breakdown of how the increased revenue is being allocated across the institution’s budget line items.

iv) In the case of public institutions of higher education, if the institution has received a reduction or lack of inflation adjustment in public funding that results in the public institution being unable to fund aid increases proportional to the tuition increase, the institution may also account for the differential from reduced public funding.

c) Admissions Data Reports

i) An institution of higher education must submit a report to the [State Agency overseeing Higher Education] following the conclusion of the institution’s admissions cycle that outlines at least the following:

1) The number of individuals with a relationship to an alumni, administrator, donor, or public official who were offered admissions, to the extent that such data is collected;

2) The information required for administering the institution’s net price calculator;

3) All information required under the Federal Timeline of Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Reporting Requirements as of 2024 as issued by the Federal Student Aid Office of the U.S. Department of Education through GE-24-01.

ii) In addition to being submitted to the [State Agency overseeing Higher Education], the report shall be publicly posted on the institution of higher education’s website in a machine-readable format.

d) The [State Agency overseeing Higher Education] shall post the Tuition Increase Reports and Admissions Data Reports and any associated data publicly on the [State Agency overseeing Higher Education]’s website in format that allows for comparison across institutions and years in a centralized virtual location.

e) Compliance and Oversight

i) For purposes of this Act, a noncompliant institution is:

1) An institution of higher education that is not meeting one or more of the following requirements:

(a) The amount of student aid offered has increased at least proportionally to the tuition increase; 

(b) The determination of financial need has adjusted in relation to the Student Aid Index at least proportionally to the tuition increase, resulting in students of additional income backgrounds being eligible for aid; or,

(c) A name-blind admissions process is utilized in compliance with Section a) of this Act.

ii) Twelve months after the [effective date] and at least annually thereafter, the [State Agency overseeing Higher Education] shall notify any non-compliant institutions and provide guidance to those institutions on how to address their noncompliance. 

iii) Within two years after the [effective date], the [State Agency overseeing Higher Education] shall annually report to the Governor and Legislature, and post publicly, a list of non-compliant institutions. This report shall also include recommendations for accountability measures for noncompliance, including, but not limited to recommendations for ineligibility for further public subsidies, such as tax exemptions or other state funding, and paths to enforcement of such accountability measures.

1) The [State Agency overseeing Higher Education] shall consult with [State Department of Revenue and other relevant Departments] on feasibility of different accountability measures and if legislative authority would be necessary to take that action.

f) Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:

i) “Institution of higher education” means an institution of post secondary education that generally limits enrollment to graduates of secondary schools, and awards degrees at either the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level. “Institution of higher education” includes public, private nonprofit, and for-profit institutions of higher education.

e) SEVERABILITY: The provisions of this Act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.