Brown University President Christina H. Paxson has established an Ad Hoc Committee on Admissions Policies.

This committee is tasked with evaluating the university’s admissions practices in three key areas: early decision policies, standardized test score requirements (or the continuation of the test-optional policy), and preferences for applicants with family connections to Brown. The move comes as Brown seeks to align its admissions practices with its commitment to excellence, access, and diversity.

The move comes after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. Many advocates have argued that if race can’t be considered, legacy and donor status shouldn’t either.

“Concerns about the use of various preferences in admissions have been growing over time but have become amplified in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down race-conscious admissions,” Paxon wrote in a letter. “There is intense interest among policymakers, the public at large, and our own students and alumni in ensuring that admissions practices are as fair and equitable as possible.”

The committee will conduct a thorough examination of these policies based on data and assessment of current practices. It will make recommendations to President Paxson and the Corporation of Brown University before the start of the Spring 2024 semester, ahead of the next admissions cycle.