President Donald J. Trump has issued a directive to the Secretary of Education aimed at increasing transparency in higher education admissions. The memorandum addresses ongoing concerns about the use of race as a factor in college and university admissions, despite the Supreme Court's decision that such practices violate students’ civil rights.
According to President Trump, “Although the Supreme Court of the United States has definitively held that consideration of race in higher education admissions violates students’ civil rights, the persistent lack of available data — paired with the rampant use of ‘diversity statements’ and other overt and hidden racial proxies — continues to raise concerns about whether race is actually used in practice. Greater transparency is essential to exposing unlawful practices and ultimately ridding society of shameful, dangerous racial hierarchies.”
The memorandum highlights the role of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which is managed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as critical for promoting openness within American higher education. However, it notes that IPEDS requires technological upgrades to expand its data collection capabilities and operate more effectively.
The directive states: “American students and taxpayers deserve confidence in the fairness and integrity of our Nation’s institutions of higher education, including confidence that they are recruiting and training capable future doctors, engineers, scientists, and other critical workers vital to the next generations of American prosperity. Race-based admissions practices are not only unfair, but also threaten our national security and well-being. It is therefore the policy of my Administration to ensure institutions of higher education receiving Federal financial assistance are transparent in their admissions practices.”
To achieve these goals, President Trump instructs the Secretary of Education to improve both how IPEDS data is presented online for parents and students as well as how it is collected from institutions. This includes making information more accessible and easier to understand.
Additionally, new reporting requirements will be introduced during the 2025-2026 school year. The Secretary of Education must work with NCES to broaden what schools must report on admissions processes for increased transparency. There will also be increased accuracy checks on submitted data. If colleges or universities do not submit required information promptly or provide incomplete or inaccurate data, remedial actions will be taken according to existing federal law.
The memorandum clarifies that it does not create any enforceable right or benefit against government agencies or individuals.
