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Federal government urges colleges to limit inquiries about criminal records
Colleges should limit their use of questions about criminal records in the admissions process because the inquiries may unfairly deter many disadvantaged students from pursuing higher education, the federal government said in a new report.
Education Secretary John B. King Jr. discussed the report Monday in Los Angeles.
“We believe in second chances and we believe in fairness,” King said in a statement. “The college admissions process shouldn’t serve as a roadblock to opportunity, but should serve as a gateway to unlocking untapped potential of students.”
The University of California, which includes the prestigious and highly selective Berkeley and Los Angeles campuses, does not ask about criminal backgrounds. “I believe there are better ways to ensure campus safety than stigmatizing those who are trying to better their lives through higher education,” UC President Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “The University of California represents opportunity, not punishment.”
The Los Angeles Times and Inside Higher Ed reported on the initiative early Monday.
The federal government does not have the authority to dictate what questions colleges use to screen applicants. What’s more, the main federal application for financial aid includes a criminal-background question.
Question 23 of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, asks applicants: “Have you been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans)?”
Removing that question from the FAFSA would require an act of Congress, officials say.
The federal report, “Beyond the Box,” recommends that colleges review whether requests for criminal-background information can be delayed until after an initial admissions decision has been made, “to avoid a chilling effect” on potential applicants.
It also recommends that any questions on the topic should be “narrowly focused” and give applicants an adequate chance to explain their records.
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