AACRAO is working with the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) to conduct a survey on U.S. higher education institutions' admissions policies for applicants whose high school records include a history of disciplinary violations. The goal of the survey is to garner information for a conversation about the development of uniform policies both on the documentation of disciplinary violations in high school and the use of those records in admissions decisions.
Why it's important
Disparate policies nationally undermine education access and opportunity efforts. The survey will collect data about how and whether an applicant's history of disciplinary violations in high school influences admissions decision-making. Researchers will also examine the relevant policies and procedures institutions have in place. (A future AACRAO survey will also include the policies concerning applicants with disciplinary records from other higher education institutions.)
How does your institution use disciplinary records?
Admissions directors and enrollment management directors of both AACRAO and non-AACRAO institutions have been invited to respond. If your institution has not received the survey, contact Lisa Rosenberg at rosenbergl@aacrao.org so that your director of admissions or enrollment management can have input.
A partnership to promote access
The Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) is a non-profit criminal justice agency that provides services and helps develop public policy on individual and community development, violence prevention, public safety, recovery and reintegration. AACRAO and CCA teamed up on a survey in 2009, The Use of Criminal History Records in College Admissions,┬" to examine the effect of criminal records on admissions for applicants to higher education institutions.