PRINCETON — The U.S. Department of Education has found that Princeton University did not discriminate against Asian and Asian-American applicants, ending a years-long investigation into the school's admissions process. The Office for Civil Rights launched an investigation in January 2008 after receiving two complaints from people denied admission to the classes of 2010 and 2015 on the basis of race...
PRINCETON -- The U.S. Department of Education has found that Princeton University did not discriminate against Asian and Asian-American applicants, ending a years-long investigation into the school's admissions process.
The Office for Civil Rights launched an investigation in January 2008 after receiving two complaints from people denied admission to the classes of 2010 and 2015 on the basis of race and national origin.
One claim came from Jian Li, who was born in China but grew up in Livingston. He said he was rejected by Princeton and other elite universities despite having graduated in the top 1 percent of his high school class, earning honors outside the classroom and having perfect SAT scores.
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The review found that the university uses race and national origin in its admissions considerations as two of many factors and does not do so in a discriminatory manner.
"OCR found no evidence of the university giving an automatic 'plus' for identifying as a particular race or national origin, nor did OCR find evidence of applicants given an automatic 'minus' for belonging to a particular race or national origin," the Sept. 9 letter to university President Christopher Eisgruber reads.
In a few instances, an admissions officer or alumni interviewer used racial stereotypes such as labeling Asian students "quiet" or "shy" in their notes, but those terms were also used to describe students of other races, the letter said.
Eisgruber praised the outcome of the review.
"I am very pleased that the OCR has concluded this investigation not only with a finding that Princeton does not discriminate on the basis of race or national origin, but that the university's holistic review of applicants in pursuit of its compelling interest in diversity meets the standards set by the Supreme Court."
The university's Class of 2019 represented the school's most selective admissions process to date. A total of 27,290 students applied, but only 6.99 percent were offered admission. The year before, the admission rate was 7.28 percent.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.