Longitudinal Analyses of Preferential Admissions Policies in Higher Education of China

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Abstract

This paper uses a document analysis method to examine 95 institutions’ preferential admissions policies towards rural students from remote and impoverished areas. The preferential policy is an institutional response to the China central government’s effort to reduce the urban-rural gap in college access to prestigious universities. Data sources are the 475 admissions brochures released by the 95 institutions from 2015 to 2018. The findings show almost all colleges have explicitly stipulated college major selection restrictions, with some limiting selection in science areas. Further, few institutions have clearly stated college support resources, though a few more join the league in 2019. The paradox of inclusion and exclusion warrants further studies on the policy intent.

Author

• DongMei Li, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee