Out of the Shadows: General Counsels and Their Policymaking Role In College Admissions

• In Event: Accountability to What: Institution Responses to Shifting Equity Landscapes

Abstract

General counsels have become increasingly influential in college administration due to rising legal and political complexities in higher education. However, there is limited empirical work on general counsels' roles in shaping institutional policy. Even less is known about the expanding role of university lawyers in college admissions despite several high-profile cases in recent years, including Students for Fair Admissions. Informed by the theories of legal endogeneity and a contextual equity-based framework for admissions, this quality study draws from interviews with general counsels at a diverse set of institutions. Findings highlight two salient approaches to working with admissions as well as four dimensions that shape these approaches. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Author

• Kelly Slay, Vanderbilt University