We invite all students, clubs, alumni, faculty, and affiliates call on the George Washington University to end the unfair advantage it gives to legacy applicants who are descendants of faculty, administrative staff, or alumni, by affixing their signature below. 

With this knowledge, we call for an end to the unfair advantage given to applicants with legacy status thereby expanding access to higher education for students from underrepresented and minority backgrounds, as supported by outcomes at peer institutions.It is essential that both our university and the workforce to which it contributes adequately reflect real-world demographics. Diversity means that broader perspectives are brought to the table, creating an environment where all concerns can be addressed. However, the preference given to applications with legacy status in GW's undergraduate admissions process harms diversity on-campus.

Applicants with alumni status are 1.5x more likely to be granted admission to GW. These applicants, who are disproportionately more white and wealthy than their peers, enjoy an admissions rate more than double that of non-legacy applicants. 

As supported by both GW's own research and our peer institutions’ financial reports, ending legacy preference is a clear first step towards embodying our shared commitment to place and purpose, proximity and progress, to create an education that could only happen at GW -- setting all students on a path to achieve their Revolutionary Promise.

We, the undersigned organizations and students, stand against the George Washington University's use of legacy preference in the admissions process. We request that the University remove any advantages given to applicants with legacy status and any application questions that would help indicate legacy status.