As high school students prepare to matriculate to college, the application process may be changing in Florida. This can be a great or terrible change since scholarships, class curriculum and college requirements have been changing for the last couple of months.
Senate Bill 114, filed on Oct. 17 by FAMU alumni Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, would prohibit a Florida College System school or a State University System institution from inquiring about a potential student’s race or ethnicity on a college application.
This ground-breaking proposal attempts to overhaul college applications in the state, focusing on fairness, transparency and access to higher education.
Before SB 114 was introduced for the 2024 session, DeSantis signed a few bills that had everyone questioning his motives. One was SB 266, which restricts specific topics from being taught in general education courses. This bill was a brutal hit to HBCUs since, hence the name Historically Black Colleges and Universities, its African American studies courses will have to sugarcoat slavery and much of the Black experience in America.
This bill was very detrimental, especially since Black history needs to be taught.
“Florida has ranked No. 1 in higher education for seven years in a row, and by signing this legislation, we are ensuring that Florida’s institutions encourage diversity of thought, civil discourse, and the pursuit of truth for generations to come,” DeSantis said earlier this year.
Another bill he signed was HB 931, which prohibits schools from requiring students and staff to fill out diversity statements. These bills may have people wondering what exactly is next. If these bills were signed for the truth, why stop specific topics or change college requirements?
What more changes can occur to satisfy the governor and his allies in the Legislature?
SB 114 only stops students from telling universities their race or ethnicity on their college applications. Is it a big deal to stop this now? Yes, on some job applications, you can choose if you want to disclose your race, but what difference will this make for colleges and universities?
Not considering an applicant’s race avoids a possible source of prejudice, fostering a more equitable and fair admissions process. This strategy also stresses merit-based admissions, in which candidates are evaluated mainly based on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and credentials rather than their race.
Some may also say that diversity on college campuses benefits students’ educational experiences as well as their future success. Prohibiting racial discrimination may limit possibilities for disadvantaged minorities.
Whether excluding institutions from learning about their students’ race is beneficial or harmful depends on one’s stance on problems of justice, diversity, and fairness in higher education.