New Investigation of Alleged Influence by Politicians on Univ. of Texas Admissions

(From The Texas Tribune):

“Admissions Inquiry Takes Center Stage in University of Texas Saga”

(Part 1 of a three-part series)

By Reeve Hamilton

Prompted by a University of Texas System regent’s allegations that lawmakers have undue influence on the admissions process, the University of Texas System reviewed nearly 80 recommendation letters written by lawmakers from 2009 through 2013 that were submitted outside the prescribed admissions process. They found that the letters paid off for many of the applicants. Of 16 who were seeking admittance to UT-Austin’s law school, eight were accepted. For 63 UT-Austin undergraduate applicants examined during the review, 37 won admission for an acceptance rate that exceeded 58 percent, compared with a 23 percent rate among the larger group of comparable applicants. READ MORE HERE