« Les initiatives américaines de diversification de l`accès aux

Observatoire sociologique du changement (CNRS-Sciences Po)
Centre de recherche en éducation de Nantes (université de Nantes)
Séminaire « Educ-Elites » Transformations des modes de production scolaire des élites
« Les initiatives américaines de diversification de l'accès
aux formations d'élite après l'affirmative action »
Lundi 14 avril 2008, 17h-19h
Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris
Amphithéâtre Albert Sorel
27, rue Saint-Guillaume, 75007 Paris
contact : Hugues Draelants [email protected]
L'objectif du séminaire « Educ-Elites » est d'examiner les changements dans les modes de production
scolaire des élites, aussi bien du point de vue des choix et des projets des élèves et de leurs familles que
des instances publiques et privées chargées d'assurer cette formation. En aval de ces questions, le
séminaire s’intéresse également au devenir des élites scolaires et aux catégories et professions d'élite.
La septième séance de cette année, organisée en partenariat avec la French American Foundation, aura lieu à
Paris le lundi 14 mars 2008 (de 17h à 19h) dans l'amphithéâtre Albert Sorel au 27 rue Saint-Guillaume. Ce
séminaire sera consacré à la question des nouveaux régimes d'admission et à la promotion de la diversité
dans les universités d'élite américaines. Pour nous en parler, nous aurons le privilège d'accueillir deux
spécialistes des services de recrutement : Saul Geiser, Responsable des admissions à l'Université de
Berkeley et Gary Lavergne, Responsable des admissions à l'Université du Texas. Ces exposés feront
directement écho au débat politique français. Rappelons en effet que l'idée actuellement étudiée par le
gouvernement de permettre aux 5% des meilleurs élèves de chaque établissement scolaire de rejoindre,
s’ils le veulent, une classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles s'inspire directement des expériences
américaines de « percentage plans ». La discussion qui suivra les présentations sera introduite par Daniel
Sabbagh, directeur de recherche au CERI à Sciences Po.
Berkeley's Top 4 Percent Plan: design, implementation and outcomes
Saul Geiser, Responsable des admissions à l'Université de Berkeley
After affirmative action was ended by California voters, minority enrollments plummeted at the University
of California, and the UC system struggled to find ways to maintain access for Latino, African American
and American Indian students without use of racial preferences in university admissions. UC introduced a
number of new admissions policies, the most important of which was “Eligibility in the Local Context”,
which offered admission to the top four percent of graduates from each high school in California. This
presentation will describe the social and political context UC’s Top 4 Percent Plan, key issues in its design
and implementation, and results and outcomes of the policy. As time permits, Dr. Geiser will also discuss
other UC policy initiatives undertaken to maintain minority access in a post-affirmative action context,
including reform of standardized admissions tests, comprehensive review of applications, and university
outreach to low-performing schools.
Saul Geiser is a senior research associate at the Center for Studies in Higher Education at the University
of California, Berkeley. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from UC Berkeley and served as director of
admissions research for the ten-campus UC system during the period when affirmative action was phased
out. His research has contributed to the development of a number of new admissions policies, including
Observatoire sociologique du changement (CNRS-Sciences Po)
Centre de recherche en éducation de Nantes (université de Nantes)
Séminaire « Educ-Elites » Transformations des modes de production scolaire des élites
UC’s policy on Eligibility in the Local Context, which guarantees admission to the top four percent of
students from each California high school. Dr. Geiser’s research on the predictive validity and racial
impact of standardized admissions tests at UC was a significant factor in the College Board’s recent
decision to redesign the SAT. In addition to his research in college admissions, Dr. Geiser has directed the
statewide evaluation of UC’s outreach programs to disadvantaged students and schools in California.
“The Texas Top 10% Law: Implementation and Results”
Gary Lavergne, Responsable des admissions à l'Université du Texas
The admissions process of any university is an exercise in both selecting qualified students with a high
probability of success, and crafting an entering class that also meets the university’s mission and
responsibilities to its constituents. Before 1996 the University of Texas at Austin used affirmation action
(race-conscious admission) as a tool to reach its racial diversity goals for its entering freshman classes. In
1996, as a result of the Hopwood court case, Texas universities were forced abandon affirmative action
and implement race-neutral admissions policies. In 1997, the Texas State Legislature passed the “Texas
Top 10% Automatic Admissions Law.” Today, any student graduating in the top 10% of his/her Texas
high school class is automatically admissible to any public college or university in the state—including the
flagship University of Texas at Austin. The intent of the law was to maintain or increase racial ethnic
diversity within the judicial mandate for racially-neutral admissions policies. This presentation will contain
a brief political history of the Texas Top 10% Law, an overview of the challenges for implementation, and
results and lessons learned after ten years of experience.
Gary M. Lavergne is the Director of Policy Analysis and Research for the Admissions Office of The
University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of numerous Admissions Research reports for the
University of Texas. In March of 2001 he gained international attention with his New York Times Op-Ed
piece entitled "Is This the End of the SAT?" (http://www.garylavergne.com/NYTimes.htm )