Is that Phone Call Ethical?

We'd like to introduce you to a new, on-going effort from the Admission Practices Committee. Throughout the year, we plan to bring you thoughts concerning timely and relevant ethical issues. These thoughts are meant to proactively start discussions about issues you may face.

For professionals on both sides of the desk, May 1 is an important date that symbolically ends the admission cycle. But for many students, families and admission counselors, the process is not finished. For example, over the coming days and weeks, some colleges will move to the waitlist. Often, this process will start as a phone call from an admission officer to a student asking whether the student is still interested in the college or offering admission. But, is this phone call ethical?

As you work with students through this process, we encourage you to remember that, at our core, the NACAC Statement of Principles and Good Practices (SPGP) is about treating students properly. Therefore, while it may seem great to get students news—often by phone—as quickly as possible, we need to remember that the student needs to be treated fairly and that the SPGP can guide us.  According to SPGP Mandatory Practices Section II B 6, “All postsecondary members agree that they will establish wait list procedures that ensure that no student on any wait list is asked for a deposit to remain on the wait list or for a commitment to enroll prior to receiving an official written offer of admission. Written notification may include mail or electronic communications.”

Given this direction, there is a gray area for phone calls. On one hand, it would be fair to call a student to make sure (s)he is still interested in the specific college before admission; but, the college cannot ask for a commitment. Even though the college could tell the student that (s)he is admitted, it is imperative that the college allows that the student has the right to get the decision in writing before asking for a commitment.

Once that official admission offer has been made, NACAC’s SPGP can further guide us as professionals. According to NACAC’s SPGP Best Practices II B 2, “All postsecondary members should allow students a reasonable amount of time (at least 72 hours or May 1, whichever is later) to respond to an offer of admission from that institution’s wait list and gain admission to that institution’s incoming class. This offer of admission should be a written or electronic communication to the student. Postsecondary institutions should also strive to fully inform wait list students of their financial aid and housing opportunities, if different from their normal policies. Postsecondary institutions should not require a commitment from a student until the financial aid award and housing options, if any, have been provided.” Please note, this statement is not a Mandatory Practice as the previous one, but a Best Practice which takes into account that the process needs to be flexible given specific circumstances.

As the admission process for the high school class of 2015 wraps up, waitlist is only one issue that may arise. NACAC’s SPGP can provide us direction on a variety of issues. The SPGP is available on the NACAC webpage at: http://www.nacacnet.org/about/Governance/Policies/Documents/SPGP_10_4_2014_FINAL.pdf.

Or, you may contact Lou Hirsh, the current AP Chair, at louhirsh@udel.edu or Jake Talmage, Vice-chair of Admissions Practices, at jtalmage@stpaulsschool.org if you have questions or concerns.