Dear Eric,
I’m writing to share an update to the criminal history question that will go into effect for the 2019-2020 application season. Beginning on August 1, 2019, we will remove the collection of criminal history information from the “common” portion of the Common Application. However, member institutions will continue to be able to collect criminal history information on their individual member screens if they so choose.
The student disciplinary history question will remain on the “common” portion of the application.
What led to this decision?
As you may be aware, we have consulted with our membership a number of times on this topic over the past several years. Based on that consultation, we have made changes to the criminal history question, as well as the processing and display of criminal history information. This Spring, we engaged the membership again through a survey, and in a discussion at the Enrollment Leaders Roundtable at our Member Summit in May.
This engagement was important in shaping this decision, as were other recent developments around this issue. Member feedback shows there are strong and differing opinions regarding both keeping the question “common,” and for leaving the decision on whether and how to ask the question up to individual members. While a majority of survey respondents would prefer to keep the question on the “common” portion of the application, we found variation in member preferences based on institution type and other factors. For example, the majority of public institution survey respondents preferred that the question be asked at the discretion of the member.
At the same time, continually evolving legislation at the local, state, federal, and international levels has led to and foreshadows increasingly less “common” institutional policies and practices regarding the collection of criminal history.
Taken together, we decided to prioritize giving members the flexibility they need to best respond to individual institutional policies, as well as legislative and regulatory requirements that pertain to their specific locations. At its June meeting, the Board of Directors supported our recommendation to remove the collection of criminal history information from the “common” portion of the Common Application.
What can you expect?
At the beginning of the 2019-2020 application season, members who wish to collect criminal history information from applicants will be able to do so on their individual member screens, using language that meets their needs. Other specific changes you can expect, include:
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The existing criminal history question will be added as a customizable bank question for any member who wishes to ask it, regardless of the Platform (Essential, Standard, or Custom);
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Members who use the customizable bank question or related questions as part of their member screens will still be able to suppress the responses to criminal history (i.e. prevent answers from appearing on the application PDF); If members suppress the responses, they may still choose whether or not they would like to receive the data from those responses;
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We’ll keep the introductory text and FAQs to help students know that their answer will be considered carefully as a part of their application and does not preclude them from being admitted, and individual members using the bank question will be able to elaborate on how their institutions apply this information;
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The criminal history question will also be removed from the School Report;
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This change is limited to the collection of criminal history information and will not include changes to school disciplinary action.
We appreciate how important this topic is to our members. Our focus is always on serving the needs of members, students, and counselors. We believe this change provides members with the greatest flexibility and is most responsive to the evolving landscape around this issue. As the conversation around criminal history continues, we will keep monitoring it to ensure we support the needs of our membership.
To serve you during this transition, we want you have ample time to determine your institution’s approach to collecting criminal history information. Over the next year, we’ll provide additional resources to help you prepare, as well as observe the work of AACRAO’s Criminal and Disciplinary History Workgroup, which was created to provide guidance to institutions on the use of criminal history in the admission process. A representative from the Common App will participate in that workgroup.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions and comments.
Sincerely,
Jenny Rickard
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