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WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

This is on point. I'm Magna Chakra-Bardi.

Two years ago, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that ended affirmative action in college admissions.

President Trump issued a memorandum that indicates he does not believe colleges and universities are complying with the court ruling.

Titled, ensuring transparency in higher education admissions, in the memorandum, Trump writes,

quote, greater transparency is essential to exposing unlawful practices and ultimately ridding society of shameful, dangerous racial hierarchies, end quote.

It goes on, quote, race-based admissions practices are not only unfair, but also threaten our national security and well-being."

The memorandum requires colleges to report applicant data to a federal database, which would then be made public.

The applicant data includes race, test scores, and grades.

Education Secretary Linda McMayan said the data will help shine a light on whether colleges

admit students based on merit or on race.

Quote, we will not allow institutions to blight the dreams of students by presuming that

their skin color matters more than their hard work and accomplishments, end quote.

She also said, quote, the Trump administration will ensure that meritocracy and

excellence once again characterize American higher education, end quote.

Now, before we get into the politics of this new requirement, I just want to spend a moment

on some simple practicalities.

The memorandum states that colleges will report their admissions data to the integrated

post-secondary education data system, or IPEDS. That system is managed by the National

Center for Education Statistics.

The memo says that IPEDS is in need of technological upgrades

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