Saying Goodbye To The Kojo Nnamdi Show
On this last episode, we look back on 23 years of joyous, difficult and always informative conversation.
Guest Host: Jonathan Capehart
University of Virginia's admissions office at Peabody Hall.
Documents published by the Washington Post reveal that the University of Virginia’s fundraising department has a nearly decades-old system for flagging applicants tied to wealthy or influential alumni or donors for special treatment. While the school’s Office of Advancement acknowledges a relationship with alumni and donors, they maintain that these relationships do not influence the school’s application process. Guest host Jonathan Capehart reviews the “watch list” at one of the nation’s most selective universities and explores what this meant for local college applicants past and present.
Guests
- T. Rees Shapiro Reporter, The Washington Post; @TReesShapiro
UVA Statement On 'Watch Lists'
The Office of Advancement is occasionally contacted by alumni, friends and supporters recommending students who have an interest in attending UVA. Such a practice is not unique to UVA and can be found at similar institutions.
One of the primary duties of development officers at the University is to foster and maintain relationships with alumni and donors. As part of this relationship building, development officers catalog these inquiries.
These recommendations are separate from the University’s Admission Office, which is charged with the sole responsibility of reviewing applications on a holistic basis for admission. Admission officers do not review recommendations received by the Advancement Office. Furthermore, there is a protocol by which the Admission Office does not coordinate with the Advancement Office about applicants during the application process.
The Advancement Office receives periodic updates on an applicant’s status. The Admission Office does not have access to records maintained by the Advancement Office, nor does the Advancement Office have access to admission records. The Advancement Office does not determine whether an applicant is admitted. Admission decisions are determined solely by the professional staff within the Admission Office.
This practice allows development officers to serve as a buffer with those alumni, donors and friends who have provided prospective student endorsements during the admission cycle. However, the Admission Office makes the independent determination on whether a student is admitted or not.
Most Recent Shows
Author Briana Thomas On ‘Black Broadway In Washington D.C.’ And The History Of D.C.’s Black Culture
Kojo talks with author Briana Thomas about her book “Black Broadway In Washington D.C.,” and the District’s rich Black history.
Kevin Young Takes The Helm Of Smithsonian African American Museum
Poet, essayist and editor Kevin Young is the second director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. He joins Kojo to talk about his vision for the museum and how it can help us make sense of this moment in history.
A Conversation With PBS NewsHour’s Judy Woodruff
Ms. Woodruff joins us to talk about her successful career in broadcasting, how the field of journalism has changed over the decades and why she chose to make D.C. home.