Feasibility study to improve data collection

(a) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall explore the feasibility of working with the National Student Clearinghouse to establish a third-party method to collect and produce institution-level analysis of data on the impact of an admissions decision based on an applicant’s relationship with an alumni of, or donor to, the deciding institution, and how such data reported to the National Student Clearinghouse could be secured, while considering the following: (1) Whether data reported to the National Student Clearinghouse can accurately capture the impact and prevalence of admitting students with alumni or donor affiliations at various institutions. (2) Whether institutions have clear and defined policies regarding admitting students with alumni or donor affiliations that can be transparently reported to the National Student Clearinghouse. (3) Whether this new data stream can be integrated with reporting to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) while ensuring that the quality of data remains consistent or improves compared to the data provided through IPEDS. (4) Whether reporting this new data might alter the current interaction between institutions and the National Student Clearinghouse. (5) Whether reporting such data can maintain confidentiality, especially regarding private donations and donor identities, while still producing accurate measures of institutional practices. (6) Whether the National Student Clearinghouse can satisfy data reporting requirements without transferring any disaggregated data that would be personally identifiable to the Department of Education. (7) Whether the data can be reported in such a way that it separates students with familial ties to alumni from those admitted due to direct donor affiliations. (8) Whether there’s a distinction in admissions criteria for legacy and donor-affiliated applicants compared to traditional applicants. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the development of a nationwide database of personally identifiable information on individuals involved in studies or other collections of data under this Act or an amendment made by this Act.