Wesleyan University: Top US college says it will end 'legacy' admissions

Wesleyan University, an elite US liberal arts college, says it will no longer grant preference to student applicants with family or donor ties.

The Connecticut institution said it was "important" to end so-called legacy admissions, long criticised as a perk for the white and wealthy.

It cited the Supreme Court's recent ruling that race could no longer be considered as a factor in admissions.

A vast majority of Americans are against legacy admissions.

Supporters of legacy admissions processes argue that that practice helps create an active alumni community and encourages donations to universities.

In a statement on Wednesday, Wesleyan University President Michael Roth said "an applicant's connection to a Wesleyan graduate indicates little about that applicant's ability to succeed".