US education department opens inquiry into Harvard’s legacy admission policies

After supreme court struck down affirmative action, legacy admissions scrutinized as race-based discrimination

The US Department of Education has opened an investigation into Harvard University's policies on legacy admissions, which give an edge to applicants with family ties to alumni.

Top colleges' preferential treatment of children of alumni, who are often white, has been facing new scrutiny since the supreme court last month struck down the use of affirmative action as a tool to diversify college campuses.