CHOOSE WISELY: Making Decisions with and for Equity in Higher Education

This chapter examines decision-making processes in admissions and hiring, addressing how standard practices can perpetuate or mitigate inequalities. Drawing on theoretical perspectives from bounded rationality, cognitive bias, and organizational culture, the authors present a comprehensive framework emphasizing criteria, processes, and outcomes as key levers for equity. Through empirical analysis of admissions and faculty hiring decisions, the chapter demonstrates how implicit bias, power dynamics, and organizational culture shape selection processes. The authors advocate for a research-informed approach to holistic review that is comprehensive, contextualized, and systematic, and they discuss threats to equity including over-reliance on single metrics, preference for self-similarity, and inadequate training for decision-makers. The chapter provides practical strategies for leaders seeking to transform decision-making as a process that is aligned with institutional mission and values.