A top admissions official at Auburn University has stepped down following internal turmoil and allegations of race-based decision-making. The controversy raises serious questions about the university’s admissions practices and the growing backlash against test-optional policies.
Dr. Phil Verpil, Auburn’s Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Executive Director of Admissions, resigned as the admissions office reportedly spiraled into dysfunction. According to internal sources, long-standing staff members were pushed out and replaced under Verpil’s tenure, triggering concern over hiring decisions and management direction.
Multiple sources alleged that race played an outsized role in Auburn’s test-optional admissions process. The school had embraced test-optional policies in recent years, allowing applicants to bypass submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, this policy will be curtailed for 2026 applicants and fully removed by 2027, reinstating test score requirements. The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of test-optional models and their role in affirmative action-style outcomes.
Insiders described the office as being in a state of “chaos,” citing abrupt resignations and a toxic environment where experienced staff were replaced with hires some viewed as underqualified. Auburn has refused to comment on personnel matters or the internal investigation reportedly underway.
Critics argue that Auburn’s recent policies reflect a broader trend in higher education of quietly implementing race-conscious practices despite legal and public opposition. These revelations follow the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling limiting race-based admissions, a decision that continues to influence university policy nationwide.
The full findings of Auburn’s internal probe have not been released. For now, the resignation of a key admissions officer and reversal of test-optional policies suggest that significant changes may be underway.
