Academy aims to double women, diverse members after Oscars controversy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is overhauling its membership policy following a controversy over the diversity of the top categories of the Oscars over the past two years.

The organization's board voted unanimously on Thursday night to take steps to make its membership, governing policies and voting members "significantly" more diverse, according to a press release.

The goal is to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020.

''The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up,'' said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. ''These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition.''