The 88th Oscars will be held on February 28 at the Dolby Theatre in downtown Hollywood. / AFP / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)" data-credit="AFP/Getty Images" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/4223x2238+280+0/resize/660x350!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/640c465c8ec014dd5a75fc5bea6cf3ac/203295313/504960536.jpg" data-mep="1112427" />The controversy surrounding this year's lily white slate of Oscar nominees continues to captivate Hollywood, leading to boycotts, backlash, backlash to the backlash, and a rare statement from the Academy acknowledging its faults and pledging to increase membership diversity. Now, the Academy is reportedly poised to take immediate action to remedy the situation, with potential plans to dramatically alter its nomination process.

The New York Times reports that the Academy is set to announce as early as next week several measures that will help ensure a more diverse field of candidates makes the Oscar nomination cut in 2017. The most likely change will affect the Best Picture field, which is expected to be officially set at 10 nominees. The current nomination system -- which went into effect in 2010 -- allows for as many as 10 nominees for the biggest prize, but as few as five; in recent years, eight nominees has been the standard.

Several other changes have also been proposed among the Academy ranks, though they're less likely to be instated. According to the Times, one suggestion would be to greatly expand the nominee field for the acting categories, allowing for anywhere from eight to 10 nominees instead of five, which has been the standard since the 1930s. Another suggestion was a so-called "use-it-or-lose-it provision," which would require Academy members to vote regularly, or have voting privileges temporarily revoked.

"Some academy insiders have long urged [Academy officials to] ... consider stronger measures to bar from voting those members who have not been active in the film industry for a certain period, say 10 or 20 years," the Times reports. But that step would no doubt anger the Academy's older members, the Times says, and could potentially lead to an age-based class action lawsuit.

Academy officials are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss potential changes, with an announcement expected soon after. Stay tuned.

[via: The New York Times]

Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images