In a ongoing campaign to repeal the Expected Cumulative Progress
requirement, councilmembers of the undergraduate student government
attempted to tie together the loose ends of a 4-year-old matter
this week, holding a press conference passing a resolution and
formalizing the demand to end what they believe is an ineffective
policy.
The administration, however, argues ECP is effective and gives
the school more money for instruction by encouraging full-time
student enrollment.
The ECP requirement, which went into effect starting with the
fall 2001 class, is one component of UCLA’s plan for
enrollment growth, which includes increasing the percentage of
full-time enrollment students and reducing the average time to get
a degree.
In 2001, when the policy was adopted, Vice Provost Judy Smith
stated that she had appointed a committee to look at all Academic
Senate regulations that would support the College’s growth
plan.
In addition, Smith said the more students “extend their
time at UCLA,” the more they “deprive other students of
educational access and opportunities.”
If students take less than an average of 15 units a quarter,
what is considered full-time status by the state, funding gets
cut.
“If a student takes less than that, we get less money for
instruction,” Smith said.
To help put the problem in perspective, Smith said if a student
takes 13 units a quarter, that is only about 87 percent of being
full time. This means that for every dollar, the school receives 87
cents for that student.
“This puts our instructional programs in jeopardy,”
Smith said.
However, during Tuesday’s Undergraduate Students
Association Council meeting, the resolution in support of reform to
the ECP requirement stated that ECP “has not brought in the
expected increased funding from the state of California.”
Arguments by USAC are based on the results compiled from about
2,700 completed surveys inquiring into personal experiences under
ECP and students’ individual backgrounds and activities.
There were no restrictions as to who could take the survey and
how many times it could be taken. The survey was posted online.
USAC says the surveys show that the policy is ineffective at
facilitating enrollment growth and has negative effects on
students. The resolution also states, “(ECP) decreases the
quality of life for education of undergraduate students.”
Opposing Smith’s claims, USAC says its findings indicate
that ECP has zero to marginal correlation with the increase of
full-time enrollment and has had no marked effect on increasing
graduation rates or reducing time to degree.
Tommy Tseng, USAC general representative, reasserted that the
policy causes confusion and the UCLA College has not provided
adequate counseling services to address the increased needs of
students for this matter.
But Smith said that, having spoken to the counselors, she has
been told that they see it as a way to provide more comprehensive
counseling.
Smith added, “The best way for students to look at this is
to work with their counselors,” and advised that students who
are experiencing hardships should meet with their counselors to get
exempted or draft individual contracts.
Smith further said that more than 94 percent of students go
through the system without ever experiencing any problems stemming
from ECP.
USAC is asking for ECP to be lowered to 13 units. The college
already has a policy in place requiring all students to take a
minimum of 13 units a quarter.
Regardless of the council’s stance against the policy,
Smith said she has never been asked to meet with the leaders but
was asked to provide them with her e-mails and other documents
related to ECP.
With reports from Narges Zohoury, Bruin senior
staff.