Study looks to clear up admissions process

The Regents of the University of California said Thursday a
study of UC eligibility criteria is under way to alleviate
confusion and controversy about university admissions policy.

UC President Robert Dynes said at the meeting in Covel Commons
that the study will attempt to give the regents, parents and
students a better understanding of the UC’s eligibility
criteria.

The eligibility criteria are important because they provide high
schools information on what kind of courses they should offer, help
students prepare themselves for the university, and help the UC
identify qualified students for admittance, Dynes said.

He said an understanding of these criteria is particularly
important in light of the potential budget constraints the UC is
facing and the increasing growth rate of college-age students in
California.

Dynes made it clear that this study will be examining
eligibility criteria ““ which are based on weighted grade
point averages and SAT scores ““ and not the policy of
comprehensive review, which the UC uses to evaluate
applications.

“Comprehensive review is and will remain the policy of the
University of California,” Dynes said.

Comprehensive review is an admissions policy that takes criteria
other than test scores and GPAs into account ““ including
extracurricular activities and life challenges.

The regents discussed the confusion and concern that has arisen
from a report commissioned by Regent Chairman John Moores, which
found that several thousand students with high SAT scored were
rejected from UC Berkeley while several hundred with low scores
were admitted.

A different report found similar figures at UCLA as well.

Regent Judith Hopkinson said the Moores report was limited and
that there were problems with the data.

However, Moores said he was concerned about both the
possibilities of qualified students not getting into the university
and the possibility of students who get in not being prepared.

“We have a $15 billion enterprise, and we don’t know
who is getting in,” Moores said.

Many of the regents were concerned that the Moores report has
made students with low scores who were admitted to the UC feel like
they do not deserve to be in the university.

“None of these students (with low scores) are facing any
more academic problems than any of their counterparts,” said
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who sits on the regents’ board by
virtue of his position.

Regent Ward Connerly also warned against the possible negative
impact of the Moores report on students.

“The great concern is whether we create a self-fulfilling
prophesy for some of our students that they cannot succeed,”
he said.

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