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UC may cut some admission requirements
Sacramento Bee ^ | 11/19/2008 | Hudson Sangree

Posted on 11/19/2008 8:05:58 AM PST by SmithL

Thousands of high school seniors are racing this month to complete their applications to the University of California in hopes of becoming freshmen next fall.

Meanwhile, UC officials are struggling with the question of how to create more opportunities for low-income and minority students to attend the state's elite public campuses.

It's been a tense issue since voters passed Proposition 209 in 1996, banning race and gender preferences in public institutions.

Now, the UC president and regents are weighing changes to the admissions process that include dropping the SAT subject tests, loosening course requirements, and lowering the minimum grade point average.

The proposal also would scale back the long-standing guarantee that the top eighth of high school seniors will be admitted to at least one UC campus.

Dr. Mark Rashid, an engineering professor at the University of California, Davis, chaired the committee that drafted the revisions.

"The idea is to get away from a rigidly enforced policy that is rendering some high-achieving students invisible to the university," Rashid said. "It's a matter of basic fairness."

Rashid argues that many low-income students with good grades and SAT scores are being excluded from the UC system by other "technical" criteria.

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; collegeadmissions; dumbingdown; pc; standardizedtests; uc

1 posted on 11/19/2008 8:05:59 AM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Dumbing down of the university. When sixth graders qualify, then we are toast..............


2 posted on 11/19/2008 8:08:08 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: SmithL

Who cares what their GPA is. The issue is that CAN THEY AFFORD TO ATTEND once accepted??


3 posted on 11/19/2008 8:08:24 AM PST by LetsRok
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To: SmithL

How’s about they just ask if you voted for Obama or if you would’ve voted for Obama, and if they say “yes,” then admit them. That’ll show diversity, won’t it? And it will guarantee that their professors will be talking to their choir . . . Exclude all those other white racists who wouldn’t’ve voted for Obama if their a$$ were on fire.


4 posted on 11/19/2008 8:09:13 AM PST by laweeks
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To: SmithL

ok, lets lower our standards


5 posted on 11/19/2008 8:11:05 AM PST by television is just wrong (obama is going to pay my mortgage for me!)
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To: laweeks

Expand the football team???


6 posted on 11/19/2008 8:11:43 AM PST by Dr. Ursus (( commander of the simian host))
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To: SmithL
"UC may cut some admission requirements"

What's wrong, not enough "qualified" mush-headed, dumb-asses available to PAY to attend your indoctrination center?

7 posted on 11/19/2008 8:12:12 AM PST by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: laweeks

I remember a Hogan’s Heroes episode where a doctor was checking out Sgt. Schultz for a combat position on the Russian Front. He told Schultz to sit down and when he sat in the chair the doctor pointed to, he wrote “eye sight perfect” on the report.


8 posted on 11/19/2008 8:12:33 AM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Red Badger

Long before there were subprime loans, there were subprime admissions to colleges.


9 posted on 11/19/2008 8:13:32 AM PST by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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To: Dr. Ursus

Why are they struggling with how to create more opportunities for low income and minority students?

Since the use of racial/ethnic standards was discontinued, why are they trying to do something like this through the back door? Who authorized them to try to circumvent the law?

If subtle means of denying minority students opportunities were used, what would the reaction be? Why is it ok to use subtle means to get around what the law says in this area? Is anything ok as long as the goal is politically correct? Ends justify the means?

What about the qualified students who would be denied their opportunity if rules are bent for those less qualified? There aren’t an infinite number of students allowed to attend, so if someone gets preferettial treatment, someone else who meets the standards will be turned away.


10 posted on 11/19/2008 8:15:32 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: SmithL

how to create more opportunities for low-income and minority students
__________________________________________

Illegal aliens ???????


11 posted on 11/19/2008 8:15:39 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: Dr. Ursus

“Expand the football team???”

But you would have to enroll little white guys to be the football kickers . . . that’s a must. Nobody talks to them anyway.


12 posted on 11/19/2008 8:17:06 AM PST by laweeks
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To: laweeks

I KICK THE BALL!!


13 posted on 11/19/2008 8:18:33 AM PST by Dr. Ursus (( commander of the simian host))
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To: SmithL

This is going to water down the value of a UC degree. If I was an alum I’d be pissed. Good thing I went to a private school.


14 posted on 11/19/2008 8:18:33 AM PST by oldleft
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To: buccaneer81

Would people buy subprime meat?
Would people buy subprime medicine?
Would people buy subprime water?
Would people buy subprime cars?
Would people buy subprime anything?....Mortgages, yes, apparently..............


15 posted on 11/19/2008 8:19:00 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: SmithL

I think it is time to spread the SAT scores.

If you score over 600, you will have to pay a point tax that reduces your score.

If you score less than 600, you will get a point tax cut which will boost your score.

And if you don’t take the test, you will be awarded points anyway.


16 posted on 11/19/2008 8:20:53 AM PST by staytrue (YES WE CAN, (everyone should get in the practice of saying it, it will soon be manditory))
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To: Dr. Ursus

If you can read this, you are accepted............

17 posted on 11/19/2008 8:21:05 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: Red Badger

Hey, it worked for our new president, why not the Universities?


18 posted on 11/19/2008 8:21:50 AM PST by Loud Mime (Good is Evil and Evil is now good. The alarm has rung.)
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To: Red Badger

The modern version would be see Dick’s two mommies!


19 posted on 11/19/2008 8:25:17 AM PST by Dr. Ursus (( commander of the simian host))
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To: Red Badger

I think I’ve flown on subprime airlines a few times.


20 posted on 11/19/2008 8:25:59 AM PST by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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To: SmithL

To Hell with the voters. UC will do whatever it wants.


21 posted on 11/19/2008 8:26:51 AM PST by gridlock (Bill Clinton will be offered the job as Obama's Secretary of State.)
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To: Dr. Ursus
The modern version would be see Dick’s two mommies!

Can two mommies have a dick?

22 posted on 11/19/2008 8:27:12 AM PST by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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To: buccaneer81

Three seconds-We claim the record!!!


23 posted on 11/19/2008 8:28:18 AM PST by Dr. Ursus (( commander of the simian host))
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To: buccaneer81

ValueJet?..............


24 posted on 11/19/2008 8:28:40 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: Dr. Ursus

I just couldn’t resist!


25 posted on 11/19/2008 8:29:22 AM PST by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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To: Red Badger
ValueJet?..............

Actually, yes, back in early '96 before their crash. But also USAir and United. Both have dirty planes, surly crews and high prices.

26 posted on 11/19/2008 8:31:34 AM PST by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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To: Red Badger

so far gone are the days of: “Let no man ignorant of geometry enter here.” this was the inscription above the door of Plato’s Academy in Athens...


27 posted on 11/19/2008 8:32:44 AM PST by latina4dubya ( self-proclaimed tequila snob)
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To: SmithL

Don’t worry. They can always go for journalism degrees. The standards have been removed.


28 posted on 11/19/2008 8:37:27 AM PST by Da Coyote (-)
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To: oldleft

Well, I am an alum and I am pissed.
First of all, the UC system is facing extreme budget cuts that will curb first-year admissions altogether.
Second, California has a three-tier college system. (1) Every County has one or more Junior College campuses, which are open to all California residents. All you had to do is graduate high school (and you can even go if you didn’t and are over 18). You have to take Math/English placement (they have bonehead courses), but tuition is $20/unit and free for those that have low income. These students can transfer as juniors into either a State University (San Francisco or Sacramento State) or the University of California (depending on breadth requirements completed). There is absolutely NO reason to dumb down the requirements to afford low income students an “opportunity” - they already exist.


29 posted on 11/19/2008 8:39:57 AM PST by Right Cal Gal (Abraham Lincoln would have let Berkeley leave the Union without a fight)
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To: All
I've read a lot about the UC admissions process, and IMHO its gotten far too complicated to be fixed with additional minor repairs. (For example, one report on the proposal referred to in this article is 168 pages long.) Whats really needed is a complete rebuild of the UC admissions system from the ground up starting from a few basic principles such as access, fairness, and efficiency (something Regent Hopkins also briefly suggested at the last Regents meetings, BTW).

To me, the best way to deal with the minority access issue would be to use a two-stage admissions process. Kids who graduated at the top of the class in the worst high schools would be conditionally accepted. However before enrolling at a UC campus they would have to bring their basic skills in reading, writing and math up to par for the entering class at the UC campus they wanted to attend, (academic levels vary quite a bit between the ten UC universities). So this might mean considerable remediation for some of them before enrolling in UC. But it would I think be both fair and yet provide still access to kids who had the misfortune of attending poor high schools.

30 posted on 11/19/2008 8:46:21 AM PST by dano1
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To: oldleft
This is going to water down the value of a UC degree.

Exactly. The degree will become virtually meaningless.
31 posted on 11/19/2008 8:51:48 AM PST by khnyny ("The demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.")
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To: buccaneer81
Actually, yes, back in early '96 before their crash. But also USAir and United. Both have dirty planes, surly crews and high prices.

Not unlike Air France!.............

32 posted on 11/19/2008 8:57:57 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: Right Cal Gal

Kids who can’t meet the existing standards for the University of California are better off going to a community college or one of the California State University campuses...they have a better chance of earning a four-year degree that way. But the administrators are judged by how well they increase the minority representation among the students and faculty, so they would rather admit a student who will flunk out at UC, because the administrator looks better that way.


33 posted on 11/19/2008 8:58:28 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Right Cal Gal

You don’t understand the scam. The idea is to get the underqualified minority student into the flagship campus, even for one semester, even if the student gets straight “F”s. Student puts “Attended UC Berkeley” on resume, which is equivalent to “graduated” when hiring for government jobs, since it’s racist to ask about the details. Grateful student votes Democrat in perpetuity.


34 posted on 11/19/2008 8:58:29 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("One man's 'magic' is another man's engineering. 'Supernatural' is a null word." -- Robert Heinlein)
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To: latina4dubya

TO be soon replaced with this......

35 posted on 11/19/2008 8:59:26 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: dano1

A simple, practical suggestion. However it ignores the political realities. By insisting that minority students are up to level before they begin their studies, you pretty much guarantee that they’ll graduate at a level proportional to their representation. That would put the claims of University discrimination to rest and put large numbers of well-connected grievance mongers out of work. Thus, it’s a policy that will never be permitted.


36 posted on 11/19/2008 9:00:04 AM PST by ArmstedFragg
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To: SmithL

lol. Why not just send everyone a degree. It seems like that would be easier for everyone involved. I can’t believe this. I am kinda pissed though that they did not do this back when I graduated from Florida State that would have made my life much easier...lol.


37 posted on 11/19/2008 9:13:28 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: SmithL
"Many thousands of high-achieving students are failing because of a trifling variance from the eligibility policy – they didn't take a subject test or missed a (required) course," he said.

Why didnt they take the subject test or the required courses? If they cant follow such simple instructions, how will they make it through four years of a so-called elite university?

OTOH, if their high schools dont offer the required courses, or if their guidance counselors are so incompetent as to not give them proper advice, they have a legitimate beef.

38 posted on 11/19/2008 9:35:12 AM PST by freespirited (Honk to indict the MSM for treason.)
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To: SmithL
He insisted that the subject tests provide little information that could be used to predict an applicant's success as a UC student.

That's too funny. Only a few years ago, UC was telling us the subject tests are better at predicting success than the plain vanilla SAT.

Actually, they did collect and analyze the data. The subject tests are quite predictive. Of course the real question is what is better than the time-honored standardized test-HS GPA combination?

I suppose this lib wants us to believe the answer is the percentage of kids at the applicant's high school who got a free school lunch.

39 posted on 11/19/2008 9:39:58 AM PST by freespirited (Honk to indict the MSM for treason.)
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To: SmithL
I'm disappointed to see that trend. Lowering the standards just ends up costing more money to provide remedial education to people who are wholly unprepared to compete in a rigorous university environment. The competition is still going to be cut throat. The under qualified students are going to end up at the bottom of each class and eventually booted out for poor academic performance.

When the university reserved 5% of admissions for "affirmative action" candidates, they also tracked the results. 85% of those admitted dropped out. They were not capable of competing at that level. The bad news is that those admissions slots could have been offered to well qualified candidates who were turned away to allow for that 5% reserve.

What happens in the admission process is very different from what happens in the classroom. The rest of the students aren't practicing "affirmative action" to give the under performers an advantage. The object is a high GPA with prospects for graduate education. Playing "nice" isn't a consideration.

40 posted on 11/19/2008 10:19:16 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: oldleft
This is going to water down the value of a UC degree. If I was an alum I’d be pissed. Good thing I went to a private school.

I'm a UC alum. I think the under qualified admissions will end up as dropouts. We already have a history of what happens. The idiot professor pushing "fairness" seems to be infected with the typical form of liberal mental illness.

I don't think the student body will allow the value of the degree to be "watered down". There is a measure of that in place as well with certain colleges catering to wimpy standards. I graduated from Revelle College at UCSD. It was a tough academic standard. One of my former high school classmates started at Revelle and moved to Muir. I asked him why. He said he was afraid he couldn't maintain a 4.0 GPA if he remained at Revelle. The competition was too stiff. He had a 4.0 GPA in high school. People who want a respected degree from UC will choose their college accordingly.

41 posted on 11/19/2008 10:26:46 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: Mr. Jeeves
My employer required a transcript from the university to verify my degree and GPA. "Attended" isn't sufficient.
42 posted on 11/19/2008 10:31:02 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: SmithL

For a historical lesson as to what will happen next, you can review the collapse of the New York City City University of New York system after the CUNY board switched to open enrollment in 1969. And to see how quickly it takes to revive the standing of a University system after it’s near total discrediting through removing enrollment criteria, you can study the CUNY system since 2001 when they reinstated the admissions requirements.

The mayoral Task Force led by Chair Schmidt issued its report,
The City University of New York: An Institution Adrift (CUNY. Task Force, 1999)

The UC Regents better read it and the hundreds of studies and peer review articles that use that report as source material before they make the politically correct and foregone conclusion to destroy the system to uphold their racist ideologies.


43 posted on 11/19/2008 10:35:16 AM PST by JerseyHighlander
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To: Right Cal Gal

CUNY graduates of the Baby Boomer generation got screwed like this when CUNY went open enrollment in 1969.
A CUNY degree before 1971 is considered valuable, a CUNY degree after 1979 is considered nearly worthless if not a degree with honors. The years in between were turbulent for NYC as a whole, and institutional memory remained until the professorship retired or left in disgust with the concrete jungle mentality that took over the campuses.


44 posted on 11/19/2008 10:40:15 AM PST by JerseyHighlander
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To: freespirited
High school GPA is a poor predictor. It just ranks students within a high school. It does nothing to rank students from all schools against each other. That is the real competition for admissions. You need a standard reference to compare incoming applicants. The extra curricular activities in high school should be considered next to the standardized tests if the admissions process sees some value in that arena. Band, athletics, student government, church, scouts and community service may be of interest.
45 posted on 11/19/2008 10:47:36 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: JerseyHighlander

“...before they make the politically correct and foregone conclusion to destroy the system to uphold their racist ideologies.”

But that is the point. Let’s quit pretending that the Left is about ANYTHING other than destroy America. Destroying the meaning of “education” has been going along smoothly. It is the next logical step to destroy the Universities. They just can not and will not stop themselves. Their religion demands that they “believe.”


46 posted on 11/19/2008 11:05:54 AM PST by TruthConquers (Delendae sunt publici scholae)
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