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Texas Tech Shifts Policy for Admissions -- Race, Ethnicity to Be Considered Again
Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 10-04-03 | Kitchen, Sebastian

Posted on 10/04/2003 7:53:35 AM PDT by Theodore R.

Texas Tech will return to a former policy of including race and ethnicity as a factor in ad missions after the Board of Regents approved the measure Friday.

Race was a consideration before the 1996 Hopwood decision, which overturned affirmative action in Texas. The suit, named for lead plaintiff Cheryl Hopwood, was filed by four white students who were denied admission to the University of Texas School of Law.

However, a June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court allows universities to return to using race as one of multiple factors in the admissions process.

"It allows the admissions policies to be flexible, race-neutral and race-conscious to make sure we have a diverse student body," said Tech President Jon Whitmore. "Clear ly, we need to do a better job of diversifying our campus."

Tech and the Health Sciences Center are working on admission policies that will take effect for the class entering Tech for fall semester 2005.

Regents and university officials agree the Supreme Court decision and ensuing policy change well help in recruiting a more diverse student body.

"This also helps to be responsive to demographic shifts in the state of Texas," said Tech Chancellor David Smith.

The board released a statement of its policy after hearing from Whitmore and HSC President Dr. M. Roy Wilson.

University officials believed the Hopwood decision increased the difficulty of diversifying the student body by eliminating the use of race as a consideration in the ad missions process.

Previous decisions have led to a decrease in the number of minorities in the School of Pharmacy, Wilson said.

The policy change is positive, said Regent Brian Newby.

"It was the right thing to do," Whitmore said.

In accordance with the high court's decision, Tech will begin using "an individualized and holistic" re view of each individual ap plicant.

Regents also approved a systemwide tu i tion increase of $10 per semester credit hour for the spring 2004 semester. The board exercised the power to set tuition for the first time since the Legislature transferred the power to the board at each state university.

Students will pay more but the increase will improve the value of their degree, Newby said.

With decreased state funding and increased growth in the student population, university officials said, the increase was necessary to hire more faculty and maintain student services.

Institutional tuition will in crease to $56 from $46 per credit hour, and the state charges an additional $46 for a total per credit hour tuition of $102. The average, full-time student carries 15 credit hours per semester.

Tuition is increasing across the nation and within Texas, Whitmore said.

School of Medicine students will not see an increase be cause they pay tuition and fees annually and not on a semester credit hour basis. Non-medical HSC students will see the in crease.

Legislation requires 28 percent of the tuition increase be moved into scholarships.

The tuition increase has not been as contentious as was a fee increase implemented this summer and discussed last spring, said Student Body Pres ident Jeremy Brown.

The students do not like the increase but do not feel they have a choice, Brown told the regents.

"We're going to support this, but we want to see a return on our investment," he said. "When I graduate in May, I want my degree to be competitive."

Regents also approved a $24 million, 500-bed residence hall.

Construction of the 160,000-square-foot complex, which will include a mini-market, will begin in late summer. Two additional residence complexes also are being considered.

With additional students living on campus, the university will need to address and add more parking, said Michael Ellicott, vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction.

Relocation of The Interna tional Pain Institute also was approved.

The $3.5 million facility will be donor-funded and will be moved from the HSC campus in Southwest Lubbock to a site east of the future Clinical Tower/Research Center.

skitchen@lubbockonline.com 766-8753


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: admissions; davidsmith; ethnicity; hopwood; jonwhitmore; lubbock; race; regents; supremecourt; txtech
The Supreme Court trumps TX law here.
1 posted on 10/04/2003 7:53:36 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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2 posted on 10/04/2003 7:54:21 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: Theodore R.
Well, Bobby Knight needs better players..
3 posted on 10/04/2003 8:25:12 AM PDT by ken5050
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Theodore R.
Each time a well qualified white is bypassed for a lesser qualified minority, they need to sue. Bankrupt the a$$holes.
5 posted on 10/04/2003 9:13:14 AM PDT by Blue Screen of Death (,/i)
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