UC regents delay ruling on grades

Marisa O’Neil

University of California’s board of regents on Thursday voted to

postpone a decision on a proposal that would have increased the

minimum grade-point average required to get into the system’s

schools.

The UC Academic Senate earlier this month recommended that regents

tighten up admissions standards after a May report from the

California Postsecondary Education Commission saying too many

students were getting into UC schools. Critics of the plan argued

that the universities should be increasing access to students, not

limiting it.

“I’m pushing for more rigor, a more challenging curriculum,” state

Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said. “I want students to

be eligible [for UC]. This discourages students. More students are

eligible for college. We should be celebrating, not try to dissuade

people from attendance.”

O’Connell is pleased with the delay because it will give regents

more time to review admissions data, he said.

The proposed tightening of standards came in response to the

commission’s report that showed 14.4% of graduating high school

seniors were meeting UC’s eligibility criteria. The state’s Master

Plan for Education, which outlines higher education in California,

calls for 12.5% to be eligible.

Under the plan, the system would raise the minimum GPA from 2.8 to

3.1.

That would reduce eligibility rates for white students from 16.1%

to 14.2%, according to UC data. Eligibility would drop from 6.3% to

4.7% for black students and from 6.5% to 5.5% for Latino students.

“This would affect students of all backgrounds,” UC spokesman Brad

Hayward said. “The faculty worked very hard to come up with a

proposal that both emphasized academic quality and had the least

possible impact on any one group.”

Regents approved two aspects of the plan that are largely

procedural, including how to calculate GPAs. Those will take effect

for the coming school year.

The proposed GPA increase and a proposal to keep eligibility

levels at 12.5% would start with the entering freshman class of 2007.

“The regents acted very responsibly,” said George Blumenthal, vice

chair for UC’s academic senate. “They were very wise to enact those

changes that would take place immediately.”

Blumenthal, who sits on the committee that recommended the plan,

said he still expects the regents to approve the remaining changes.

Regents will likely meet in mid-August to vote on the proposed

changes, as well as the system’s budget, Hayward said.