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Letter to the Academic Council
September 20, 2000
ACADEMIC COUNCIL CHAIR COWAN
Dear Michael:
I am writing to ask the Academic Council to consider
a major change in the University of California’s approach to eligibility
and admission. I propose establishing an alternative path, to be called
the "dual admission program," to supplement our current admission
process. This new program is designed to strengthen our relations with
the California Community Colleges (CCC), and, in turn, better prepare
students transferring to UC from community colleges. Most important, it
would send a clear signal to high-achieving students in low-performing
high schools, many of whom are underrepresented minorities, that they
have a clear path to a UC degree.
At present, UC policy enables students to become
UC-eligible in two ways, either by ranking in the top 12˝ percent of all
California high school graduates (statewide eligibility) or by ranking
in the top 4 percent of the graduates from their individual high schools.
All eligible students are guaranteed admission to a UC campus. Under the
dual admission plan, students who fall between the top 4 percent and the
top 12˝ percent of their high school class, but are not statewide-eligible,
would be admitted simultaneously to a community college and a UC campus.
After satisfactorily fulfilling their freshman and sophomore requirements
at a community college, they would complete their upper-division studies
at the UC campus to which they were admitted earlier. The dual admission
plan would not expand the freshman eligibility pool beyond the established
12.5 percent Master Plan level. It would, however, create a closer link
between UC and the community college system and ensure a more effective
transfer process as envisioned by the Master Plan.
No student would be disadvantaged under this plan;
those students who qualify under current UC-eligibility criteria would
continue to be guaranteed admission to a UC campus. The principal beneficiaries
would be high-achieving students at low-performing high schools. This
plan would help the State do more to assist these students--all of whom
excel in their high schools--to complete their academic careers.
The dual admission plan would result in other benefits to the State:
- There is a high concentration of underrepresented minorities in low-performing
high schools. Consequently, significantly more African American, Hispanic
and Native American students would be given the opportunity to earn
a UC degree.
- UC outreach staff would work with high school students to help them
take advantage of the dual admission plan. Community college and UC
staff would develop joint outreach programs to provide dual admission
students with ongoing academic advising and career counseling.
- The CCC and UC would develop an integrated financial aid system which
ensures that needy students take full advantage of the Cal Grant program
and other sources of financial support to which they are entitled.
Implementation of this proposal would present challenges
in the areas of enrollment planning, admissions management, curriculum
development, and coordination of student services. For example, the proposal
envisions a significant new commitment by community college and UC faculty
to collaborate on strengthening and overseeing core lower-division curricula.
The potential benefits of the plan, however, justify shouldering these
burdens. The plan would enable UC to meet the enrollment goals set forth
in its Partnership Agreement with the State to increase the number of
community college transfers to 15,300 students by 2005-06. It would also
ensure that these students have the academic preparation, financial aid,
and counseling necessary to succeed at CCC and UC. Most important, its
adoption would send a strong signal to students who have excelled academically
in disadvantaged high schools that they have a real opportunity to attend
UC and earn a UC degree.
I have asked staff to begin analyses of specific
issues that the dual admission plan raises. I will share with you these
analyses as they become available.
I respectfully request that the Academic Council
refer this proposal to BOARS for its consideration. Provost King and I
are scheduled to meet with BOARS on October 11 and look forward to discussing
this matter.
Sincerely,
Richard C. Atkinson
President
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