University of California Fact Sheet
Implementation of SP 1

Background

UC Regents adopted a resolution, called SP 1, that eliminates the consideration of race and gender in the admissions process. In response to the resolution approved in July 1995, UC developed new admissions guidelines to evaluate applicants.

Undergraduates

For the majority of undergraduates, the new policy is effective for the entering students in the spring quarter of 1998. At UC Berkeley, which uses the semester system, the new guidelines are effective for students entering in the fall of 1998. Under the new admissions policy, UC will admit no less than 50 percent and no more than 75 percent of freshmen on academic criteria. (That compares to 40 percent to 60 percent under the old policy.) The remaining 25 percent to 50 percent of the class will be selected using academic criteria and additional measures — such as special talents, achievements and awards — to assess academic promise and potential to contribute to the educational environment of the campus.

Graduate admissions

The new admissions policy, which eliminates race and gender from consideration, will be implemented for graduate students entering UC in the fall of 1997. The date is earlier than that for undergraduates in part because graduate admissions is a decentralized process affecting fewer students than at the undergraduate level. Admissions decisions for graduate students are made by each campus department or school. (UC admits about 9,200 graduate students, compared to 32,000 undergraduates each year.)

Student outreach

As part of SP 1, Regents voted to establish an Outreach Task Force to develop new strategies and new sources of funding for programs to attract and academically prepare minority and disadvantaged students to attend UC. The 32-member task force includes representatives of the business community, the university, other segments of education and organizations engaged in academic outreach. The task force is reviewing the scope and success of current outreach programs and will issue its findings and recommendations in a report later this year.

In January 1996, Atkinson allocated $2 million as seed money for the new intiative. The Outreach Task Force has issued its report, which calls for creation of a series of partnerships with California public high schools to qualify more students for UC admission. UC will double its spending on outreach this year -- to more than $120 million.

Key Dates

• July 20, 1995
  Regents adopt SP 1.
  
• December 1995
  The Task Force on Undergraduate Admissions Criteria issues its report and recommendations. Co-chairs named for Outreach Task Force.
  
• January 1996
  President Atkinson announces creation of the Plan to Raise Educational Participation, a $2-million initiative to expand student outreach.
  
• July 1996
  President Atkinson issues new undergraduate admissions guidelines.
  
• Fall 1997
  Entering graduate and professional school students admitted under new guidelines.
  
• Spring 1998
  Entering undergraduates admitted for spring quarter under new guidelines at all campuses except Berkeley, which is on the semester system.
  
• Fall 1998
  Entering undergraduates at Berkeley are admitted under new guidelines.