MEDIA ADVISORY

Subject: Undergraduate Admissions Guidelines

Attached are a copy of the final Guidelines for Implementation of University Policy on Undergraduate Admissions and the Policy on Undergraduate Admission by Exception. Attached also is the cover letter signed by UC President Richard C. Atkinson and Academic Council Chair Arnold Leiman. The guidelines were developed in response to the Regents' decision on July 20, 1995 to eliminate the use of race and gender in UC admissions. They were drawn up by the president in consultation with the Academic Council.

The new guidelines:

• Revise UC's admission's policy so that no less than 50 percent and no more than 75 percent of the regularly admitted class will be selected solely on the basis of academic achievement.
• Expand academic criteria beyond grades and test scores to provide a more rounded and objective view of an applicant's academic achievements and potential.
• Expand supplemental criteria to provide a more comprehensive assessment of personal traits, accomplishments and experiences demonstrating applicant's promise to be a valuable contributor to the university.
• Enable campus admissions officers to make decisions based on a broad array of information with the objective of building a high achieving and diverse UC student body.

Each campus will develop its own criteria within the framework of the guidelines. Campus guidelines will be reviewed by the Office of the President prior to implementation. The new guidelines take effect in the Spring quarter of 1998 and in the Fall term 1998 for the Berkeley campus, which is on the semester system.

• Letter from President Richard C. Atkinson and Academic Council Chair Arnold Leiman
• Admissions Guidelines
• Policy on Undergraduate Admissions By Exception

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