Admissions criteria in undergrad catalog may change
FSEC asked for input on new language dealing with academic preparation, acceptance

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
News Services Editor

Noting that the Faculty Senate is responsible for setting the admissions criteria recommended in the university's recruitment materials, Judith Adams-Volpe, director of Lockwood Library and a member of the senate's Admission and Retention Committee, asked senators for input on proposed changes to language in UB's undergraduate catalog at the Faculty Senate Executive Committee's March 31 meeting.

The Admission and Retention Committee is recommending changes to statements in the undergraduate catalog dealing with academic preparation for admission, acceptance measurements, supplemental application information and individualized admissions.

The recommendations are being considered in light of changes in secondary education, such as requiring high-school students to pass five Regent's exams in order to graduate, and the trend among high schools to no longer calculate rank in class.

The proposed change in the statement regarding academic preparation for admission would recommend that students have a Regent's diploma or its equivalent in course- work, and further suggests that students considering engineering or science careers have completed four years of math and science courses. The statement no longer would include recommendations on English, social studies and second-language studies.

Language regarding acceptance measurements would eliminate the rank-in-class component, and possibly incorporate the applicant's performance on Regent's exams and optional advanced-placement exams.

The changes being considered by the committee also would ask prospective students to provide supplemental information in addition to completing the SUNY-wide application, possibly with the form available in an online format through UB's admissions Web site.

Emphasize mid-range profile

The committee also recommended that "individualized admission" criteria be changed to emphasize the recruitment of students who are in the mid-range of UB's acceptance profile, rather than at the margin of acceptance. Individualized admissions most often are based on documented evidence of special talents or special circumstances, such as creative talent in art, music, theater or writing; special academic achievement; demonstrated leadership; athletic ability, and community service. Special circumstances that may have affected a student's academic performance also are considered.

Nicolas Goodman, vice provost for undergraduate education, told senators to be careful in their consideration of academic requirements.

The Regent's requirement for graduation is under debate, he said, and "we may not end up with a situation where it's universal. There's a lot of political disagreement...and UB ought not commit itself to this curriculum without doing some investigation."

He also noted that about one-third of high schools do not measure rank in class, and while, in those cases, UB estimates where a student would compare to his peers based on previous experience with that school, "I personally am in favor of dropping it."

Samuel Schack, professor of mathematics, criticized the proposed change in academic preparation for admission, noting that recommendations in the current undergraduate catalog are more specific.

"You can make it simpler, but sometimes simplicity is not a virtue," he said.

Students may be discouraged

Schack added that he would not like to see the catalog recommend applicants have a Regent's diploma because it might discourage out-of-state students from applying.

Requiring supplemental information could have a similar effect, he continued.

"I don't object to such things in principle, but keep in mind that every time you ask a student applying to college to do more, you have erected a hurdle...Students may decide, 'I'm not interested in doing all this extra stuff for UB.'"

William Baumer, professor of philosophy, told senators he was "appalled" that the FSEC could propose that applicants have a Regent's diploma, "and then jump up and down" over the SUNY Board of Trustees requiring a standard SUNY undergraduate curriculum.

Recommendations too general

He also told senators he was "appalled that we are chasing marginally qualified students," rather than top candidates.

Both Lilliam Malavé, associate professor of learning and instruction, and James Holstun, associate professor of English, echoed concerns that the revised academic recommendations were too general, and Malavé expressed concern that relying on standardized measures works against minority students. She also voiced support for continuing the system of individualized admissions, and reminded senators that UB is a public institution with a responsibility to serve minority students.

Robert Baier, professor of oral diagnostic sciences, also voiced support for individualized admissions requirements, suggesting perhaps they could be rolled into supplemental information. "I wouldn't want to deny a person the opportunity to come in through the normal application process," he said.

Peter Nickerson, chair of the Faculty Senate, told the committee to continue its work on information that will be listed in future undergraduate catalogs.