Save University of California Admissions Standards!

 

Click here to send a fax and e-mail!

Update 5 February 2009: We beat half of it — but the proposal to ditch the testing standard sailed through a committee of uninvolved and apathetic Regents. Thanks for the hard work you did opposing this.

Update 29 January 2009: The date for the UC Regents’ vote on the proposal is this coming Wednesday, 4 February! The published agenda is here — and the time to act is now! Students of the UC system who will be nearby should plan to attend.

 

Update 7 January 2009: The UC Regents’ next meeting is on 3-5 February 2009! This is a change from the previous late-January date.

 

 

Update 20 November 2008: We’re halfway there! We’ve received word that the just-finished meeting of the U.C. Regents decided the following:

 

 

 

  • The vote on the proposal is put off till the next meeting of the Regents in late January early February.
  • The proposed lowering of GPA standards is dropped.
  • The proposed dropping of the SAT-II and the shrinking of the guaranteed-admittance pool remains.

    • What does this mean? It means the Regents are listening to you. Your pressure is working! We’ve beat half of this thing — let’s bring it home and beat it all. Send your e-mail and fax today!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    On November 18th through 20th, 2008, the University of California Board of Regents will meet — and they are scheduled to vote on a proposal to dramatically lower admissions standards across the U.C. system. This incredible and little-known proposal accomplishes three major things:

  • Eliminates one standardized test presently required for admission — the SAT-II — with a goal of eventually eliminating all standardized tests.
  • Reducing the minimum GPA for admission from a 3.0/4.0 to a 2.8/4.0.
  • Shrinking the pool of guaranteed-admission students from the top 12.5% of each high-school class, to the top 9% of each high-school class.

    • Why would the U.C. Regents want to lower admissions standards? There is no good reason, aside from an ideological opposition to testing and standards on the part of a few academics who are pushing this proposal. Here’s what lowering U.C. admissions standards won’t do:

  • Lowering standards won’t help students. California’s students are capable of living up to our expectations — so why would we lower those expectations?
  • Lowering standards won’t increase diversity in the U.C. system. The U.C. system is overcrowded as it is, and there is no room or funding to expand it further — and there is no compelling evidence that lowering standards will significantly alter the demographic balance. Furthermore, minority Californians have long since proven they can compete and win on the present playing field.
  • Lowering standards won’t help U.C.’s reputation. The University of California grants degrees that count, because U.C. has earned its reputation as a system of outstanding colleges. Lowering admissions standards jeopardizes that reputation.
  • Lowering standards won’t help California. California is the most populous state in the nation, and it deserves a world-class university systemto match. The U.C. system is the crowning achievement of a system of public education that reaches from our public schools to the top of the ivory tower. Lowering admissions standards diminishes that prestige.

    • The U.C. Regents did not consult with students, parents, or the California public on this plan to lower standards. And they don’t have to — by law, they have the right to make these decisions. But you can still make your voice heard!

    Click here to send a fax and e-mail

    to the U.C. Regents, and California’s statewide elected officials, and express your opposition to the plan to lower U.C. admissions standards.

     

     

     

     

     

    Latest News

  • The ill-considered decision of the UC Board of Regents to lower standards by eliminating the SAT Subject Tests as an admissions criteria was heralded by the group Fair Test. But what is this group really all about? Read this item for an illuminating look at the forces behind lower college standards.
  • At the National Association of Scholars, Glenn Rickets writes on the bad idea that is the proposed lowering of UC’s admissions standards.
  • State Senator Tony Strickland weighs in against the lowering of UC admissions standards.
  • In the Merced Sun-Star, Mark Martinez writes: “Only the top universities in the country require the SAT II and eliminating it as a requirement will most certainly hurt the reputation of many UC schools.”
  • Bloomberg has a piece on the budget woes of the UC system. It’s counterintuitive and odd that a recession-driven enrollment cut might be paired with a lowering of standards.
  • Jay Schalin, at Human Events, writes: “The University of California administration and faculty senate appear to be making an end-run around the admissions policy which rejects race as an admissions factor.”
  • Mason Weaver, at BlackNews, writes on the folly of the proposed lowering of UC admissions standards.
  • At Red County, Craig DeLuz endorses the Ose condemnation of the lowering of UC Standards.

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  • Bill Whalen exposes the rationale behind the proposal to lower UC admissions standards. He also hits hard here.
  • Another Save UC Standards Facebook group! Students across the UC system appear to reject the lowering of standards wholeheartedly.
  • Former Congressman Doug Ose on the proposal — also here. And still more from Ose, who’s showing himself a leader on this issue.
  • Does it make sense to lower U.C. admissions standards, and further overcrowd the system, while this is going on? More here.
  • Van Tran’s LA Times piece on the proposal.
  • U.C. About to Destroy Its Own Standards, from the College Politico.
  • Report (PDF) from the U.C. Regents’ July 2008 meeting. In it, we read that dropping the SAT II “would require raising the GPA/test score index considerably and, as a consequence, lead to severely negative consequences for the makeup of the applicant pool.” Despite this, instead of eliminating the SAT II and raising the GPA requirement, the Regents want to eliminate the SAT II and lower the GPA requirement. What the heck?