UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION POLICY

In 1997 the 75th Legislature passed HB 588 which established a uniform undergraduate admission policy for all Texas public universities. Institutions were required to automatically admit the top 10% of the high school graduating seniors or could elect to automatically admit the top 25%. Institutions that elect the latter option must review annually their decision to continue the policy. HB 588 also outlined 18 different criteria for use in admitting the remaining members of the freshmen class, two of which are rank in class and test scores. In the Summer of 1997, the Board of Regents passed a policy to admit the top 25% effective Fall 1998 and after three years experience with the policy the outcomes have been positive. The Faculty Senate, at their April 2001 meeting, recommended continuation of the top 25% policy for Fall 2002.

Extensive review of admission data documents that the automatic admission of students graduating in the top 25% of their high school class results in no degradation of student academic performance and enhances access opportunities for traditionally under-represented populations.

Extensive review of retention data suggest that high school students graduating in the second quartile of their high school class and meeting the current standardized test score criteria for automatic admission (SAT: 1010; or ACT: 21) have a slightly lower retention rate (64%) than second quartile high school graduates who fail to meet the minimum standardized test scores. Second quartile students who fail to meet the minimum standardized test scores may be admitted through Individual Review and required enrollment in PSYC 1000. For these students, the retention rate is 67%. Thus it appears that retention rates for second quartile students can be positively impacted by requiring a larger percentage of these students to enroll in PSYC 1000. Raising the standardized admission test scores for students graduating in the second quartile of their high school class will cause the desired result.

It is recommended that the Board of Regents approve the following undergraduate admission policy changes effective for Fall 2002.

Top quarter (continue accepting the top 25% of high school graduates)

• Current: Automatic admission of top 10% and guaranteed admission of next 15%. Students who score below 950 on the SAT or 20 on the ACT must enroll in PSYC 1000.

Second quarter

• Current: SAT of 1010 or ACT of 22

• Change: SAT of 1050 or ACT of 23