Sidebar: What would change with new admissions rules

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SAN FRANCISCO -- What would change:The University of California's faculty has proposed a change to the university's freshman eligibility policy for fall 2012 admissions:Current policy:Applicants are considered to be eligible for guaranteed admission to the UC system if they are in the top 12.5 percent of California high school graduates and:-- Complete or enroll in 15 UC-approved college-preparatory courses before applying.-- Score adequately on the SAT or ACT plus writing, and two SAT subject tests-- Earn the required combination of GPA and test scores specified in the university's eligibility index.Proposed policy:Under the policy changes, all California high school graduates would be entitled to a review and considered eligible for admission if they:-- Complete 11 of the UC-approved college-preparatory courses before applying and all 15 courses before enrolling in UC.-- No SAT subject tests would be required. The ACT (with writing exam) or the SAT core exam would still be required.Students would be considered eligible for guaranteed admission to the UC system if they:-- Fall within the top nine percent of their high school graduating class and have taken the required 11 courses or if they take the required courses and fall within the top 9 percent statewide by the required combination of GPA and test scores specified in the university's eligibility index. (Together would total approximately 10 percent of California's graduating seniors).Impact:The policy revisions would not change the number of students ultimately enrolled in the campuses but would reduce the number of students who are guaranteed admission from 12.5 percent to approximately 10 percent, while increasing the number of students whose individual records are reviewed.Source: University of California. (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)