Thursday, January 22, 2009
According to Chancellor Hemenway in August 2008, students at the University of Kansas should know that they are champions. We hold impressive sports records, have unprecedented enrollment and outstanding academic programs. However, to maintain this champion-like environment we must face an unfortunate reality — we let almost any potential “champion” attend this university.
The University will accept a student if he or she is able to earn a 21 on the ACT, manage a 2.0 GPA or higher in high school, or be in the top third of his or her high school graduating class. These standards allow both high-achieving and low-achieving applicants to be a part of the KU student body, lowering the University’s academic ranking among state schools. Lax standards have made college attendance more of a to-do list item than a reward for accomplishment.
Lee Furbeck, senior associate director at the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, explains that the requirements for admission are designed to “prepare students for a successful college experience.” However, Furbeck adds that “the University is always trying to improve its academic standards.”
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Students need to lobby the University and the Board of Regents to raise the admissions standards of the University.
Additionally, the issue of lax standards is made worse by the 10 percent rule created by the Kansas Board of Regents. If a student fails to meet the admissions standards set by the Board, he or she may still apply by writing a letter and formally petitioning the University for admission. A university may only allow 10 percent of its student body admission in this manner.
It’s possible that these standards are created to help Kansas universities increase enrollment and receive more funding, create jobs and potentially create more college educated citizens. That is a noble goal, but it is not going to push the University forward.
Students need to lobby the University and the Board of Regents to raise the admissions standards of the University. This college is bound by the standards of the Board and cannot amend its requirements without its approval. With raised standards, we can truly compete with higher-ranking universities across the nation.
Reader poll
Should the University impose stricter admissions standards?
- Yes 64% 67 votes
- No 35% 37 votes
104 total votes.
Although all Kansas state schools are equal in admissions requirements set by the Board of Regents, we lack academic diversity when we are forced to maintain prerequisites set by lawmakers. To stand above other Kansas schools and schools in this country, the University must be allowed to raise its standards and students need to first show their support.
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Comments
Editorial: Students should lobby for higher standards
I agree. The bar must be raised. There are entirely too many students (particularly in the freshman class) without a real drive to learn and become better educated, conscientious citizens. Students who attend college for the "experience" and who do not apply themselves academically waste the time and money of their parents, other students, teachers, the university, and themselves. Perhaps raising the bar would at least prevent some of the riff-raff from ever becoming Jayhawks in the first place. I'm all for it.
Editorial: Students should lobby for higher standards
I couldn't agree more. If you're doing poorly in high school, you're not going to do well in college. In fact, even if you do well in high school, you may not do well in college. KU needs to implement a system to weed out the underachievers, and send them packing to K-State. If KU wants to meet its currently-stated objective as an international research institution, it must significantly raise the bar for admission.
As a secondary effect, it could potentially raise the performance of high school kids. There are many kids that grow up Jayhawk fans. If they know that they can get into KU by putting in a poor day-to-day effort in class, then what is the purpose of trying to do well?
I understand that a part of school is enjoying your final years as a kid. That's fine. But, it's not really all that hard to get a "B" or better in the vast majority of classes at KU - let alone high school. In my opinion, a "B" should be average and a "C" should be considered unacceptable.
That may seem like a radical idea in our culture of underachievement. I say to you: don't insult us. We are capable of much better than this, so raise the expectations and make us perform.
Editorial: Students should lobby for higher standards
Why make Ku more selective? The ones who can't pass will get weeded out eventually, and it keeps prices down for those who stay and for those who want to come.
Editorial: Students should lobby for higher standards
The thing that I love about KU and other Midwestern universities is the fact that, basically, if you graduate from high school, you will be admitted. That may seem too lax, but coming from Virginia where schools are extremely selective, I applaud KU for taking this approach. Let students prove themselves in college--there are plenty of "weed-out" freshman classes where, if you are not prepared for college (regardless of your high school GPA) you will not pass. Enough of those bad grades and you'll be out of KU.
High school GPA, and even ACT/SAT scores, are not always a great measure for success in college. Case in point: my sister, who graduated from high school with a 2.1 GPA. She went to Ohio University, then transferred to William and Mary, made the Dean's List, and will soon graduate from Duke School of Law in North Carolina. I think KU's admissions standards reflect the Midwestern attitude of giving everyone a chance. After being admitted, if you can't make it in college, you won't.
Editorial: Students should lobby for higher standards
The ones who "can't pass" do NOT get weeded out. They take the easier courses, and, as vladislav has pointed out, grade inflation will assure them a passing grade even in these classes. KU only wants mediocrity. That's what it stands for. Look at the admin's policies: it celebrates athletic success, but not academic. It wants money in the pockets of KUAC, seats filled at games, not students in libraries. Have you ever tried using a library on a game day? It's a farce--no place to park, at least not near Watson or Anschutz. I graduated with a 31 cum ACT score, in the top 5% of my class. I received several national fellowships. Can the chancellor even lift a finger to acknowledge these accomplishments? No. Of course, college prep has to begin in JH and HS. Admissions policies have to be tightened, and K-12 admins have to cut the crap out of their curricula.
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