Backdoor to UVa
U. of Virginia Offers Guarantee of Admission to State's Top Community-College Students
By ANNE K. WALTERS
The University of Virginia announced on Wednesday that it would guarantee admission to all qualified students from the state's community-college system, as part of an effort to make itself more accessible to a wider range of students.
The offer would allow students from the state's 23 community colleges to enroll in the university's College of Arts and Sciences, the college's largest school. The plan is notable because the university is one of the top public institutions in the country, and admission there has become increasingly competitive in recent years.
To qualify for admission under the plan, students must have earned an associate degree from a Virginia community college within two years of applying to the university, and have had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.4 or better while enrolled. Students must also have earned at least a C in every course, and at least a B in introductory English courses. And they must have met the College of Arts and Sciences' competency and area requirements.
The university has previously focused on AccessUVa, a financial-aid program aimed at eliminating debt for students from low-income families and limiting loans for middle-income students, as a way to attract more financially needy students and transfer students from community colleges.
Combined with that program, the offer of guaranteed admission "should attract students who might have thought previously that they could not qualify for admission or that they could not afford the cost of attendance," John T. Casteen III, the university's president, said in a written statement. "Together, these programs remove barriers."
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Copyright © 2006 by The Chronicle of Higher Education
By ANNE K. WALTERS
The University of Virginia announced on Wednesday that it would guarantee admission to all qualified students from the state's community-college system, as part of an effort to make itself more accessible to a wider range of students.
The offer would allow students from the state's 23 community colleges to enroll in the university's College of Arts and Sciences, the college's largest school. The plan is notable because the university is one of the top public institutions in the country, and admission there has become increasingly competitive in recent years.
To qualify for admission under the plan, students must have earned an associate degree from a Virginia community college within two years of applying to the university, and have had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.4 or better while enrolled. Students must also have earned at least a C in every course, and at least a B in introductory English courses. And they must have met the College of Arts and Sciences' competency and area requirements.
The university has previously focused on AccessUVa, a financial-aid program aimed at eliminating debt for students from low-income families and limiting loans for middle-income students, as a way to attract more financially needy students and transfer students from community colleges.
Combined with that program, the offer of guaranteed admission "should attract students who might have thought previously that they could not qualify for admission or that they could not afford the cost of attendance," John T. Casteen III, the university's president, said in a written statement. "Together, these programs remove barriers."
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Copyright © 2006 by The Chronicle of Higher Education
posted by Joe | 5:44 AM
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