NOTE:  This resolution was taken from the table and referred back to its originating committees by the Senate on October 22, 1999.  Senate discussion and action on this resolution will docketed after reconsideration and resubmission by the Athletic Policy and Educational Policy Committees.

UNIVERSITY SENATE EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE

RESOLUTION:

ACCESS TO MAJORS

Background:

A number of Rutgers programs (primarily professional) are requiring a minimum GPA which is higher than the general University minimum for acceptance into their programs. In the case of programs that are in exceptional demand, that minimum may be elevated yet again in order to balance resources with demand. For example, the New Brunswick School of Business has set 3.0 as its minimum GPA, however, in 1997 students actually had to have a 3.1, and in 1998 a 3.2, in order to be admitted.

Issues:

1. Access Issue: Rutgers’ students in good standing are being denied entry into the programs of their choice.

2. "Truth in Advertising" Issue: Prospective students do not have a real understanding about their potential access to the full array of the academic programs at Rutgers. These policies also pose a major handicap to students with high potential but inadequate preparation who would have difficulty maintaining the required GPA in their first years of study; and are a major handicap to student-athletes who are required to balance conflicting priorities.

3. Advising Issue: Advisors find it frustrating and difficult to advise students whose academic goals cannot be met. Nor are all the general advisors aware of the alternative routes available for students that can’t get into their programs of choice.

 Forums:

This issue has been discussed/is being discussed in a number of forums:

1. FAS Committee on Academic Access. Issued a report on March 6, 1998 which recommended that no department may require a grade higher than a "C" (2.0) in specific courses prerequisite to accepting a declaration of the major, nor set an overall GPA requirement for acceptance. This was approved by the FAS faculty. 2. New Brunswick College Deans: On April 1, 1998 endorsed FAS Committee recommendations.

3. New Brunswick Faculty Council: The Subcommittee on Access to Majors and Other Academic Programs has been discussing the issue. Jim Reed, the chair of that committee, has met with the Senate Educational Policy Committee to discuss their draft report.

4. Senate Athletic Policy Committee has requested that the Educational Policy Committee endorse the FAS Committee recommendations and bring this matter forward to the whole Senate.

 RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. There is general agreement that in principle students should have access to a program if they meet the basic requirements. Therefore

Be it resolved that the University Senate endorses the principle that students who meet the basic requirements should have access to all Rutgers programs, and that no program should set an overall GPA for admission into a particular major that is higher than that required for a student to be in good academic standing. We recognize that some programs/schools don’t have the space nor the resources to accept all those that apply, and that the above policy cannot be fully implemented until the resource issues are addressed. Therefore Be it further resolved that a committee be formed to work with the Office of the University Vice President for Academic Affairs to identify those programs where student demand for access cannot be met due to strained resources, and where appropriate to develop recommendations aimed at increasing resources for those programs. In the case of professional programs where demand appears to be constant or escalating, this committee should also consider the advisability of having direct admissions to those schools/programs. This committee should include strong faculty representation from the university faculty councils and the University Senate, and should include input from the programs involved. 2. Until such time as a "full access to majors" policy can be implemented, admission materials need to be much more direct in their statements about what the criteria for admission to professional programs are. Therefore Be it further resolved that whenever applicable, admission materials should indicate that "transfer" to a professional school is required for a major and that this transfer is not automatic; and that the acceptance rate for the professional programs should be included when listing majors. 3. Until such time as a "full access to majors" policy can be implemented, better student advising is critical. Therefore Be it further resolved that students looking to transfer to a professional program not be permitted to apply until such time as they have spoken to a qualified advisor; and that an information packet be developed for general advisors alerting them to the issues associated with admission to the professional programs and the availability of alternate routes to specific career paths.