SDSU has been directed to change its admission standards for 2000-01, lowering eligibility requirements for incoming freshmen from San Diego and Imperial counties.
President Stephen Weber said the change reduces the standards that were put in place this year when SDSU’s higher enrollment triggered a revision.
Because the university had far more applicants than available spots, SDSU was granted “impacted” status, permitting it to raise minimum admission requirements.
While the change resulted in fewer minority students admitted to this year’s incoming freshman class, Weber said fewer of those students were dropping out, and the minority students were among the SDSU’s best.
“The tension here is between those who want to give entitlement to local students and people who want to increase the academic standards of local students,” Weber said.
For the coming fall year, SDSU’s eligibility index, a formula using grade point average and SAT scores, will be reduced from 3,400 to 2,900, but this index will apply only to local students. The current 3,400 index remains intact for students coming from the rest of the state.
“The irony here is that we’re able to encourage and reward academic achievement for the rest of the state but not here in San Diego,” Weber said.
As a result of the raised admission standards, high school and community college students aspiring to SDSU generally were increasing their academic scores, he said.
