Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 1079]

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1072

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 18

requested to make a complete study of selective methods of admission to the University of Illinois, in relation to the methods used by other state-supported institutions, and in relation to educational programs of teachers' colleges, junior colleges, extension courses, and other educational programs in the State of Illinois, for all classes of undergraduate students, with due consideration for veterans; these recommendations to be completed as soon as possible and in any event before April I, 1946." T h e day following the Board meeting, the President of the University called into a conference several University officers who would be concerned with this problem, and informed them of the action of the Board and instructed them to make a preliminary study. Subsequently the President of the University instructed the Provost to proceed with the study and to call upon other University officers for such advice and help as he might require. The University Senate on February 4, 1946, adopted the following statement of educational policy on recommendation of its Committee on Educational Policy to apply if limitation on enrollment at the University be necessary: "It is the consensus of the Senate of the University of Illinois that, in the interest of sound educational policy, any necessary limitation on enrollment due to lack of housing or of other facilities should be designed to select those students with the greatest capacity for making use of the educational facilities of the University. W i t h the exception of veterans who were unable to enter the University when these admission restrictions were not necessary, and who may properly be admitted on a special selective basis suited to their greater maturity and experience, it is recommended that students be admitted only on evidence of scholarship and aptitude. " T h e Committee understands that a study of plans of admission to higher institutions has been started. T h e results of this study, together with a proposed revision of admission requirements to the University, will be presented to the Senate at a later date." T h e action of the Senate was reported to the Board of Trustees on February 14, 1946. On March 30, I transmitted to the Board of Trustees a plan of selective admissions of students with certain recommendations which are in line with the policy adopted by the University Senate. T h e plan was prepared by Provost Coleman R. Griffith in consultation with Registrar G. P . Tuttle, Dean R. R. Hudelson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Educational Policy, Director R. B. Browne of the Division of University Extension, Acting Dean W . S. Monroe of the College of Education, Dr. Fred H . T u r n e r , Dean of Students, Dr. J. T. Hastings, Technical Director of the H i g h School Testing Bureau, Director H . W . Bailey of the Student Personnel Bureau, and Professor A. W . Clevenger, H i g h School Visitor. I now present this plan and recommendations formally to the Board of Trustees. Attention is called to the sixth recommendation which restricts the admission of all out-of-state students to those who are in the upper twenty per cent of their high-school graduating classes, and provides for no exceptions. This item should, no doubt, receive further study as it involves matters of public policy. T h e same situation exists to a different degree in the case of in-state students who fail to pass the qualifying examinations, in case they are not in the upper third of their high-school graduating classes. T h e University Senate on April I adopted a plan of selective admission of undergraduate students for transmission to the Board of Trustees, which is also presented herewith. T h e Senate's recommendations conform with the previous statement of educational policy adopted by the Senate to the effect that in the interest of sound educational policy any necessary limitation of enrollment due to lack of housing or other facilities should be designed to affect those students with the greatest capacity for making use of the educational facilities of the University. T h e chief differences in the two plans are as follows: T h e Senate plan would restrict admissions of nonresidents of Illinois to those who have graduated from approved secondary schools and who rank in the upper 10 per cent of their graduating classes. T h e administration plan would admit nonresidents of Illinois who are in the upper 20 per cent of their high-school graduating classes. T h e Senate plan would restrict the admission of students transferring from