Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1976 [PAGE 609]

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598

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 14

T h e policy approved by the Board of Trustees in 1967 is as follows: A test of competence in English shall be required of all foreign students, including transfers, who file applications for admissions in September 1967, and thereafter, except foreign students who are citizens of a country where the native language is English, or who have degrees from colleges or universities in countries where English is the native language and where all instruction was in English. A score on the examination will be received by the University of Illinois before action is taken on the student's request for admission. All prospective foreign students who receive a score below the minimum score of acceptance on the test will not be admitted to the University. T h e University Dean of Admissions and Records, or an officer designated by the President, shall select the test to be used, subject to approval by the All-University Committee on Admissions. T h e Director of Admissions and Records on each campus may, however, upon recommendation of the college concerned, waive the requirement of test if evidence presented by the applicant clearly justifies such action. The proposed revision is as follows: A test of competency in English shall be required of all applicants for admission whose native or primary language is other than English, except those who have completed, in countries where English is the native language and where all instruction was in English, a minimum of (1) three years of secondary school, including 3 units of English, or (2) two years of full-time college-level instruction. Beginning freshman applicants whose high school graduation requirement can be met by satisfactory scores on the English language G E D examination, may use the scores on this examination in lieu of the test of competency in English. Students who have lived in a non-English-speaking country or region after satisfying one of the above exceptions may be required to submit scores. T h e test(s) to be used and the minimum score(s) shall be subject to the approval of the University Committee on Admissions with the advice of the University's Technical Committee on Testing. A score on the examination must be received before the final action is taken on the application. Prospective students who receive a score below the minimum for acceptance will not be admitted to the University. However, upon agreement by the Director of Admissions and Records and the Dean of the College concerned, the requirement of the test, or the requirement of a satisfactory score, may be waived, if evidence of competence in English presented by the applicant clearly justifies such action. I concur and recommend (1) approval of the revised policy as presented and (2) that it become effective for admissions no earlier than the winter quarter in Chicago or midyear in Urbana.

Mr. Velasquez and others raised questions concerning this item, based on their belief that the proposed change was unnecessary and would appear to single out unfairly one segment of student applicants. The student advisory vote was: Aye, none; no, Mr. Conlon, Mr. Summers. Mr. Szegho asked to be recorded as not voting. Following extensive discussion, the recommendation was moved by Mr. Forsyth, but was defeated by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Hahn, Mrs. Rader, Mrs. Shepherd; no, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Howard, Mr. Lenz, Mr. Neal, Mr. Velasquez; absent, Mr. Livingston, Governor Walker.