How Does the New UC Admission Policy Change College Access for Latinos?

In February, the UC Regents approved several changes in the UC freshman admission policy for all applicants entering in the fall of 2012. Changes include the elimination of SAT II Subject test requirements, increases in the number of classes that students must complete by the end of their junior year, changes in the percentages of students guaranteed admission, and the creation of the new Entitled to Review category for eligible students.

Steps in the right direction

The elimination of expensive SAT II Subject test requirements removes a financial and logistical barrier to the UC admission process. This change, along with the five percent increase in guaranteed admission for Eligibility in the Local Context, may increase the pool of Latino students eligible to apply.

It’s a mixed bag

Although the Entitled to Review category may increase the total number of students eligible for consideration of admission, the elimination of referrals to other University of California campuses and the new requirement for all eligible students to complete 11 out of 15 a-g courses by the end of their junior year present areas of concern that may have negative implications for Latino students. Furthermore, it is not clear what kind of impact that the shift to guaranteed admission for only certain groups of eligible students will have for the general population and for Latinos, in particular.

Action - Today!

Immediate efforts must be undertaken by the University of California to ensure immediate and appropriate dissemination of information to middle schools and high schools, counselors, families and students regarding the admission policy changes to high school sophomores. This is especially important given broader trends toward enrollment caps and limited course offerings during current times of budget crises. Additionally, further studies need to be done to evaluate the impact of the changes in UC admissions policy on Latino students.

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