To:
UH-Hilo Congress
From: Ad Hoc Admissions Committee1
Date: March 13, 2006
I. PROCESS BY WHICH ADMISSION STANDARDS ARE SET
The Congress ad hoc admissions committee recommends the creation of a standing
admissions committee in Congress to review and recommend general admission
standards for UH-Hilo undergraduates. The purview of this committee would include
first-time new students, transfer students, home schooled students, re-admittance of
dismissed students, and students who would otherwise be denied admission but have
exceptional skills and talents of interest to the University. The committee members
shall be the Director of Admissions, one faculty representative from each college that
awards undergraduate degrees, the Dean of each college that grants undergraduate
degrees, and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Institutional Analyst shall
be an ex-officio member of the committee. The chair of the committee must be a voting
member of congress and is entitled to a one course reduction per academic year. The
VCAA office shall be responsible for providing a lecturer replacement.
It is recognized that some colleges within UH-Hilo may wish to impose higher admission
standards for registration in particular courses or programs. The ad hoc admissions
committee recommends that individual colleges should have the prerogative of setting
these higher standards.
It is further recognized that some colleges may wish to establish admission opportunity
programs for applicants that do not meet the University's general admission standards.
The ad hoc admissions committee recommends that colleges should have the prerogative
of establishing these programs, but that they must have admission standards, a faculty
review process, an on-going academic support structure to assist students, and an
evaluation component to monitor effectiveness of the program.
In addition to recommending undergraduate admission standards, the standing admissions
committee shall be charged with:
1. Making periodic assessments of admission standards in light of the mission of the
University, the strategic plan, financial realities, and other factors such as UH
System or Board of Regents requirements. Any incongruity between the strategic
plan and financial realities should be noted in Committee reports.
2. Making periodic, evidence-based assessments of admission opportunity programs
established for students that do not meet the general admission standards. These
assessments must address the effectiveness of support services and the impact of
the program on other colleges.
II. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
1
The appointed committee members are: Bill Mautz, Jennifer Richardson, James Cromwell, Gail
Makuakane-Lundin, Bill Sakai, and Emmeline DePillis.
1. The institutional analyst should identify the characteristics (in-state, out-of-state,
first-generation, transfer, etc.) of those students that do poorly in their first
semester at UH-Hilo. Results can be used to provide effective support services
designed to increase retention, or to fine-tune the admissions criteria.
2. The policy and procedures of re-admittance by colleges should be reviewed.
3. The viability of special opportunity programs for low scoring applicants is
contingent on the consistent availability of support services.
III. HIGH SCHOOL GPA AND SAT SCORES AS PREDICTORS OF FRESHMAN
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
See separate report ("AdmissionsComm_PredictingSuccess.doc")