ON WEDNESDAY, THE Kansas Board of Regents approved new admission standards for the state’s six public universities.
Led by ESU alum and Regents Chair Gary Sherrer said the goal for adopting tougher admittance standards is to have students better prepared so they can have greater success in higher education.
The new standards are:
• Complete the pre-college or Kansas Scholars curriculum with at least a 2.0 GPA; and achieve one of the following:
• Earn an ACT composite score of 21 or higher; or
• Earn a combined SAT score of 980 or higher on math and critical reading; or
• Rank in the top one-third of their graduating high school class.
Having tougher standards to help students succeed makes sense, but we see it as a mistake.
The Regents have outlined expectations for increased enrollment, and tougher standards hamper the universities’ efforts in meeting that goal.
As it stands now, all the universities are fighting for the same limited amount of qualified students. Universities are flocking to Johnson County, where the population is, to start degree programs, and that is causing turf battles. The University of Kansas lodged a complaint against Emporia State University and tried to prevent ESU from offering an education program in Johnson County. Others are going to China to set up degree programs.
If the Regents want to see enrollment grow, then they need to give universities freedom to set their own admission standards.
KU and K-State may want to limit students with tougher admission standards, but smaller universities like ESU and Pittsburg State may want to accept less-qualified students. It should be a dollars-and-sense issue for the university to make.
We can’t forget — if students can’t make it, they will flunk out. But at least they were given the opportunity for a higher education. Kansas children should have the right to attend a state university.
With Regents adopting tougher enrollment standards, they will only hurt institutions like ESU.
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
Chris, are you kidding me? Tougher admission standards aren't the problem. What is a problem is ridiculous standards like a 75% retention rate and competitive funding for universities based on enrollment head-counts, both of which virtually ensure grade inflation in order to keep enrollments (and state aid dollars) high.
"Dollars-and-sense" issues are what's got us in a mess--admitting and retaining students who can't earn a college degree without rampant grade inflation.
December 18, 2010 at 9:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I agree bobhornet. The only thing you gain with grade inflation is a devalued education.
December 18, 2010 at 11:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
When I was a kid growing up (in the 1940's and 50's) a person with a college degree was a rare thing. As such they were treated differentially in terms of respect and the positions they held. Only a few in my graduating class were college bound. Nobody in my family had ever gone.
By the time I started attending college in the late sixties the change had already begun. In fact I still remember my surprise that they would even let me attend considering my C-average high school grades. But I made it through. In fact I thrived in college and went on to enter a job market that still differed to college graduates.
Now everybody goes to college. If you don't qualify....no problem. We will lower our standards until you do. And now....college graduates join the ranks of high school dropouts in picking up a pay check from Bill's Burger Barn. But each one of those graduates dropped many thousands of dollars in tuition and economic benefits (either of their own money or the governments) to the state and the community on their way to Bill's.
So tying the health of the local economy to retention rates and student enrollment figures have cheapened college degrees to the point that many of the non-hard science degrees any more are virtually worthless. I don't think the trade-off has been worth it.
And incidentally....as another poster pointed out recently (wish I could recall his handle at the moment) most of the hard science classes are filled with Asians......mainly Chinese. and Indians. And who are they?.....our principle economic adversaries. And why are they here? To keep those enrollment and retention figures up.
December 19, 2010 at 5:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
And yet you still have politicians spouting off for a college education for everyone. Sorry people, but in the real world not every young person needs a college degree. If this mantra keeps up we will have some of the highest educated burger flippers and waitresses in the world.
What should be pushed is education in the hard sciences.
Engineering, chemistry, mathematics and the like.
Look at the story in the gazette about Wolf Creek. 100 workers needed for shut down. WELDERS, scaffolding erectors, construction people. Jobs which can be garnered much easier with vocational training, not a degree in Fine Arts. I am not knocking the fine arts, we are just talking about educating future workers, and how the education system , and our thoughts on it needs to adjust to the times.
if you kid is a c student in high school, and you have to fight to get them out of bed to go to class, chances are they are not motivated enough for college.
Maybe a mandatory 1 year service program between 12th grade and college entrance could help sort out those who really want to learn verses those just wanting a degree?
December 19, 2010 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
One of the greatest learning experiences in the world is free of financial expense. It is called "enlisting and serving in the military".
Learning life skills and getting an education, all while serving your country.
:>)
December 19, 2010 at 8:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Right on Steve. It was lessons learned during that stint in the military that caused me to see the value of education once I got out. Incidentally I didn't go on the governments dollar either. It was paid for with income earned by my wife and me. Somethings are a lot more valuable to you when you are paying the bill yourself.
I would love to see a mandatory service program required of ALL young people. No deferments. It wouldn't always have to be the military....but some type of mandatory service to country where you earn the rights we all go on about so much.
When we were young the mandatory service was called the draft. Unless you were a deferment king like that ex- Vice President......what was his name--he was big in some oil company.....or that ex-President--the one that had trouble with word definitions......:>)
December 19, 2010 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I agree, Steve.
Dumbing down of education has been a problem for a very long time. This is one of the reasons why No Child Left Behind was introduced, but so many are dead set against this program because their little darlings have to actually pass tests that measure how much they have learned. Sub-standard teaching techniques like "creative" lesson plans that don't do a damn thing but take up time are now a part of the past.
Horrors!
December 19, 2010 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
The elite always tell you what they are going to do in advance of there agenda. A military draft with a college deferment is on the drawing board. Does this make sense? I like what Mark Twain said, "I never let my schooling interfere with my education."
December 19, 2010 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Go to Lew Rockwell Is the government planning war to quell the tide of economic unrest?
December 19, 2010 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Yes reddog
School teaches you how to learn (supposedly).......life teaches you what you need to know. Old Mark was a pretty smart boy because he had the nerve to think out of the box.
"planning war to quell the tide of economic unrest?" What's new about that we have known that at least since the Civil War.....war is good for business.
December 19, 2010 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Go to Disclose . tv Plan for American education is to educate the rich.........This video discloses how America spends money on buildings and football fields instead of teachers. 50% OF THE DROP OUTS COME FROM 2000 SCHOOLS.
December 19, 2010 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Aprox 250 ESU under grads this dec. You dont have to have an advanced degree to understand that ,combine a state in trouble with low enrollment and what that will spell for ESU.When will thee enlightened RDA get off the pot and start to focus on enrollment at ESU.We dont need to compete for more low wage industrial jobs,we need to protect and grow our student base at ESU.
December 19, 2010 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
go to Alex Jones-C2 Coast AM December 7th, 2010.......This will give you some free speech education about Wikileaks controversies.
December 19, 2010 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
America needs to rethink how it educates the masses. We have turned public education into a day care center where ones grades and social standing depends upon your family name, not your knowledge, skills or abilities.
Look at any school's year books over the past 50 years and anyone can quickly see who's who in that town just by looking at the pictures. Not the pages that has one small picture of each student in alphabetical order, but the pictures of students in action throughout the book. The students belonging to the wealthy residents are depicted throughout the yearbook and it is no surprise that they are the same ones who are granted all the local scholarships.
Social promotion has been a nation wide problem that has turned America into a stupid land led by ignorant (yet popular) people.
National standardized tests are demonstrating that the straight A students don't always deserve a passing grade no matter how popular their parents are. That makes many teachers uncomfortable because they will be called to the carpet if they don't give the car dealer's child scholarly grades so they can qualify for the car dealers tax deductible donation of the scholarship earmarked for his own ignorant (yet popular) child.
December 19, 2010 at 1:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8g3Gb...
December 19, 2010 at 2:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
America needs to rethink how it educates the masses. We have many who use it as a day care center. Kid's grades and social standing depends upon what the student and their parents put into it. Some use lame excuses and blame others for their shortcomings in life, and simply ignore their child's lack of intelligence, common sense, drive/ ambition. There's no social barriers to keep any student from excelling in their school work, participating in the extra curricular programs and activities. Sure it helps if your folks are well known locally or your parent happens to be on the school staff, but hard work and talent go a long ways to making the team. It's obvious that for some, it's easier to just accuse others of cheating their way thru life using their money and social status, rather than putting forth an effort themselves. Jealousy/laziness does that to some people.
What you see in school yearbooks is typically what is put their by members of the yearbook staff. Staff- meaning other high school students. Most often, the students shown in the action pictures are the ones who go out for the sports teams, who go out for band, participate in the plays, etc. In short, they are the ones who go out and do more than the bare minimum needed to get by.
I usually appreciate most of what you post REWBA, but your post above couldn't be anymore untrue.
I'm not rich, nor popular with many people because I tell people what they don't want to hear about themselves. I'm not a local business owner, I have zero influence on local politics. My kids are/were excellent 4.0 public school students. They participate in every activity available that they have time for, be it sports or other EC activities provided by the schools they attend. Both have been featured in "action photos" of the yearbook because of their involvement in many of the school activities. One of my kids has been given multiple academic and local scholarships for college use based on GPA and SAT/ACT scores. I predict my youngest will get both athletic and academic ones offered as well. According to your claim, neither should get a thing because of our social standing. I told both of my kids they would have to work hard to reach their goals, they obviously both listened.
December 20, 2010 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
neighbor, I appreciate your posts too. I guess what one believes depends upon personal experiences. Yours were obviously different than mine.
You probably attended K-12 in the same town where I never attended more than two years in the same state.
Don't get me wrong, I got really good at adjusting to new environments and due to my extremely good looks, my action pictures have been featured in school yearbooks throughout the United States.
Back in the day, I served as a recruiter for the Army. My most productive time of year was December when many the genius's who received local scholarships got their first semester grade report and discovered that not only weren't they as smart as they were led to believe but they were going to have to pay all that money back too. :-)
December 20, 2010 at 3:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
If the United States would officially eliminate the confusing and antiquated English Imperial system of weights and measures and convert to the metric system, a larger percentage of American students would excel in math and therefor excel in science as well. jmo
December 20, 2010 at 7:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )