Last month, William Powers, president of the University of Texas, urged state lawmakers to cap the number of students who are guaranteed admission to state colleges at half the current number. The program targets only students graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school class. The program historically enables non-minority students to gain easier access to the state college of their choice.
For the other available slots, Powers wants universities to decide whom to admit, which will allow race to be a deciding factor. Powers said that without this change, the proportion of minorities at his university will decline. A version of the new law is expected to pass this year.
California, on the other hand, is choosing a different path. If a student ranks in the top 4 percent of his high school class or in the top 12.5 percent of the graduating class statewide, he or she receives guaranteed admission to a state college. University officials urge the passage of guaranteed admission to students graduating in the top 9 percent of their high school class, as well as the top 9 percent of the graduating class statewide.
They also want colleges to be allowed a “comprehensive” review of its applicants. University officials say the review will help more white, Black, and Hispanic students. Critics, on the other hand, point out that this reinstates racial preferences, which significantly reduces the number of Asian students. ♦