Fullerton : Speakers Debate Tough College Requirements

Opposing views were aired this week on the recent action by trustees of the California State University system to toughen entrance requirements.

Several speakers at a session of the Multi-Cultural Council at Cal State Fullerton charged that the increased high school academics being required will penalize minority students and cause a drop in their enrollment.

But John Bedell, CSU system associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, told the meeting in rebuttal that minority students will benefit from the higher standards that go into effect in the fall of 1988. He said the minority students, by being better prepared at the high school level, will have a reduced dropout rate when they enter CSU.

The new CSU entrance requirements will make it necessary for a high school graduate to have three years of math (instead of two now required). Other new requirements are two years of foreign language, a year of U. S. history and government, a year of lab science, a year of courses in the visual and performing arts, and more variety in academic electives.

“We are not opposed to raising the standards; we are worried that (minority students) can’t meet those standards in time,” said Stephanie Lopez, a member of the Multi-Cultural Council. Added Kathy Harry, chair of the Multi-Cultural Council: “We say 1988 is an unrealistic time frame (for implementing the new entrance requirements).”

Bedell responded that a survey by the university system has already shown that the vast majority of high schools in California are geared up to provide the extra academics required for CSU admission. “The biggest gap (statewide in the high schools) was in the performing arts,” he said.

Bedell also said that by requiring high school students to be better prepared, fewer high school graduates would fail or drop out of CSU when admitted. “Our goal is to enhance the success of these people,” he said.

John Ochoa, an official with the Southern California Assn. of Governments, told the session: “I happen to agree overall that what CSU is asking of students is really a good idea. My problem is that it doesn’t get down to high school and junior high, because that’s where the problems are.”

About 120 high school and junior high students from Santa Ana and Garden Grove attended the conference Tuesday at Cal State Fullerton. The university speakers urged the students to be prepared, well in advance, so they can get into the college of their choice.