Cancel Lower Divisions? Proposal Flunks Logic

* To suggest as Robert Oliphant does (Valley Commentary, March 19) that the elimination of lower divisions at all UC and CSU campuses is even possible, much less desirable, is absurd.

A significant reason transfer students have higher grade point averages is the fact that a transferring student brings units and grade points to the university. Therefore, a transfer student with a community college GPA of 4.0 may maintain a GPA of only 2.1 at the university to “outperform” a four-year student maintaining a 3.0. In fact, transfer students have the highest rate of failure of all upper division categories.

Mr. Oliphant should consult his economics department before outlining in such a simple manner all the taxes and tuition which would be saved. To take the total cost and divide by the number of students ignores the fact that a substantial portion of the total expense is a fixed cost. Even if a single student never set foot on campus, there would be substantial expenses for staff and faculty salaries, maintenance, upkeep and research.

Under the plan of Santa Monica College President Richard Moore, which Oliphant endorses, these fixed costs would presumably be carried by the upper-division students or the taxpayer. Let us not forget the millions of dollars in income brought in by successful athletic programs, which depend greatly on freshman and sophomore superstars. Who would foot the bill for that lost income?

Mr. Oliphant asserts, “The Moore proposal may neglect the interests of a few precocious 18-year-olds, but the vast majority of California high school students will benefit . . . “ On what does he base this outrageous and unsupported claim? While it is possible that late bloomers may benefit from this, nothing prohibits them from pursuing this course now. It should be up to the students, parents and high school counselors to identify late bloomers and urge them to pursue the best route for them and allow the precocious students to follow their own course.

Perhaps Mr. Oliphant would like to ignore the effect of having talented lower division students coming from out of state. I seriously doubt they would continue to come at the same rate to attend community colleges in California.

The educational system we have is very much like the freeway system. If you find an alternate route, it is good only as long as everyone doesn’t try to use it.

JOHN ROCHA

Shadow Hills