SP-l
Approved as amended
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
July 12, 1995
TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS:
ITEM FOR ACTION
For Meeting of July 20, 1995
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION: POLICY ENSURING EQUAL TREATMENT-- ADMISSIONS
Regent Connerly recommends that the following resolution be adopted:
WHEREAS, Governor Pete Wilson, on June 1, 1995, issued Executive Order W-
124-95 to "End Preferential Treatment and to Promote Individual Opportunity
Based on Merit"; and
WHEREAS, paragraph seven of that order requests the University of California
to "take all necessary action to comply with the intent and the requirements
of this executive order"; and
WHEREAS, in January 1995, the University initiated a review of its policies
and practices, the results of which support many of the findings and conclusions
of Governor Wilson; and
WHEREAS, the University of California Board of Regents believes that it
is in the best interest of the University to take relevant actions to develop
and support programs which will have the effect of increasing the eligibility
rate of groups which are "underrepresented" in the University's
pool of applicants as compared to their percentages in California's graduting
high school classes and to which reference is made in Section 4;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, with consultation of the President,
shall appoint a task force representative of the business community, students,
the University, other segments of education, and organizations currently
engaged in academic "outreach." The responsibility of this group
shall be to develop proposals for new directions and increased funding for
the Board of Regents to increase the eligibility rate of those currently
identified in Section 4. The final report of this task force shall be presented
to the Board of Regents within six months after its creation.
Section 2. Effective January 1, 1997, the University of California shall
not use race, religion, sex, color ethnicity, or national origin as criteria
for admission to the University or to any program of study.
Section 3. Effective January 1, 1997, the University of California shall
not use race, religion, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin as criteria
for "admissions in exception" to UC-eligibility requirements.
Section 4. The President shall confer with the Academic Senate of the University
of California to develop supplemental criteria for consideration by the
Board of Regents which shall be consistent with Section 2. In developing
such criteria, which shall provide reasonable assurances that the applicant
will successfully complete his or her course of study, consideration shall
be given to individuals who, despite having suffered disadvantage economically
or in terms of their social environment (such as an abusive or otherwise
dysfunctional home or a neighborhood of unwholesome or antisocial influences),
have nonetheless demonstrated sufficient character and determination in
overcoming obstacles to warrant confidence that the applicant can pursue
a course of study to successful completion, provided that any student admitted
under this section must be academically eligible for admission.
Section 5. Effective January 1, 1997, not less than fifty (50) percent and
not more than seventy-five (75) percent of any entering class on any campus
shall be admitted solely on the basis of academic achievement.
Section 6. Nothing in Section 2 shall prohibit any action which is strictly
necessary to establish or maintain eligibility for any federal or state
program, where ineligibility would result in a loss of federal or state
funds to the University.
Section 7. Nothing in Section 2 shall prohibit the University from taking
appropriate action to remedy specific, documented cases of discrimination
by the University, provided that such actions are expressly and specifically
approved by the Board of Regents or taken pursuant to a final order of a
court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this
section shall interfere with the customary practices of the University with
regard to the settlement of claims against the University related to discrimination.
Section 8. The President of the University shall periodically report to
the Board of Regents detailing progress to implement the provisions of this
resolution.
Section 9. Believing California's diversity to be an asset, we adopt this
statement: Because individual members of all of California's diverse races
have the intelligence and capacity to succeed at the University of California,
this policy will achieve a UC population that reflects this state's diversity
through the preparation and empowerment of all students in this state to
succeed rather than through a system of artificial preferences.
(Back to top)
(AAD Homepage)
- Carl Gutierrez-Jones,
- Department of English
- University of California
- Santa Barbara, CA 93106
- E-mail: carlgj@humanitas.ucsb.edu