THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050274
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
With 42 percent of Old Dominion University's freshmen doing so poorly that they face probation or suspension, the university says it's time to toughen admission standards.
The Faculty Senate, at its meeting this afternoon, will vote on the new standards, which would have excluded at least 60 of the 1,600 freshmen this year. Under the proposal, ODU would not admit anyone, for instance, with less than a 700 SAT score or a C average in high school, starting next year.
``In the last couple of years, there have been larger numbers of students who haven't been able to cope with the classes,'' said Robert L. Ake, an associate professor of chemistry who is chairman of the faculty body. ``This seems like one of the things we can do to make sure students come here better qualified to handle the material.''
Ake said the failure rate of students in his classes has risen sharply over the last few years, though he declined to reveal the numbers. He blamed poor academic preparation and study skills and students' lack of responsibility.
The senate's resolution says 42 percent of the school's freshmen last fall couldn't attain a C average. Full-time students who don't make a C average are either suspended or put on probation. The state does not keep track of probation and suspension rates on other campuses.
``This figure is alarming,'' the resolution says. ``While there are a number of long-term actions that can be taken to reduce that number, adjusting admissions standards to exclude those students who have a high probability of failure should impact this figure right away.''
Administrators, who crafted the proposal with professors, said they intend to put it in place next year.
``I think that, in the past, our admission standards have been too liberal,'' said Jo Ann Gora, ODU's acting president. ``While maintaining the principle of access, we need to tighten admission standards.''
Gora said the probation and suspension rate has jumped from previous years. ``We were alarmed at the number,'' she said. ``I don't know whether there was grade inflation in the high schools. The profile of our students has not dropped; it's just that they aren't doing as well.''
State education officials, who have been prodding colleges to beef up their admission standards, like the tougher standards.
Margaret A. Miller, associate director of the State Council of Higher Education, said: ``The council is concerned about the degree of remediation on some campuses and would like to send a message to students: `If you want to go to a four-year school, you have to prepare for it.
`` `Higher education is not a right; it's a privilege.' ''
The state released a report in September comparing the average high school grades and SAT scores of freshmen at state-supported four-year colleges.
ODU ranked ninth out of the 13 schools reporting high school grade point averages, with a 2.82 average - slightly below a B. It was tied for eighth out of 14 schools with a 926 SAT. The College of William and Mary had the highest numbers in both categories - a 3.89 GPA and 1230 SAT score. Norfolk State University had the lowest - a 2.11 GPA and 669 SAT score.
NSU has agreed to drop its open-admissions policy and require a C average of applicants starting in 1997.
ODU generally requires a C average and 850 SAT score for admission, said Patricia P. Cavender, assistant vice president for enrollment services. But annually it admits about 300 students who don't meet either or both those standards.
Professors and administrators voiced support of the senate's plan Monday.
``I have the perception that the students are not as well-prepared to gain the knowledge that we're trying to impart in engineering,'' said Gregory V. Selby, chairman of the mechanical engineering department. ``They don't seem to be prepared in math and analytical reasoning abilities.''
Renee E. Olander, a former ODU English instructor who is director of academic advising for the university's College of Arts and Letters, said: ``Students who come here with a B average often find they are not prepared for college work. . . . Very often they think they can miss more than one class a week and are completely unaware of the serious kind of scholarship you have to do to succeed. I tell them they're expected to spend two hours out of class in study for every hour in class, and they look at me like I'm crazy.''
Both Selby and Olander said the change wouldn't shut out low-achieving students from college: Those denied admission to ODU could take their first two years at a community college and then transfer.
But both also said tougher standards weren't enough to ensure the success of students at ODU. Selby said ODU should increase scholarships to help lure top-notch local high school seniors.
Olander said faculty members shouldn't give up counseling students. ``In general, the students we do have are teachable students,'' she said.
Cavender said ODU has already begun programs to attract high-achieving students. Starting next fall, freshmen with high grades will be guaranteed spots in eight professional or graduate programs, including physical therapy and dental hygiene. Old Dominion also is offering $500 book stipends to high school seniors with at least a B average or 1050 SAT score.
Gora said the university also increased tutoring services this year for freshmen in such courses as chemistry and math.
KEYWORDS: HIGHER EDUCATION by CNB