Q: What is your understanding of this proposed acceptance procedure?
A: Students who gain acceptance to the College via the 10 percent acceptance procedure still have to meet the same requirements as other students. This policy would mitigate SAT scores. Students from lower socioeconomic areas do score lower on the SAT, but they are still leaders and high achievers.
Q: What will this policy achieve that C of C's other diversity programs (i.e. SPECTRA) fail to achieve?
A: SPECTRA has been very successful for student recruitment and retention. This policy would be much more broad and target a greater group of students.
Q: In your opinion, why does C of C need this policy? What does increasing diversity and working with lowcountry high schools do for the College?
A: Having a greater number of minority students will noticeably increase diversity here at the College; however, the ratio is likely not to change. This policy enhances C of C's affordability and inclusion, and would help keep rising tuition in control.
Q: The argument has been made that this policy would violate the 14th amendment, what would you say about that?
A: I do no think that it violates the 14th amendment at all. It is a pilot program, and no quotas have been or will be established. It will provide greater diversity, but it is not geared toward race whatsoever.
Q: Why do you think it is difficult for C of C to enroll and retain minority students?
A: C of C does not offer the same scholarship money toward minority populations as other schools do. We do have a high retention rate, in fact it is just as high as Clemson. If you were to take away athletics at Clemson, their retention rate would actually be much lower. C of C is becoming more appealing to minority students, in fact, our retention rate is up 1.7% from last year.
Q: Do you think this program will cause a decrease in the number of out-of-state students that enroll at C of C?
A: C of C is constantly looking for ways to expand out of state student enrollment. Other schools offer incentives to bring in more out-of-state students. C of C, however, has a great reputation with a national outreach. This program will not likely have an impact on the number of out-of-state students.
Q: As the Associate VP of Enrollment Planning, do you think that this policy is a step in the right direction for the College?
A: This policy is a step in the right direction. I endorsed it, and am a strong advocate for a pilot program. President McConnell sees the value of it. We need to take a full year to test the program, carefully analyze it, and then the decision can be made to keep the program or abandon it.
No comments:
Post a Comment