Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: Campus News

UW-Eau Claire officials are considering how to implement a policy that makes all prospective students' backgrounds an official component of the admissions process.

Under a "holistic" approach to admissions, each applicant's race, economic background, life circumstances, special talents and extracurricular activities will become part of their qualifications for acceptance.

At the request of UW System President Kevin Reilly, all UW campuses are assessing their admissions system to prepare for final approval of the holistic approach by the Board of Regents, which officials said is likely to come in December.

Officials at the System and university level said academics will remain paramount and contested claims by critics this summer that the new policy will erode the importance of academics and give opportunities to less-qualified students.

"It became a political hot button because I think it was framed in racial terms," said Director of Admissions Kris Anderson. "I think there was this misconception that we weren't going to look at academics."

Anderson said applicants' backgrounds have always been important for selecting students who fall in the "gray area," and will now be relevant for all who enroll.

The policy adjustment stems from a set of cases involving the University of Michigan, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that universities may consider race in admissions as long as it is part of an overall background evaluation and not based on any sort of mechanical or numerically-based policy.

Previously, Michigan had a points system that awarded additional points to minority applicants.

Extending the background assessment to all Eau Claire students will increase diversity and improve the university's learning environment, said Kimberly Barrett, associate vice chancellor of Student Development and Diversity.

"If we want to continue efforts to increase the racial diversity on campuses for the educational benefit of all students, most campuses must make some changes to their admissions process," she said.

The changed policy will mean more work for admissions officers, though Anderson doesn't believe it will require additional funding or personnel.

Eau Claire students of various backgrounds had subtly different views of the policy, though most supported it in principle.

"I think (a holistic policy) would bring in minds that think in different ways," junior Matt Kurtzahn said. "There are circumstances where a really brilliant mind could have been hindered … it's a good idea to look at things aside from grades and ACT scores."

Sophomore Michael Bramorski was more skeptical, saying it's difficult to know where to draw the line in making life circumstances more important.

"I don't have a problem with it, as long as it's not over-done," he said. "Problems arise when the better student isn't accepted."

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