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Wednesday, March 25, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Liberal arts officials expect relief from new deadlines
By PAUL SCHRAG
Staff writer
After several years of shouldering the burden of the University of Kansas' rapid enrollment increases, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may get some relief from new admission application deadlines announced Monday.
University officials said yesterday that they hoped that the deadlines, and a plan to give high school students better information about how to prepare for KU's expectations, would help hold down enrollment and boost students' academic success.
"I hope it will help ease the strain on the college," said Del Shankel, acting executive vice chancellor. "We are trying to put some limitations on the data we provide in better match between the number of students and the resources we have."
Because most KU students enter the college when they are admitted to the University, the college has felt the brunt of the University's financial crunch. The college absorbed an increase of 1,100 students in the fall without receiving any more money. Another increase is expected this fall.
The new application deadlines are May 1 for Kansas students and April 1 for out-of-state students. The University previously enforced no deadlines for applications.
Shankel appointed an enrollment planning task force last month to study the problem. Based on the task force's recommendations, Shankel approved a plan to send letters to incoming freshmen, advising them
about KU's academic expectations and encouraging them to complete recommended high school courses.
James Carothers, associate dean of liberal arts and sciences, said he hoped that the letters would encourage high school students to better prepare themselves for college classes. At least, he said, the letters will give the students fair warning.
"We want to give prospective students a fair evaluation of their high school preparation and a reasonable estimate of their chances for success at the University," Carothers said.
"If you can't have admission requirements, recommendations are approved."
The Regents recommend that Kansas high school students complete four years of English, three years of ath, three years of social sciences, three years of natural sciences and two years of a foreign language
Carothers said that according to a 1985 study, less than 20 percent of new KU students had fulfilled the Board of Regents guidelines for college preparation.
"We'd like to work more effectively with high school teachers and counselors to bring these percentages up." he said.
Joe VanZandt, coordinator of advising, said that he supported giving more information to new students but that he thought the plan would help only marginally.
"Without compromising our status as an open-admissions university, we are trying to implement a self-selection process, so that we don't unduly raise students' expectations about
what they find when they get here.
"With our burgeoning enrollment, we found that too many students were coming in with inadequate preparation."
But VanZandt said he was concerned that the increased emphasis on completing a specific high school curriculum might adversely affect recruitment of minorities and students that he called educationally disadvantaged.
Graduates of inner-city or small-town high schools often don't have the opportunity to fulfill the Regents curriculum guidelines, he said.
Carothers said the information plan was designed to improve the quality of new students and the application deadlines were intended to alleviate the headaches caused by late, underprepared students.
"The deadlines will improve our ability to plan and will eliminate the problem of walk-ins — people who show up late with no credentials," he said. "Walk-ins are very difficult to evaluate and advise."
VanZandt said that deadlines were necessary but that he had some reservations about placing them so early.
"We have had serious problems with students who come in at the last minute," he said. "It made no sense to admit students after classes had begun. Now we're swinging quite a way back in the opposite direction. We haven't given out-of-state students much time to make decisions."
Shankel said admissions officials would have the option to admit some students after the deadlines.
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MAIN ENROLLMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATES
SUMMER AND FALL 1987 (Graduate Students see Page 2 of the Timetable)
CAUTIONS
- Advising and Dean's Approval Stamp Periods END EARLY (April 10). Make an appointment soon to see your adviser.
- Plan your schedule well! List a good selection of alternate courses.
- Bring signed yellow Special Permission/ Approval cards for courses coded I or P!
KEY DATES
- Enrollment Card Pickup:
March 25 and 26: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business, Social Welfare, Applied English Center.
March 30 through April 3: All other schools.
- Advising Period:
March 30 through April 10: Two weeks only!
April 6 through April 10: Pre-professional School co-advising!
- Dean's Approval Stamp:
March 30: First day.
April 10: Last day.
- Enrollment Appointments begin April 6. Check your enrollment card.
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