The decision of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to stop giving significant admissions preference to minority students sparked student protests and debate about universities' promises of affirmative action. Constitutional scholars and higher-education officials found the university's numerical goals for admissions legally risky, so the…

Discusses the potential impact of trends in the health-care environment on these aspects of medical education: admissions, faculty, curriculum, and educational outcome. Proposes research questions intended to guide inquiry and empirical studies in each of these four domains. Contains references. (SLD)

The high school graduating class of 2008 will be the largest, the youngest, and the most racially and ethnically diverse in U.S. history. This new generation, coupled with a demographic slump in the 24- to 35-year-old population expected at that time, will force higher education institutions to face a new set of concerns and expectations. (MSE)

In response to legislation eliminating race and gender as factors in admissions decisions, the University of California instituted a series of short- and long-range outreach strategies to recruit disadvantaged students, increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the eligibility pool, change the culture of secondary schools to promote…

Provides basic information that a college or university chief financial officer (CFO) must know about enrollment management in order to understand how to work effectively with admissions and financial aid professionals to maximize tuition revenue and enroll the optimal class. Specific suggestions for CFO involvement are outlined. (Author/MSE)

A report based on a study of 45,184 students entering 28 selective colleges in 1976 or 1989 is the most comprehensive look at how students benefitting from racial preference in college admission fared during and after college. The authors say the findings disprove the claim that black students with low test scores are better off at less selective…

The nonprofit corporation that performs standardized testing for law school admission has in recent years produced $100 million in profits. For minority groups who tend to score poorly on the test, the question is why the corporation refuses to dedicate some of its wealth to commissioning an independent study of whether test results correlate with…

Presents statistical data on the progress of African Americans in higher education, discussing: the black-white higher education equality index; statistics measuring the state of racial inequality; blacks in the performing and fine arts; and state-by-state comparison of blacks as a percentage of all public and private college enrollments compared…

Ontario university admission data for 1983-93 were analyzed for evidence of high school grade inflation and grade-enhancement practices in response to increased competition for university admission. Results show only a moderate increase in entering grades, and suggest that grade inflation must be distinguished from changes reflecting demographic…

Summarizes results of a survey of 313 gay, lesbian, and bisexual students at 93 law schools and from 41 student organizations concerning the admissions process (the application process, advice to applicants); the classroom and community climate for law students; and issues relating to gay/lesbian/bisexual student organizations (organizational…

Research shows that though college students tend to support diversity, a large percentage are opposed to giving preferences to minorities in the admissions process. Some of the research on the subject is incomplete or misleading. Other studies show that though campuses worry about the stigmatization of students given preferential admission,…

Examined significance of PCAT scores, prepharmacy GPA, math and science GPA, and attainment of a previous college degree in predicting first-year pharmacy GPA. Asserts that the best predictive model incorporated all variables, while the most parsimonious model included math and science GPA and the PCAT chemistry subscore. The PCAT was a…

Summarizes findings about consistently low Latino admission eligibility for the University of California. Raises concerns about the role of standardized tests in determining eligibility and suggests alternatives that would allow admission criteria to be reconsidered in the current post-affirmative action era. (Author/GCP)

Reports on plans for new "race-blind" entrance criteria at the 10 public universities in Florida. Plans call for ending racial preferences in graduate education altogether and replacing undergraduate preferences with a guarantee of admission to a state university for the top 20 percent of Florida high school graduates. Critics and…

Examines how the University of California has addressed the problem of differential access for minorities and longstanding inconsistencies between its admissions practices and mission. Argues that the university's recent retreat from affirmative action signals a departure from its earlier emphasis on providing greater access to higher education…