San Diego State University officials are challenging critics who say the campus is turning its back on local students.
The backlash comes a few weeks after SDSU announced it was ending its admissions preference for most local students. For years local students gained admission despite having lower grades and test scores.
Now they must have the same GPA and SAT scores as out-of-area students.
Sandra Cook, SDSU’s assistant vice president for academic affairs, said local students who do meet all of those requirements will still be given priority. She said the university is currently developing a point system so they get a leg-up.
“We haven't figured out how to do this yet, but we've said we'll give bonus eligibility index points to local students so that if you have someone from out-of-area and [someone from] in-the-area with the exact same requirements, the local student will have an advantage,” Cook said.
San Diego State University officials are currently meeting with local community college and public school leaders to talk about the university's decision to end its admissions preference for most local students.
Cook said state budget cuts are forcing the university to shrink its student body -- and this program was one of the casualties.
“If we didn't change the policy we wouldn't have the tools to prevent over-enrollment. And we would risk not being able to balance students coming in with the right majors and resources to make sure they have the right resources to graduate.”
Cook says SDSU is keeping other admission preference programs in tact, including the Compact for Success with the Sweetwater Union High School District, the Education Opportunity Program and a Transfer Admission Guarantee.
