The University of Houston has decided
to automatically admit applicants in the top 20 percent of their
graduating class, sidestepping the controversial top 10 percent
admissions law. University officials said the revised policy would be
implemented in the fall 2006 semester regardless of ongoing legislative
attempts to change the law. "We think this [new policy] will serve us
very well because we will get good students that have worked hard to
get here," said Susanna Finnell, the university's admissions director.
The new policy was announced this week after months of study by a task
force of faculty members, administrators and other educators. The top
10 percent law was enacted after a 1996 U.S. Court of Appeals decision
made affirmative action illegal in Texas public universities.
Supporters said the rule would produce a diverse student body by
admitting the top 10 percent from all schools, including those with
predominantly Hispanic or black populations. A U.S. Supreme Court
decision in June 2003 has since allowed public universities to use race
as one factor in admissions. University administrators, including
University of Texas at Austin President Larry Faulkner, have urged
legislators to change the law. They say many qualified students who
aren't in the top 10 percent are leaving the state because they aren't
getting into the best Texas universities. [more]
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