TSU CHANGES ADMISSIONS POLICY!

IS IT A GOOD IDEA OR A BAD ONE?

The days of an "open-admission policy" at the Texas Southern University will soon be long gone.

The university's Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to approve changes to set new admission standards and eliminate the University’s current “open-admissions policy.”

Prospective students will need to acquire a minimum 2.0 grade-point-average and submit an ACT or SAT test score for admittance into the university, according to an official university statement. Any student who does not meet the University’s minimum requirements will be required to attend a conditional summer academic program.

“It is my hope that a change in the admissions policies will academically challenge and motivate students to learn and enhance their academic experience, while ultimately increasing graduation rates,” Interim Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs James Douglas said in the prepared statement.

The change in the admissions policy also will start a new partnership between TSU and local community colleges to implement the “2 + 2 program,” which is designed for students who fail the summer conditional program. The program will require students to complete two years at a community college with assigned courses that are transferable to the university.

Other recommended programs include the development of an Urban Academic Village, which was established to encourage students to enhance their academic experience by living on campus and meet required class attendance policies.

“I want to commend President Rudley and Provost Douglas on the recommendations they have made to increase graduation rates and aggressively taking on this serious challenge,” said Regent Gary Bledsoe in a prepared statement. “Now is the time for change and we want to ensure these standards are beneficial to all those who make-up this great institution.”