Option 2: Freshman Admission Criteria Redesign

Data Set All students admitted as freshmen Fall 2007, 2008, 2009 (Total N = 3990) INCLUDES Admit codes A1, A2, A4, A6 Full-time and part-time fall term enrollees DOES NOT include Admit codes AF, A5 International students IMPACT Summary If Option 2 had been in place for the three cohorts under examination, 17% (679) of students who were admitted would not have been admitted. Men would have seen a disproportionate impact. The race/ethnic distribution among students would be similar to the distribution in the entering freshmen classes for those terms. The FT retention rate would be at least 71.8% and first term GPA would be approximately 3.1. This option results in approximately 300 students per fall who would need special admission consideration. Approximately 80 students per year would be admitted using the 5% admission cap. Those students would be targeted for additional support. Details Students not meeting criteria Students w/HS GPA below 3.0 921 (23.1%) not admitted Students meeting special admission appeal 242 Total students not admitted 679 (17.0%) Change in student profile Gender - This option has a disproportionate impact on men. For fall 2007, 2008, 2009, men made up 45% of the students. Applying the new matrix results in a cohort that is 40% men. Race/Ethnicity - Under option 2, the ethnic profile of the entering class would remain largely unchanged. Resident/Non-resident Mix Under Option 2, there would be no substantial change in the mix of resident and non-resident students. Freshman/Transfer Mix Reducing the freshman class size under Option 2 would have resulted in an entering class made up of 65% transfer students. Academic performance Retention rate: FT 71.8%, FT+PT 70.2%. First-term FT+PT: GPA 3.01; 13.5 credits attempted; 12.5 credits earned during first term of enrollment. Under Option 2, 10.0% of students would have a first-term GPA below 2.0, 20.3% 1st term GPA below 2.5, 39.2% 1st term GPA below 3.0.

Proposed Changes to Freshmen Admission Criteria and/or Process. No changes in PSUs admission requirements. Limit number of students with GPA below 3.0: Limit the number of students with GPA below 3.0, and other students admitted as exceptions to the stated admission requirements, to no more than five percent of PSUs first-time freshman class for the previous academic year (85 students). Other Issues All students with GPA below 3.0 to have an academic support plan in place before staring school. (Operational note) To reduce operational impact use a matrix designed for 91% of students to have 1st term of 2.0 (4% higher than current cohorts); 65% to have 1st term GPA of 2.5; 27% to have 1st term of 3.0. These students may be categorized as A1. Implement a recruiting program for students not admitted to PSU and direct them to a community college.