Senate discusses policy on unmet requirements

Laura Kennedy

ISU Faculty Senate members reconsidered their policy decision on unmet high school requirements during their meeting on Dec. 12. The policy, which sets guidelines for university enrollment of students without all of their high school credit requirements, had been approved by senate members during their November meeting.According to the policy, students may be admitted into the university with one unmet high school requirement.David Bousquet, assistant vice president for admissions, said he was concerned with the policy changing the number of unmet requirements from two to one requirement. He said this policy would apply to all students with less than 24 college credits.Many Faculty Senate members agreed with Bousquet, who spoke on behalf of the Academic Affairs Council.”I believe [in letting] those people come here and try,” said Barbara Mack, associate professor of journalism and mass communication. “That’s what land grant institutions are about.”Bousquet said less than one percent of students are admitted to the university with unmet requirements.Other senate members were also concerned about the policy.John Robyt, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, said he thought the policy seemed unnecessary.”I don’t know why we don’t make it a requirement that no unmet requirements will be admitted since there is such a small number,” he said. Robyt said this would help the students who want to come to Iowa State in gaining the knowledge they need for college.”I know that there are people in this state that feel that anyone can get into Iowa State University. I’ve had people tell me,” he said. “It should not be that way if we are a first-class university becoming the best land grant university in the world.”