Revising admissions

Monday, June 23, 2008 | 2:08 a.m.

UNLV President David Ashley and fellow university officials deserve applause for pursuing a brave new approach to admissions requirements, one that would rely on more than merely grade-point average. They are preparing new standards that would also take into account applicants’ leadership skills, their experiences in overcoming hardship and whether they are the first in their families to seek a college education.

Las Vegas Sun reporter Charlotte Hsu, writing about the plan last week, quoted Ashley as saying that his goal is to achieve greater student diversity on campus. That includes, but is not limited to, racial, ethnic and economic diversity. It is a noble goal that would enrich the university experience for all involved. But to achieve that goal, UNLV would be wise to increase its investment in outreach programs, as suggested to Hsu by Richard Siegel, president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada. The idea is to better prepare high school students from underrepresented groups for the challenges they will face in college.

This goes beyond simply spending more money. UNLV needs to encourage Clark County School District teachers, counselors and principals to help identify highly motivated high school students who may not have the highest grade-point averages but would nonetheless stand a good chance of succeeding at UNLV. Take for example the hypothetical case of a teenager who achieved only a C average but did so while living in a noisy, broken home with abusive parents who are deep in debt. Put that same student in a quiet, stable household with parents who are willing to expand his or her horizons through weekend activities and you could easily see a report card with a lot more A’s and B’s.

A student’s potential should not be judged simply by grades but by that individual’s life experiences. Revising admission standards to account for those experiences will make it easier for deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds to earn a UNLV education.