Critics scrutinize admissions process

Monday, April 1, 1996By Rachanee Srisavasdi

Daily Bruin Staff

UCLA’s admission process has recently come under fire because of
recent reports that admission favors were granted to prominent
citizens, legislators and university officials.

Special consideration had been given to applicants referred by
University of California regents, political officials, donors and
alumni for years, as uncovered by a Los Angeles Times investigation
a few weeks ago.

These reports have spurred criticism of UCLA’s admissions
process ­ namely that backdoor preferences cause more
qualified students to be turned away.

Yet, admissions officials defended the process and stated
backdoor cases make up only half of one percent of each freshman
class.

"People are going to call if they know somebody in the
university," said Rae Lee Siporin, undergraduate director of
admissions at UCLA.

"They’re going to say, ‘please review me, please make sure I
don’t fall through the cracks.’"

UC administrators expressed disapproval of such preferences and
called for a system-wide review of UC admission processes in
response to news reports.

In a letter to the regents, UC President Richard Atkinson said
"the University has no policy that affords preferences to students
as a result of letters or other communications on their behalf by
prominent citizens, nor do we endorse such practices."

Requests came from high-ranking political and university
officials alike, according to university records obtained by The
Bruin. Gov. Pete Wilson and former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley
made requests for admissions. Regents Leo Kolligian, Clair Burgener
and Meredith Khachigian have made special admission requests.
University officials defended special consideration, and argued
that the inquires of prominent individuals should be noted.

"The regents run the University of California," said John
Kobara, associate vice chancellor for university relations.
"They’re in control. When they write a letter, it gets attention,
no matter what it says."

Admission records obtained by The Bruin showed that Chancellor
Young also made several requests, sometimes overriding the
admission’s office decision.

"There are cases when he said, ‘I want this student admitted,’
where I felt it wasn’t something I’d personally do," Siporin
said.

"He doesn’t have to give me a lot of reasons. He’s the
chancellor of the university, he has the authority," Siporin
added.

Special inquiries average about 100 a year, according to
university records. Most requests for admission were denied if the
applicant did not meet minimum UC eligibility, specifically being
in the top 12.5 percent of the state’s high school graduates.

UCLA administrators admitted to some faulty admissions decisions
in the past.

"It appears that in a handful of cases, the support of an
influential individual helped a student gain admission. Looking
back over the past 20 years, there may be a few judgements we would
make differently today," Young said in a recent statement.

Special requests at UCLA were recorded by University Relations,
the department that handles external relations with alumni, donors
and media. The department compiled the requests, and then sent them
to the admissions office or department.

Applicants for undergraduate admissions were then ‘marked’
throughout the admissions process; afterwards, applicants were
sometimes given an extra review by Siporin.

"I will give them an additional reading if necessary, if they’re
questionable, if they’re borderline, and it is important to the
university," Siporin said.

Under the university’s master plan, each state resident is
guaranteed access to higher public education, regardless of their
financial circumstances.

Criteria for admissions into graduate schools depend on the
department, which selects students to be admitted to graduate
programs.

Additionally, UCLA is one of the more selective of UC campuses,
rejecting more than half of students who apply to the undergraduate
level.

Yet a UCLA acceptance does not simply depend on academic
achievements, but supplemental factors as well. Not only is a
strong academic record needed, but the university looks for
achievement in other areas as well, Siporin explained.

"How do you measure merit, pure, fair and across the boards?"
Siporin asked. "(People) think there is an easy way to do it."

Though UCLA receives one-quarter of its budget from the state,
the private sector provides an increasing source of university
funds. Some argued that the university’s dependence on private
funds could pressure university officials into granting backdoor
admissions preferences.

However, admission officials disagreed and said UCLA accepts
students regardless of their socio-economic status.

"I could fill the freshman class with sons and daughters of
those who donate and nobody else, but this is simply not true,"
Siporin said. About one-third of each freshman class comes from
families that cannot contribute to the student’s financial aid,
Siporin said.

"Because (these cases are) visible it becomes a huge flashpoint.
Some will say ‘I didn’t get in because of affirmative action or
because some rich kid can afford to get in.’ Everybody will point
fingers," Siporin added.

During the admissions process, each application goes through
several reviews. First, there is an academic review, which
identifies students with the best grades and test scores. A
comprehensive review follows, in which an applicant’s honors, extra
curricular activities, essay and other factors are considered.

The review of UC admission practices will be completed by late
May, when the results will be presented to the Atkinson and the
Board of Regents.See related story:

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