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October, 2000

ULM achieves major "Vision 2000" goal

The University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors approved on Friday the University of Louisiana at Monroe's request to move to selective admissions. The effective implementation date is Fall 2001.

"We began this quest in the mid-1990's when we initiated our strategic planning effort. Part of our Vision 2000 was a move to selective admissions to reflect ULM's emergence as a doctoral-granting university," President Lawson Swearingen said Friday. "I commend the exemplary work of our outstanding faculty through the years as together they have developed the academic programs to the level that such an evolution is possible."

The recommendation for selective admissions standards at ULM with specific, phased-in criteria represents the culmination of the work of the University's Selective Admissions Task force co-chaired by Dr. Janet Haedicke and Dr. Luke Thomas. This Task Force reviewed selective admissions criteria and implementation guidelines both within Louisiana and beyond and evaluated those strategies in light of ULM's traditional student population base. After testing multiple criteria against a sampling of the actual Fall 1999 and Fall 2000 freshman classes, the Task Force submitted its final proposal to the administration.

"The significance of the work done by the Selective Admissions Task
Force cannot be overstated. Their dedication to this project and their diligence in addressing the charge that they were given last February resulted in an informed recommendation that was approved without amendment at every level. Such approval illustrates the seriousness of their sense of purpose and the thoroughness of their planning," Swearingen said. "We thank them and look forward to working with them is implementation begins."

The first phase of selective admissions criteria specifies the following: an admitted student must have a minimum ACT composite score of 22, or a cumulative high school GPA of at least 2.0, or a ranking in the upper 50% of the high school graduating class. No student will be admitted with less than a 15 ACT score in Math and English.

Dr. Thomas Rakes, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, was equally pleased with the approval. "The implementation of selective admissions standards is a timely demonstration of the university's progress. We currently have 98% of our eligible academic programs accredited, a ranking which exceeds those of all other public universities in Louisiana."

President Swearingen noted that ULM will continuously assess the impact of selective admissions as it moves into the next phases of the plan, both of which mirror the role of a research institution.

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