Changing the Cal State Eligibility Index was part of the proposed changes to admissions guidelines at the second in a series of three public hearings on Wednesday.
David Dowell, vice provost for planning and budget, and director of strategic planning at Cal State Long Beach, discussed the three main proposed changes that are designed to be implemented in 2013-14 academic year.
The proposed changes include major-specific admissions criteria, especially at the transfer level; adjustments to the minimum criteria required for the admission of local students and the definition of local; and more outreach to students from underprivileged communities with low rates of attending college.
Dowell also elaborated on the changes to admission, especially involving local high school students admitted under the Long Beach College Promise.
He said the minimum score on the CSU eligibility index could potentially be changed from 2,900 to 3,300.
This proposed change would only be for the CSULB campus.
Dowell said those who fall below approximately 3,300 on the index have a statistically lower chance of graduating.
“Criteria should be based on evidence,” Dowell said.
Dowell believes that some students, like those who are the bottom 10 percent admitted under the Long Beach Promise, should be referred to Long Beach City College.
That 10 percent would receive a letter suggesting they apply for holistic review, which would include extraordinary factors in admissions beyond grades and test scores. In addition, students would receive an invitation to a learning community.
Dowell also assured that not accepting these students as freshmen is not an attempt to cut the need for remedial courses, because many students have a need to take them.
The third and final public hearing discussing the proposed guidelines will be held at the Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus on March 7 at 2 p.m.