OCR Text |
Show UVU REVIEW A7 OPINIONS Keep UVU unique and open Our open-door policy is what separates our college from Utah's others By Jimmy Hall Assistant Opinions Editor @Jimmyrhall It's difficult to succeed if no one will give you the chance. This basically sums up my feelings about UVU's open admissions. UVU is in a unique situation. We are sandwiched between three major universities: BYU, the University of Utah, and Utah State. All of them have their strengths and particular cultures but nothing like UVU's. Our open admissions policy is part of this uniqueness. We have a diverse group of students who are pursuing higher education on their own dime because they can't afford a different school. Or they may be here because their SATs or high school grades aren't "good" enough for a higher caliber university. And when I say "higher caliber" I don't mean less quality of education; I mean prestige. An employer would be more likely to recognize and be impressed by those who graduated from Harvard as opposed to a smaller university. To be fair, some employers don't care which university you attended just as long as you have a Bachelor's. An open admission policy is great for any background. Let's take my road to college for an example. I didn't have outstanding grades in high school. Actually far from it. I passed my classes, only failing a math and a science class. I didn't have credentials like Student Body president or any other outstanding reward that would set me apart. To me, a larger university was out of the question. I specifically chose to go to UVU because of their open admissions. Walking through the doors for the first time, I knew I didn't need to compare myself to others. I was going for myself. This is a mindset most UVU students hold, I'm sure. Our university is made out of many walks of life. Some are coming back for a degree later in life. Some students come from overseas. The beauty that comes from our culture comes from its diversity. By limiting it to the "privileged" would be stunting our character and voice. There are definite setbacks Our university is made out of many walks of life. that need to be controlled by administration. One of which is that the open admissions means an over-inflated student count, which causes having to hire more staff. By the classes I've attended, this doesn't seem to be too much of an issue. UVU has handled the incline of enrollment over the years, and now that it is evening out, the administration is even more capable of handling future freshman classes. The increasing rate of tuition isn't a new story for UVU or any other college. Yet, in comparison to other Utah universities, we have one of the lowest costs of attendance. Other universities have high standards in order to be admitted. My wife, who attended the University of Washington, had to have at least a 3.2 high school GPA, a qualifying SAT score, letters of recommendation, and a lengthy essay describing why she deserved to attend their school. UVU requires a high school diploma, no GPA requirement and ACT/SAT scores with no qualifying score for those who are under 21. Although there are some standards, they are not as elite as other universities around the country. Currently, UVU uses the Accuplacer exam to place new students in their respective starter classes. Should UVU double this exam, or make another that is similar, for students to pass in order to attend? This would set the standard of, "We expect our students be competent in these areas to attend UVU." Keeping admissions open would also keep the admissions process speedy. For example, students will be able make decisions quickly after graduating from high school or after serving an LDS mission. UVU is like a glorified community college, and that is definitely not a bad thing. Our culture is what keeps us unique in academia. By taking away the "come one, come all" mentality we would be trading a welcoming attitude for needless prominence. ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR ROBERTSON Avoid disaster by closing admissions As UVU continues to struggle with a toppling ratio of students to resources, the cherished open admissions policy will not stand in the future By KresLynn Knouse Assistant News Editor @KresLynn As UVU rounds the corner of its 75th anniversary, it may be time to rethink the open admissions policy. Despite being one of the most underfunded universities in the state, the university continues to embrace a boundless policy of admittance. In 2011, UVU imposed enrollment standards for the first time, requiring all students to have at least a 2.5 GPA and a composite ACT score of at least 19. Since then enrollment has been on the decline, but the student population is expected to increase to more than 40,000 students in the next six years. UVU does not have the capacity to handle the current number of students, let alone accommodate new growth in the student body unless major changes are made. Before even thinking about admitting those extra 10,000 students, UVU first needs to address the lack of parking space, overcrowded classrooms, lack of faculty and paying off previous investments (such as the new parking structure). Though we were just awarded more than $21 million in the recent legislative session, President Holland admitted it is not enough to maintain the institution's long-term goals. Unless there is a buried lake of crude oil hidden beneath the school, UVU needs to find another source of revenue, and they need to find it fast. Perhaps a miracle will happen and that cash flow will come in time, but chances are we wolverines are sailing on a sinking ship. There is however, a blasphemous solution: have UVU create a closed-admissions policy with even tighter requirements and have students write an application letter to get in. Yes, enrollment will decrease in the short-term, but in order to progress and prepare for further growth it is necessary to create some restrictions. I realize this goes against everything UVU stands for with inclusivity and second chances. Regardless, something must be done to tighten enrollment or else students will have to continue paying to accommodate the influx of students coming after them. Closing enrollment would also help students develop a sense of school pride, inherent in the fact that they would have to apply to get in. UVU students would finally experience the joy of opening an acceptance letter after applying to the university they knew they wanted to attend. This is no longer just the school students choose when they're not accepted anywhere else; this is Utah Valley University. It's time to be the first choice. APRIL 21, 2014 Call me non-traditional UVU is full of nontraditional students, whose experience may be different than their traditional counterparts By Barbara Finlinson Staff Writer @bubblestweets In 2009, I walked into the front doors of Utah Valley University having failed at the thing I wanted to succeed at most, my marriage. Failure at anything important in life is not a great confidence booster for anybody. It is especially hard on someone getting ready to tackle the massive undertaking of a 4-year college degree. You could say I was shaking in my boots, because I absolutely was. I quickly learned that I had a label. "Non-traditional" everyone said. Fine, give me a degree and you can call me whatever you want. But I quickly learned that non-tradition had a meaning and I fit perfectly into that category for many reasons. According to youcandealwithit.com the term "non-traditional" means something very specific and although most of you might think non-traditional students are the exception to the rule, it turns out 75% of us fit into one of these criteria at one time or another. To be considered a non-traditional student you must meet at least one of these criteria: do not immediately continue your education after you graduate from high school, attend college only part time, work full time (35 hours or more per week), are financially independent, have children or dependents other than your spouse, are a single parent, have a GED, not a high school diploma. I might have learned what it meant but it didn't change how I felt at first. Being a college freshman at 31 was incredibly intimidating. I felt different and out-oftouch with the other students. Let's be honest. I felt that way, because I was different. And it wasn't just the students. I was terrified of professors. If I was in a situation when I needed to raise my hand and comment, usually I didn't. I couldn't bear if anyone saw my shaking hand or heard my quivering voice. Besides, what could I possibly have to say that would matter to anyone? After all, I was the dummy right? All these 18-year-old boys and girls were smarter than I was. I was the one who didn't go to college. I felt different and out-of-touch with the other students. Let's be honest. I felt that way, because I was different. I was the one, who after living on my own and being married for 12 years, had to admit defeat and failure and come home to live with my parents. And to make matters worse, it wasn't just me that was coming home. I brought four children who felt just as out-of-place as I did and whose hearts were just as broken as mine. It seemed that I had failed the whole world and my future posterity too. I kid you not, I felt this way. I would venture to say that a few of you out there have too. Or maybe you have felt something like it. Don't worry, you aren't alone. We "nontraditionals" are becoming the majority. In time something happened; something that only the massive undertaking of a 4-year college degree can make happen. I found myself flourishing. I built confidence. Professors believed in me. I made friends, even with 18-year-olds. My grades were better than they had ever been before and I learned things that have, believe it or not, stuck in my brain. Before I knew it, I was debating with professors with confidence. I became a leader in classes and I was sought out for study help and tutoring. And somewhere in the midst of all of that, I found myself. I think it is safe to assume that most of you non-traditional students out there are facing an uphill battle to obtain the illusive college degree. In the very best of situations, graduating from college is a major challenge. And in my opinion there is nothing better you could do for yourself. You'll change in ways you would never predict and you'll learn much more than the mandatory curriculum. You'll learn you can do anything. You'll learn that you aren't a quitter even when faced with terrible odds. You'll learn to succeed. You can't buy that. So it is with an excited but heavy heart that I inform you, dear reader, I am graduating at the end of this semester. I did it. And on the eve of commencement, I can say with passion to "non-traditionals" and "traditionals" alike: Do this thing and rock it. It's worth every late night and complicated assignment. It's worth all your blood, sweat and tears. This is your time. You'll never regret it. (Irk Diamond FLIGHT CENTER of Spanish Fork, Utah, LLC. We provide cost effective and efficient flight training in DA20, DA40, and Piper airplanes for: • Private Pilot • CFI/CFII/MEI • Instrument Rating • Airline Transport Pilot • Commercial SEUMEL Currently Enrolling Summer Students 56avoing: 42 W.Center St. Provo 2.8.14-3.14.14 keceptiort: 2.21.1407p i'oe 211usic. C6ocolrte. 21rt Take your friends and relatives flying! Call 801-471-1304 or visit us at the SpringvilleSpanish Fork Airport, Hangar #49. www.dfcflyercom 1 he [Ric Story of Dr. J. P. Weber TOM WEBER Available on amazon |