University of Virginia Library

Transition Plans
Termed Not New

By Jay Steer
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Transitional programs for students
from "culturally limited
backgrounds" are nothing new to
the University. The administration
outlined a pilot plan a full two
years ago, but has been stymied
twice in their efforts due to an
inability to obtain necessary funds
from governmental agencies.

Earlier last month the 'Student
Coalition' demanded that administration
officials get this program on
its feet. President Shannon responded
by promising that as soon as new
federal guidelines were established,
"the University will make an
application for matching support of
its program immediately."

The 'Student Coalition' last
week called this statement "a
willingness to stand on a past losing
record."

What does this transitional program
involve? The basic design of
the program was revealed in 1967
when the University published a
17-page "Draft Proposal For a
Program of Grants-In-Aid For Students
With Culturally Limited
Backgrounds."

The initial price tag for a five
year program which would aid 150
students was put at $665,838,
while the first year of the program
was estimated to run $120,098.

The funding schedule estimated
in this pamphlet was broken down
as follows: $370,100 from Federal
Sources, $83,427 from the University,
$268,000 from EOE grants,
and $44,311 from Work Study. The
EOE and Work Study grants were
readily available, while the Federal
and University funds would have to
be approved and obtained.

The opening statement in the
pamphlet summarizes the goals of
the program: "The program is
conceived as a pilot study to
determine whether careful recruitment
plus special tutoring during
the post-high-school summer and
the first year of college can launch
disadvantaged students toward gaining
a B.A. with average or better-than-average
grades within the
normal four years.

"Thirty such students, negro
and white, are to be admitted each
year for two years. At the end of
this period an evaluation will be
made and a decision reached
whether to admit new students into
the program. In any case, each of
the first two admitted classes will
receive support for the full four
years."

William Elwood, director of the
University's successful Upward
Bound program consented to direct
this program. Mr. Elwood would be
in charge of approving teachers,
coordinating activities, advising
students and in general would
direct the entire program.

The 1967 prospectus said that
"the Director would be able to
keep personal track of his students
and would be alert at all times to
signs of danger, particularly of a
psychological sort. We expect that
problems of social and psychological
adjustment will be at least as
import ant as those of academic
adjustment, and the Director will
maintain close liaison not only with
the advisors and tutors, but also
with the counseling services of the
University."

This proposed transitional program
differs from the Upward
Bound program in one major
aspect: the students accepted into