University of Virginia Library

Committee Accepts Proposal
Limiting Entering Class Size

In its meeting Friday afternoon the
Admissions Committee of the University
agreed without dissent that next year's
entering class should remain the same size
as this year's or should be cut back,
according to Student Council President
Kevin Mannix, an ex officio member of
the committee.

The decision was the result of a wide
debate covering many of the problems
caused by the rapid expansion of the
University.

Student committee members Ashley
Wills, Tom Collier, and Mr. Mannix brought out
the student viewpoint on such problems as the
lack of dormitory space, the inadequate
financial aid, and the lack of parking.

Members of the faculty on the committee
brought up questions over the quality of the
student body. In one faculty member's opinion,
there is room for raising the standards of
qualified students without artificially limiting
the student body.

He added, some of the students here are just
not qualified.

Ernest Ern, Dean of Admissions and
Chairman of the committee, pointed out that
the number of completed applications is
expected to jump about 18 per cent over what
was received for this year's entering class.

If an entering class greater than this year's of
2000 is to be taken, it would effectively push
all upperclassmen out of the dormitories.

In line with the Board of Visitors ruling on
coeducation of last year, the University is
instructed to take 550 additional women
students in next year's class.

If the University is to follow this ruling,
next year's entering class would have to be
about 2250 according to the Admissions
Committee.

The agreement of the Admissions
Committee that the entering class should not
grow is a result of these figures and the
problems caused by them.