University of Virginia Library

Playing The Numbers Game

Commentary

The University's high qualifications for admission and
relatively large ratio of out-of-state students have provided
State Sen. William F. Stone considerable ammunition with
which to attack the University and its policies.

Just what the term "qualified" really means seems to be
one of the most major sources of dispute.

Sen. Stone offers his own solution for selection of qualified
Virginians. He calls for a standardized set of qualifications for
all state-supported schools to be set by a powerful State
Council for Higher Education.

Such a move would inevitably deprive the state's schools of
their individual characters which incorporate at least some
diversity into Virginia's higher educational system.

It would also force compliance to certain numerical limits
which could be the only criteria for standardizing a
"qualified" student.

Besides causing a certain population explosion here and at a
few other state schools, Sen. Stone's plan would ultimately
undermine educational philosophies advocating consideration
of the student and not his numerical scores.

Sen. Stone's assertion that the University has an obligation
to educate Virginians is unquestionably well–f ounded.
Nevertheless. the University's apprehension over the possible
effects of limiting out-of-state enrollments is genuine.

The University has recognized its obligations to educate all
"qualified" Virginians and is seeking to fulfill that
commitment by adding more positions for Virginians in future
entering classes. In the process it has found its national
character too valuable to give up and has decided to maintain
the present out-of-state enrollment in future entering classes.

Thus, expansion of the University has been chosen by the
Board of Visitors as the means of successfully fulfilling its
obligations to "qualified' residents, while protecting the
University's academic excellence.

Mr. Stone, however, disagrees with the University's
proposed expansion and wants the University to decrease the
numbers of out-of-state admissions to allow more openings for
Virginians.

This stand is an alternative to expansion, which has been
found objectionable by many affiliated with the University.
Yet such a plan does not serve to maintain the national
prominence important to the University's recruitment of
faculty and students.

Thus it appears inevitable that the University, to fulfill its
obligations , must either submit to the perils of expansion or
sink in a sea of "ordinary" state Universities. Despite popular
opinion otherwise, it does appear that expansion is the
more logical choice of the two alternatives here.

Although Sen. Stone may contest the selectivity of the
University in this respect, other educational opportunities do
exist in the state at other institutions, and the University
cannot be expected to educate all those Virginians who may
seek admission.

Finally, the University has yet another obligation to
uphold–the founding principles of Mr. Jefferson.

Mr. Jefferson stated in 1822 that "...the great object of our
aim from the beginning, has been to make the establishment
the most eminent in the United States, in order to draw to it
youth from every state..."

The University is living up to the obligation of attracting a
diverse student body. It also is making great efforts and some
sacrifices to live up to its obligation to the state. Limitations
will only stifle its effectiveness and the University is too much
of an asset to Virginia to be so nepotistic manhandled as
for the sake of a percentage.