University of Virginia Library

'Ideal' Ratio Considered

Mr. Shannon also
commented that he thought no
truly "ideal" ratio of
out-of-state students could be
determined because of
fluctuations in the applicant
pool from year to year. "It's
primarily a matter of keeping a
good, broad mix and being sure
that we're fulfilling the
academic objectives of the
University." Mr. Shannon
thought the University was
still maintaining a good mix,
but he added that a 15 percent
limitation as mentioned by
Sen. Stone at the last session of
the General Assembly would
be "far too low"

"I would certainly feel that
there was a question as to
whether we were fulfilling our
academic mission if we got
down to below 25 per cent. But
for the University to undertake
to work down to anything like
a 15 per cent limit would be
almost fatal to the objectives
of the University, particularly
in graduate areas."

"All major graduate
institutions draw from all over
the country. We couldn't
possibly have a first-rate
program in graduate areas
without a large out-of-state
component."

Mr. Shannon noted that the
University was the only
institution in the state, either
public or private, which is
carrying any number close to
40 per cent of its total
population as graduate
students.

On admissions to the
University, Sen. Stone told The
Cavalier Daily that he thought
the University was being too
"discriminatory" by accepting
students who finish in the top
20 per cent of their high school
classes. According to Mr.
Shannon, 81 per cent of this
year's entering class did come
from the top 20 per cent of
their classes, but he
emphasized that the
Admissions Office has not set
this qualification as an
arbitrary standard for
admission.

"Basically, the Admissions
Office is trying to predict those
students who have the best
chance of performing well
under the academic
circumstances that are
expected at the University," he
explained.

"We do take people below
the top 20 per cent. We also
have variations in college board
scores. We're trying to pick
individuals rather than go by
the numbers."

The role of the University as
a "national" state institution
has also been questioned by
opponents of high out-of-state
ratios at the University.

The national character can
be justified, according to Mr.
Shannon, on the basis of the
founding principle of the
University. "Mr. Jefferson
conceived of the University as
a national institution that
would be worthy of public
support but that would attract
other students".

"We will continue to do
so," he said..."That is, to the
extent that we can persuade
the state legislature to go along
with us."