Test

The admissions offices of 109 large, primarily white universities returned a questionnaire-on their minority admission policies for the sixth consecutive year. The median percent of new black freshmen was down to 5 percent nationally in 1974compared to 6 percent in 1973, with the largest drops occurring in the Riddle' States and Western regions. Schools tended to use fewer selection criteria for all students, and were less apt to use high school record combined with ACT or SAT. Schools with special programs for blacks increased to 62 percent, compared to 50-percent in 1973. Twenty percent of the schools said they were offering less financial, aid in 1974. Also 16 percent of the schools-linked tighter budgets to fewer incoming minority students. Additionally, 14 percent of the schools were limiting their minority student recruiting_activities. Eleven percent of the schools cited other effects such as a cutback in support services or a closer coordination among university agencies. It appears that the emphasis given minority admissions has peaked and is now declining. The importance of continuing to monitor the progress of universities in handling minority admissions and retention programs seems even more clear in times of stress in higher education. For it is in such times that we run the greater risk of losing what gains have been made in minority student education, while,. we are preoccupied with seemingly more pressing issues. (Author),1 r-4 r-