Should colleges give admissions preference to mostly-male talented "slackers"?
This morning's story about Towson University's decision to scrap a controversial admission's scheme favoring men -- has been drawing some interesting reaction from readers.
Launched in 2005, the experiment let in students with relatively low high school grades but high SAT scores -- a combination found more often in males. It was designed in part to address concerns about declining enrollment of males, who make up just 40 percent of Towson's undergraduate student body.
Here's a sample of reader response, along with some additional items that didn't make it into the story, because of length:
Carl from Baltimore says the low retention rates for this group are Towson's fault, not the students. "So, what Towson is saying is that high potential, low production students are not worth their effort? ... Towson-- YOU failed, not the students! These high potential-low production students deserve your support-- they are usually highly creative, bright kids who need help."
Deborah Leather, the Towson prof who administered the program, says the university poured resources and attention to the group. "I think the university did a phenomenal job of providing exceptional support for this group," she said. "I don't think it's about resources."
Tom from Baltimore said he fit the mediocre grades/high test score profile 20 years ago when he was admitted to Towson. "I got in. Were there bumps along the way? Absolutely. But I graduated with ... honors. I hope Towson finds a way to look at individuals and not simply ditch the philosopy because of the attrition rates."
Tom, you're right in assuming Towson has become increasingly selective in recent years. Public universities in Maryland are under constant pressure to increase retention and graduation rates, in part because recruiting and enrolling students who are statistically less likely to succeed is far more expensive than taking a chance on those who need extra help.
Towson officials have found that high grades and a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum are very good predictors of success there, while the SAT less so. One benefit to Towson's increased emphasis on grades has been increased enrollment and achievement of minority students in particular, who tend to score lower on standardized tests.
Finally, university officials have stressed that not all students enrolled in this program fit the typical "slacker" profile. Some experienced economic or family hardships during high school, challenges which affected their high school years.
Check out this chart for a comparison of graduation and retention rates at Maryland colleges.
What do the rest of you think? Any other questions you'd like us to put to Towson officials?
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
A variously attributed quote says "Potential means you ain't done nothing yet."
Towson took a gamble, and apparently lost. I appreciate the shot at diversity, but no one will be crying that men don't have enough opportunities in the world.
Posted by: steegness | October 25, 2007 11:27 AM
I am curious to see just how many of the students transferred to other schools. Your article notes that the retention rate was 70%, but the 30% not retained seems to include both dropouts and transfers. What percentage ended up transferring to another campus? The chart you have linked to does not seem to count transfers currently enrolled elsewhere, either.
If this is a significant number, I wonder how much Towson just did not care to put resources into students who were using the university as a springboard to go somewhere else.
It's probably fair to argue that is the proper role of a community college, which, while far less glamorous, is a heck of a lot cheaper.
Posted by: Mark in Reisterstown | October 25, 2007 11:42 AM
Mark,
That's a good question. Towson officials were not able to give me a statistical breakdown on the reasons for attrition; i.e., how many via transfer, how many asked to leave for academic reasons, etc.
They do acknowledge that students transferring to other institutions -- among them UM College Park and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill -- was a concern.
Deborah Leather, who ran the program, said she considered these instances "success stories," but from an institutional perspective those cases are more problematic.
While University System of Maryland statistics do count as a successful "graduate" a student who starts at one system school, such as Towson, and graduates from any other system school, the benefits to the institution itself are less clear.
Clearly, Towson would rather admit students who are a good "fit" for Towson, rather than those who use the campus as a springboard to somewhere else.
Community colleges are, as you indicate, the traditional bridge for academically under-prepared students to get to a four-year school, and many of these freshmen would likely have gone to a community college had Towson not accepted them.
Some of those who couldn't maintain the 2.0 freshman year GPA and other requirements were asked to leave Towson. Of those, some went to community colleges and have managed to transfer back to Towson in good standing, officials said.
Posted by: Gadi Dechter | October 25, 2007 11:51 AM