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Regents aim to increase diversity

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents sparked a statewide affirmative action debate earlier this summer, announcing plans to adopt a more "holistic approach" in its admissions processes.

According to Regent President David Walsh, the UW System has always strived for a holistic approach to admissions, but at the regents' June meeting they discussed creating a more diverse community of students.

"We will look at their background, where they come from and the need to improve diversity," Walsh said of the policy, which already was in place at UW-Madison. "The college experience is exploring the world beyond high school."

Walsh also said a more diverse community will only increase opportunities for all students.

"We're being told that employers aren't interviewing us because we're not a diversified community," he said, noting that a diverse community will attract additional job recruiters.

Walsh cited an increasing number of applicants as an additional reason for this approach.

Providing a holistic admissions process has become especially popular after the landmark 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the University of Michigan and other universities to consider race as a factor when admitting students.

"This is generally the direction people are going," Walsh said.

According to a survey released by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, the majority of Wisconsin residents do not want race to be considered in college admissions.

The group's website states 65 percent of the 600 residents surveyed were opposed to using race as an admission factor, and public backlash against the admissions policy even prompted one regent to suggest UW officials consider not commenting to the media.

"You don't have to answer these questions," Regent Tom Loftus reportedly said at a June 9 board meeting open to the public and attended by administrators from across the UW System.

According to Walsh, however, who released a statement the next day emphasizing the system's commitment to transparency, Loftus intended to tell university officials not to be afraid to say, "I don't know" if they do not have the answers to reporters' questions.

In any event, Walsh said, their commitment to a holistic admissions policy is by no means advantaging one student over another on the basis of race alone.

"We're talking about the whole person," he said. "We're not just talking about race, we're talking about whether or not they're a veteran, whether or not they've had a job, are disadvantaged, have a big family, have outside activities or are unique."

Still, disagreement over the approach is not limited to discussions within the system's administration.

In a letter to UW System President Kevin Reilly, state Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, expressed his discontent with the altered policies, saying a holistic approach would hurt the chances of Wisconsin residents applying to UW schools.

"I think it's fair to say this policy, if approved, will create more uncertainty for Wisconsin families and students," wrote Kreibich, who chairs the Committee on Colleges and Universities.

In particular, Kreibich voiced concern over how such a policy will affect hardworking students who are not of minority status.

"Even top class rankings, impressive ACT scores, and taking rigorous high school coursework in math and science will no longer be overriding factors," he said. "What message does this send to Wisconsin high school students who work hard and do well?"