Scholarship rules raising concerns

Friday, Sept. 10, 1999 | 10:38 a.m.

RENO -- University regents Thursday expressed fear that a plan to qualify Nevada high school students for the Millennium Scholarship program next year might penalize those pupils who take tougher courses.

The regents ordered Dr. Jane Nichols, vice chancellor of academic and student affairs, to rework some of the proposals on how students would become eligible for and keep the scholarships.

The Legislature, at the request of Gov. Kenny Guinn, approved a bill to use some of the tobacco settlement money to finance university or community college scholarships for every Nevada high school student with a "B" average.

Nichols told the regents that a committee working on the qualifications is recommending that the grade point average for a high school student be an "unweighted" 3.0. This mean grades from all classes, no matter if they were advanced or honor courses, would be given the same weight.

If the grade point average was weighted, those students who took the tougher courses would receive a higher mark when consideration is given for a scholarship. For instance, a student in an honors course who earned a C+ might have it elevated to a B when his grades are considered for the Millennium Scholarship.

Regent Steve Sisolak of Las Vegas said he is troubled by the unweighted recommendation from the committee. Regent Doug Seastrand said if the grade point average is unweighted, it would penalize the students taking advanced courses.

Other regents said students should be encouraged to take tougher courses in high school to prepare them for college, but the proposal for an unweighted GPA might discourage them from enrolling in these advance placement classes.

Sisolak said many parents are excited about the scholarships since they will provide up to $10,000 to a student who attends either UNLV or University of Nevada, Reno.

"We have students who might not take an AP (advanced placement) class because they're worried that they might not hit the 3.0," Sisolak said.

Nichols also agreed to a suggestion to hold public hearings in Las Vegas, Reno and in some rural county to hear suggestions from parents on the scholarship program.

The committee is recommending that students already a university take at least 12 credits a semester and those at the community colleges six credits to qualify for the scholarships. They would be required to maintain an overall C average.