Two state campuses split over GPA hike

Jennifer Knight

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 | 9:34 a.m.

Board of Regents' support for raising admission standards is waning in Southern Nevada, and that could leave the state's universities going their separate ways.

Right now, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno are lashed together under a single proposal to raise admission requirements over five years from a 2.5 grade point average to a 3.0.

The proposal is scheduled to go before regents on Dec. 6 and 7 in Las Vegas. In the meantime, if support continues to wither from southern regents, northern supporters of the proposal could conceivably divorce UNR from UNLV and ask that the votes to raise admissions standards be separated.

Two regents from Northern Nevada say they are in favor of an increase in admissions standards and may consider voting on the two universities separately.

"If there is a big problem with (the proposal) down South, we can split the vote so they are separate," Regent Doug Hill said.

Regent Dorothy Gallagher said this is the third time the proposal has come before the board. Each time, there was good support in the north and no support in the south.

"We could argue that if we tried raising GPA's at UNR first, then at least we would know whether it worked," Gallagher said.

Rainier Spencer, UNLV's associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said if the two universities aren't considered together, his institution will be left behind.

"UNR is doing nothing but sitting back and threatening to disengage from us," Spencer said. "It's almost like they can't lose. If they don't stay with us, then we'll become the biggest community college in the state."

"We've talked about (disengaging from UNLV), but not in any official capacity," said Michael Coray, the president's special adviser on diversity at UNR.

One UNR official involved in talks with UNLV said the two universities have not discussed separating the votes for admission standards.

"We're very much pursuing this issue together," said Shannon Ellis, vice president for student services at UNR.

Since minority groups began opposing the proposal for a GPA hike, support from regents in the south started to soften.

"We're a state institution, and (the university) should be open to everybody who wants an education," said Board Chair Thalia Dondero, a southern regent.

"African Americans and Native Americans will be hit the hardest,"said Regent Linda Howard, who is heading up a special forum Thursday to discuss this issue.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick, also from the south, could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but he has expressed concern over how the proposal would affect minorities.

While regents await upcoming public forums, Chancellor Jane Nichols has asked the two universities to come up with changes to the proposal.

Ellis said there are at least two suggestions for changes.

The first is to phase the GPA increase in after seven years instead of the suggested five years.

Another potential change is to broaden the Board of Regents' policy on special admissions. Currently, each university is allowed to admit 6 percent of the overall pool of applicants who fall below the current 2.5 GPA requirement.

A student who fell below the admission standard could still gain entrance through a special talent in the arts, athletics or other fields. Life experience or special circumstances could also be a factor for admission, Ellis said.

"I don't think everybody has all the information they need to make a decision," Ellis said. "We're doing everything we can to change that."