The Colorado Commission on Higher Education is slated to consider Tuesday modifying a plan to increase admission requirements to the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
The new requirements are set to include an extra course in mathematics and two units of foreign language for high school graduates, beginning in 2010.
The plan drew criticism from the Rural Caucus, a group of rural school districts, and other education groups concerned about the ability of districts to comply.
The caucus cited thinning budgets, declining rural enrollments and difficulties in retaining qualified teachers as impediments to compliance.
On Tuesday, the commission, according to its agenda, will consider a range of modifications to the proposal, including eliminating either the foreign-language requirement or the fourth-year mathematics requirement.
Another option would be to replace one or the other requirement with additional electives that would make for 16 to 18 units of required course work.
A commission spokesman declined to comment on the plan Thursday.
Students entering 10th grade this fall who plan on attending the state’s public colleges would have to meet the new Higher Education Admission Requirements.
The commission, seeking a smooth transition from high school to college, has called for increased academic rigor in high school.
The commission has had the authority to establish statewide college admission standards since 1986, with passage of a statute that also required admission officials to use student-performance indicators, such as grade-point average, class rank and standardized test scores.
In 2003, the admission policy was changed to also set minimum course-work requirements.
Both in-state and out-of-state applicants who will graduate from high school in 2008 or 2009 must complete 15 academic units – including four in English, three in math, three in natural science, three in social science and two in academic electives.
The course-work requirements now set for graduates in 2010 would require 18 units, including an additional unit, or a total of four units, in math and two units in foreign language.
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or edraper@denverpost.com.
Needed to graduate
The commission on Tuesday will consider modifying the 2010 requirements.
Graduation requirements for those attending four-year colleges, 2008 and 2009
- Four units of English
- Three units of math
- Three units of natural science
- Three units of social science
- Two academic electives
- 15 units total
Graduation requirements, 2010 (current)
- Everything above, plus:
- One more unit of math
- Two units of foreign language
- 18 units total
