UCLA Admissions Approach Will Change to Raise Black Enrollment

UCLA is considering a change in its admissions policy to enable more black students to enroll. The idea is to move the university toward a more "holistic" policy, in which student achievements are viewed in context of their personal experience, rather than basing admissions mostly on grades and test scores. Admissions figures released in June showed that only 96 blacks, or 2% percent of the freshman class, were likely to enroll at UCLA this fall. Proposition 209, the 1996 voter initiative, barred California's public colleges and universities from considering race in admissions or employment, but UCLA officials said they would abide by those restrictions. Larry Mantle talks with Peter Taylor of the UCLA African American Alumni and Community Support Task Force and UCLA sociologist Darnell Hunt.

UCLA is considering a change in its admissions policy to enable more black students to enroll. The idea is to move the university toward a more "holistic" policy, in which student achievements are viewed in context of their personal experience, rather than basing admissions mostly on grades and test scores. Admissions figures released in June showed that only 96 blacks, or 2% percent of the freshman class, were likely to enroll at UCLA this fall. Proposition 209, the 1996 voter initiative, barred California's public colleges and universities from considering race in admissions or employment, but UCLA officials said they would abide by those restrictions. Larry Mantle talks with Peter Taylor of the UCLA African American Alumni and Community Support Task Force and UCLA sociologist Darnell Hunt.