A University headed in the right direction (no, not this one) - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Sep 23, 2005

A University headed in the right direction (no, not this one)

Date: Sep 25, 2005

Keep in mind, it is also very difficult to get into Texas, especially if you are from Texas. The state mandates that any student in the top 10% of their class automatically gets accepted into a state university. Therefore, it is not unusual to see honors students with mostly A's, only a few B's and very high SAT's NOT get accepted to UT or Texas A&M -- depending on the quality of the high school they attended. My point -- UT and Texas A&M are very selective.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

USM has been headed in the wrong direction under SFT-clearly. Like Texas A&M, my kid's alma mater is Tier II and has publicly made it known that that is unsatisfactory. Just once I would like to hear one of the Domers say, "You know, all indices show we are lacking in academic quality compared to our peer institutions (chosen by the Dome). That is unsatisfactory, and we want to develop a plan to improve our academic quality and rankings." A SACS re-affirmation would be the ideal time to do this, given the effort on assessment and planning (or supposed effort). Instead, we still hear that we are "world class"... whatever that means. I do like the new street lights, though.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

Godless Liberal wrote:

Just once I would like to hear one of the Domers say, "You know, all indices show we are lacking in academic quality compared to our peer institutions (chosen by the Dome). That is unsatisfactory, and we want to develop a plan to improve our academic quality and rankings."

Amen, brother.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

Think about this for a second. Some of the top 10% of the inner city schools would probably fall in the lower 25% of the high performing suburban schools. So, the statistics can be a little skewed.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

Staff Member wrote:

Think about this for a second. Some of the top 10% of the inner city schools would probably fall in the lower 25% of the high performing suburban schools. So, the statistics can be a little skewed.

I am aware of research that suggests that "rank in class" is the best predictor of college success regardless of the size of the high school. I don't know how those findings might relate to your observation.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

Staff Member wrote:

Think about this for a second. Some of the top 10% of the inner city schools would probably fall in the lower 25% of the high performing suburban schools. So, the statistics can be a little skewed.

Yes. This is UT and A&M's attempt to bring in those students who do well in schoo but don't score well on standardized tests.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

I hope the Hattiesburg community realizes that not all USM faculty are in favor of reverse discrimination. I for one do not applaud the increase in minority enrollment at the expense of more qualified white applicants. And references to students who are not good "test takers" but are outstanding performers in classroom is just so much subterfuge.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

Staff Member wrote:

Think about this for a second. Some of the top 10% of the inner city schools would probably fall in the lower 25% of the high performing suburban schools. So, the statistics can be a little skewed.

However, how many of the top 10% of the inner city schools can afford to go to the University of Texas where tuition, room, and board in Austin can run between $15,000 to $20,000 per year?

It isn't just the top 10% inner city students who don't go to UT or A&M, but the extreme rural ones as well -- of which Texas has plenty. Also, many of the minorities going to UT are Asian -- which includes Chinese, Indian, and etc., not necessarily Black or Mexican American.

Date: Sep 25, 2005

Mr. Wizard wrote:

I hope the Hattiesburg community realizes that not all USM faculty are in favor of reverse discrimination. I for one do not applaud the increase in minority enrollment at the expense of more qualified white applicants. And references to students who are not good "test takers" but are outstanding performers in classroom is just so much subterfuge.

Well, the 10% rule in Texas was put into place by then-Gov. Bush, who bragged about the program's accomplishments in his debates with Gore.