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FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Admission standards at the state's two research institutions will rise in an attempt to raise graduation and retention rates without taking a major hit in enrollment, the North Dakota Board of Higher Education said Thursday.
The board approved a plan that would raise the minimum ACT score from 21 to 22 to get into North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota. It would also raise the minimum cumulative high school grade point average from 2.5 to 2.75.
The new standards will go into effect for the fall of 2016.
The proposal came out of criticism from lawmakers who primarily wanted NDSU and UND rated higher in national publications. The original plan, which used a formula based on GPA, ACT and high school core courses, was scaled back out of fears it would keep some students who could earn degrees out of state colleges.
Under the new criteria, 6 percent of freshmen at each of the two schools would have been denied entry this year.
Board member Don Morton, of Fargo, said access to a college education is a national problem and "we need to do a better job" of attracting students who are the first in their families to go to college, as well as minority students.
"I'm very comfortable with really taking a chance, if the standards are a little bit lower," Morton said. "I'm a little more comfortable than I was six months ago, to address the access issue."
In addition to the new ACT and GPA minimums, freshmen students in 2016 must have at least 13 credits from North Dakota's high school core curriculum. That will go up to 14 core courses in 2017 and 15 in 2018.
Board member Kevin Melicher, of Fargo, said graduation and retention rates are "not where we want to be by a long shot" but called it a good step. Board member Grant Shaft, of Grand Forks, said the standards need to be an ongoing discussion with the board.
"Part of this discussion about driving admission standards from the board level was some recognition that this was not getting done at the campus level," Shaft said.
NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen said he doesn't believe the standards will have an effect on recruiting athletes. The cumulative GPA of athletes at NDSU and UND is typically higher than the rest of the student body.
"I am aware of the new change in admission standards and know our coaches will continue to recruit student-athletes that will be successful both in competition and the classroom," Larsen said.
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