Regent admission index—change in calculation, 1.1(2)
ARC 3867C
REGENTS BOARD[681]
Notice of Intended Action
Proposing rule making related to regent admission index and providing an opportunity for public comment
The Board of Regents hereby proposes to amend Chapter 1, "Admission Rules Common to the Three State Universities," Iowa Administrative Code.
Legal Authority for Rule Making
This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 262.9(3).
State or Federal Law Implemented
This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 262.9(3).
Purpose and Summary
Currently, two formulas are utilized to calculate the Regent Admission Index (RAI). The RAI is used to determine whether a graduate of an Iowa high school will be automatically admitted to a Regent institution of higher education. The primary formula uses ACT score, high school class rank, GPA, and number of courses completed in core subject areas. The alternative formula uses ACT score, GPA, and number of courses completed in core subject areas. A growing number of high schools no longer assign a class rank. The Regents' Inter-Institutional Admissions Study Team reviewed the two formulas for calculating the RAI and recommended that beginning with students applying for admission for the Summer 2020 term, the alternative formula (ACT, GPA, and core courses) be the only formula used to calculate the RAI. This amendment will eliminate the use of the primary formula effective with admissions for the Summer 2020 term.
Fiscal Impact
This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.
Jobs Impact
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
Waivers
Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to rule 681—19.18(17A).
Public Comment
Any interested person may submit written comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 24, 2018. Comments should be directed to:
Aimee Claeys |
Board of Regents |
11260 Aurora Avenue |
Urbandale, Iowa 50322-7905 |
Fax: 515.281.6420 |
Public Hearing
No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b," an oral presentation regarding this rule making may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.
Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee
The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).
The following rule-making action is proposed:
Amend subrule 1.1(2) as follows:
1.1(2) Admission criteria.
a. Effective for students who seek admission prior to fall 2009. Graduates of approved Iowa high schools who have the subject matter background required by each university and who rank in the upper one-half of their graduating class will be admitted to any regent university. Applicants who are not in the upper one-half of their graduating class may, after an individual review of their academic and test records, and at the discretion of the admissions officers:
(1)Be admitted unconditionally,
(2)Be admitted conditionally,
(3)Be required to enroll for a tryout period during a preceding summer session, or
(4)Be denied admission.
b. a.Effective for students who seek admission in fall 2009 and thereafter. Effective for students who seek admission in fall 2009 and thereafter through spring 2020.
(1)Decisions on admission to a regent university are based on the following four factors: performance on standardized tests (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT); high school grade point average (GPA); high school percentile rank in class (when available); and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas. A primary regent admission index (RAI) will be calculated for each freshman applicant using the formula below when the high school has provided a class rank. For purposes of calculating the primary RAI, the ACT composite score has a top value of 36 (SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents), high school rank is expressed as a percentile with 99 percent as the top value, high school GPA is expressed on a four-point scale, and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.
RAI |
= |
(2 × ACT composite score) |
+ |
(1 × high school rank expressed as a percentile) |
+ |
(20 × high school grade point average) |
+ |
(5 × number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas) |
Note: For purposes of calculating the primary regent admission index, the ACT composite score has a top value of 36 (SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents); high school rank is expressed as a percentile with 99 percent as the top value; high school GPA is expressed in a four-point scale; and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.
(2)Graduates of approved Iowa high schools who have the subject matter background required by each university and who meet the regent admission index of 245 required for automatic admission will be admitted to any regent university. Applicants who do not meet the regent admission index of 245 for automatic admission or for whom a regent admission index cannot be calculated may, after an individual review of their academic and test records, and at the discretion of the admissions officers:
1.Be admitted unconditionally,
2.Be admitted conditionally,
3.Be required to enroll for a tryout period during a preceding summer session, or
4.Be denied admission.
The regent universities recognize that the traditional measures of academic performance do not adequately describe some students' potential for success. Therefore, the regent universities strongly encourage all interested students to apply for admission. Applicants who feel their academic record is not an accurate reflection of their potential for success are encouraged to provide supplemental information explaining their circumstances, in addition to the application, academic transcripts, and test scores.
Note: For purposes of calculating the alternative regent admission index, the ACT composite score has a top value of 36 (SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents); high school GPA is expressed on a four-point scale; and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.
(2)An alternative RAI will be calculated for each freshman applicant using the equation identified in paragraph 1.1(2)"b" when the high school has not provided a class rank.
b. Effective for students who seek admission in summer 2020 and thereafter. An alternative regent admission index (RAI) RAI will be calculated for each freshman applicant using the equation below when the high school has not provided a class rank. For purposes of calculating the RAI, the ACT composite score has a top value of 36 (SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents), high school GPA is expressed on a four-point scale, and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.
RAI |
= |
(3 × ACT composite score) |
+ |
(30 × high school grade point average) |
+ |
(5 × number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas) |
c.Freshman applicants from Iowa high schools who have an RAI of at least 245 and who meet the minimum number of high school courses required by requirements of the regent universities will qualify for automatic admission to any of the three regent universities. Freshman applicants who have an RAI below 245 may also be admitted to a specific regent university; however, each regent university will review these applications on an individual basis, and admission decisions will be specific to each institution.
This notice is now closed for comments. Collection of comments closed on 7/24/2018.
The official published PDF of this document is available from the Iowa General Assembly’s Administrative Rules page.
View the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for 7/4/2018.
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Effective for students who seek admission prior to fall 2009© 2024; State of Iowa | Privacy Policy