As the University looks back on what Chancellor Woodson has done since he took office in April, the University’s Strategic Plan is the most ambitious project he has undertaken. This plan’s goal is to outline the future direction of the University. While there are many issues that need to be taken into account, the Strategic Town Hall meeting held on Tuesday revealed people from the student, faculty and staff all think the way the University accepts students need to be changed to accepting students to the University at large, instead of individual colleges or departments. While this plan will be beneficial to some, there are things the task forces need to take into consideration.

The current admission process is dependent in part on high school or transfer grades, test scores and the variety of classes taken during high school, however the individual colleges are selective in different capacities. It is harder to get into the College of Design over the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and then into the different departments add another level of selectivity. However, if the University accepts students into one general pool, the admission process will be inherently different. The University will need to decide whether their GPA or their  test scores will determine students eligibility. Also, when students need to declare a major could be disputed between sophomore and junior year.

With this in mind, freshman will need to have more advising, and will require the University to enhance the advising program. Since freshman will not have a college, many of them will be taking general education courses and will most likely have many concerns and questions regarding their future plans. Also, they will be completely new to a college environment, so the University may even need to consider establishing a required class to supplement where face-to-face advising would not be able to provide.

As the task forces consider this idea, they must also consider the effects on incoming students’ goals under the changed system. This system will benefit those who do not know what they want to do. With only general expectations to uphold and no ties to a college or program, freshman will be free to explore what the University has to offer. However, it will also hold back those students who know what they want to do when they go to college.

Overall, the way the University will accept new students will affect the plans of all nine task forces and needs to be considered carefully. If this suggestion is reoccurring and gaining popularity, the University should require all task forces to meet to discuss it, so they can take the major shift into account when they draft their plans. Whether or not a change to admissions is made, the University needs to make the decision soon.