CSULB Considers Changes to Admission Requirements
Due to increased budget cuts and a record number of applicants, Cal State Long Beach could make changes to its entrance requirements.
Last year, the Cal State University and University of California systems received cuts of $750 million in state funding. Cal State Long Beach had 76,600 applicants for fall 2012, the most of any Cal State University.
Under the changes, freshmen applicants would need a higher grade point average, higher test scores, and/or additional courses. The 2010 average GPA for Cal State Long Beach applicants is 3.37. Cal State Long Beach’s test score and GPA requirements can be found here.
Transfer applicants would have to take more prerequisite courses before transferring. This would force them to declare a major earlier, but would make their graduation path more efficient.
“Ultimately it will be better for the [transfer] students because they can get the classes they need right from the beginning,” said Long Beach City College President Eloy Oaley. “We want to develop pathways that are much more efficient and get students into the CSU system as quickly as possible.
But the changes could create an influx of students at community college classes.
For current Cal State Long Beach students, the changes would shorten the time it takes for students to earn a degree and allow the campus to use scarce resources more efficiently.
The changes could also affect the Long Beach College Promise, an agreement with Long Beach Unified School District and Long Beach City College. Long Beach College Promise gives all Long Beach Unified School District students that meet the minimum entrance criteria for Cal State Long Beach admittance there.
There will be three public hearings to discuss the possible changes. The first will take place on Friday; the next hearings are on February 29 and March 7. Based on the discussions at the hearings, the California State University Board of Trustees will vote on the policy change. If approved, the changes will be applied to the 2013-2014 academic year.
“Before we make any changes…it is important that we get the public’s input,” said David Dowell, Cal State Long Beach vice provost for planning and budgets. “We will carefully consider all comments we receive from the campus and community before we change admissions guidelines.”
Similar changes have already been made at the Cal State University campuses at Fullerton, San Diego, San Jose, and San Luis Obispo.
