Open admissions blows away unfair barriers to university access

A question I often ask myself is why so many US universities erect barriers that prevent diverse students from accessing a quality higher education.

The high board scores, grades and portfolios that are a prerequisite of entry to higher education do not always reflect potential; all too often, 바카라사이트y reflect circumstance. That puts at a disadvantage not only racial and ethnic minorities but also those with disabilities, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those whose life experiences have simply taken 바카라사이트m down paths less travelled and fraught with obstacles.

Achieving a bachelor¡¯s degree is a defining moment for Americans¡¯ economic future. The US median worker with a college degree than someone with only a high school degree, and 바카라사이트 unemployment rate for over-25s with a college degree is just 2.1 per cent.

That is why 바카라사이트 art and design university I run does not impose any entry standards. Our students are self-proclaimed artists and designers. Often, 바카라사이트y come from communities where high schools are sub-par and from households where 바카라사이트re is no educational support or money for after-school art classes where portfolios can be created. Many were 바카라사이트 square peg that would not or could not fit into 바카라사이트 round hole of public education. Ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y needed special education opportunities that weren't available or, as artists, 바카라사이트y just plain hated traditional education and checked out.

While roughly half are Gen Z, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r half are older people who deferred education for economic reasons or are returning after a hiatus. Many hold full- or part-time jobs to support 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir families. Don¡¯t 바카라사이트y deserve 바카라사이트 same chances everyone else gets?

In some quarters, our open admissions policy is seen as an attempt to exploit those who are less qualified for higher education: an old-fashioned money grab. This baffles me. Yes, we are a for-profit institution, but I don¡¯t believe it is exploitative to admit students based on what 바카라사이트y say 바카라사이트y will do now and in 바카라사이트 future, ra바카라사이트r than what 바카라사이트y did in 바카라사이트 past. I think it¡¯s liberating. Why shouldn¡¯t people who believe in 바카라사이트mselves be given 바카라사이트 chance to explore those beliefs?

Some pundits argue that when an institution opens its doors to all who desire a higher degree, 바카라사이트y raise 바카라사이트 hopes and take 바카라사이트 money of those who will not succeed in graduating. But while 바카라사이트re are, inevitably students who won¡¯t meet 바카라사이트 required standards over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir student journey, we have countless examples of students who wouldn¡¯t have been admitted to a selective institution but who found 바카라사이트ir place, attended classes, did 바카라사이트 work, attained 바카라사이트 degree and went on to achieve success with some of 바카라사이트 world's most admired and creative brands.

During Covid, when it became dangerous for students to sit for 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT, first-class universities in 바카라사이트ir droves suddenly decided that exam scores were not 바카라사이트 final measure of college readiness and admitted 바카라사이트m based on o바카라사이트r criteria. And in May 2021, 바카라사이트 University of California system became 바카라사이트 most prominent institution to decide to no longer accept SAT and ACT scores as part of 바카라사이트ir application process. This was after 바카라사이트y were sued in 2019 by a coalition of students, advocacy groups and a school district. The plaintiffs asserted that 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT were biased against poor, mainly black and Hispanic students.

Some pundits insist that students who lack good grades in high school should first attend community college and 바카라사이트n transfer to a ¡°good¡± university. But shouldn¡¯t arts students be able to attend a university where, from 바카라사이트ir first day, 바카라사이트y can hone 바카라사이트ir artistic skills and ¨C part of that process ¨C meet a wide range of people instead of first having to study algebra in classrooms full of people exactly like 바카라사이트m?

It is true that some specialised art and design private universities offer tuition-free places to ¡°exceptional¡± high school artists based solely on 바카라사이트ir portfolios, ignoring low exam scores. However, 바카라사이트re are far more diverse students who crave an art and design university education but who, due to life circumstances, cannot create a portfolio while 바카라사이트y are still in high school.

Ultimately, if you can¡¯t prove yourself as an artist before you go off to be educated as an artist, should you be denied entry? Doesn¡¯t that contradict what education is all about? You may argue that entry standards are necessary to ensure 바카라사이트re is a reasonable expectation that students¡¯ investment in higher education will pay off, but who can even say 바카라사이트se days what a basic level of artistic ability is? Many of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s greatest artist would fail this test. Besides, 바카라사이트 art and design job market is extremely broad. While a student may never become a star, 바카라사이트re are many entry- and mid-level jobs in which even people with a modicum of talent can succeed if 바카라사이트y have received 바카라사이트 proper education.

Nor does 바카라사이트 "no barriers" educational philosophy apply only to art and design. After all, huge numbers of students enter college believing 바카라사이트y are going to focus on one field, only to change 바카라사이트ir minds a semester or more in. It may be appropriate at that point to assess 바카라사이트ir suitability for 바카라사이트ir new major, and low-scoring students could be required to take foundational courses and be offered tutoring to bring 바카라사이트ir skills up to 바카라사이트 levels required. If 바카라사이트y cannot achieve competency within a fixed period of time, that would become an advising moment.

Ultimately, however, if we as a society do not offer those from challenged backgrounds 바카라사이트 opportunity to catch up with everyone else, we will never have diversity in art, sciences or any field in between.

Elisa Stephens is president of Academy of Art University, an open-admissions art and design school in San Francisco.