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Simon Fraser University
Memorandum
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TO: ?
Senate
FROM: ?
SCAR
DATE: ?
December 17, 1996
SUBJECT: Faculty of Science - Diverse Qualifications
In the early part of the fall semester, the Faculty of Science debated whether or not to
opt out of the Diverse Qualifications Admissions Policy. The debate culminated in a
ballot in which the Faculty decided by a vote of 70 to 35 (with 4 abstentions) to opt out of
the policy.
The Diverse Qualifications policy approved by Senate on April 1, 1996 states:
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3.
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The policy shall apply to all general admissions, unless a faculty .(having
separate admission requirements and targets) wishes to opt out.
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General university admission is currently broken down into two broad
groups: non-Science (APSC, ARTS, BUS, EDUC) and Science. The policy
may be applied to all faculties or only to one or other of these two groups,
as Senate wishes."
SCUS has reviewed the decision of the Faculty of Science and discussed the
recommendation to opt out, and SCAR recommends the following motions:
Motions:
1. ?
That Senate approve the following amendments to the Diverse Qualifications
Admissions Policy, section 3:
a)
that when a Faculty opts out of the Diverse Qualifications policy, the
overall maximum target for Diverse Qualifications admissions will be
amended from 10% of total university admissions, to 10% of the total
university admissions less the pç
ftm-4
admissions relating to the
opting out Faculty.
b)
that when a Faculty opts out of the Diverse Qualifications policy, the status
of that Faculty's representative on the Diverse Qualifications Admissions
Committee be changed to become a non-voting observer on the
Committee.
2. ?
That the Faculty of Science be permitted to opt out of the Diverse Qualifications
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Admissions Policy starting with admissions for the Spring Semester 1998.
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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MEMORANDUM
To: Faculty of Science
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From:C.H.W. Jones, Dean
Faculty of Science
Subject: Ballot on DQA
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Date: October 3l,19g6
The results of the Faculty of Science ballot on the Diverse Qualifications
Admissions Policy are as follows:
Number supporting the motion that the Faculty of Science opt out of DQA
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70
Number voting against the motion
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35
Abstentions ?
4
Total Ballots
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109
The Ballot was counted by Mr. K.C. Bell (Registrar's Office) assisted by Dr. Ken
Stuart and Ms. Rosemary Hotell from the Dean's Office.
(fr.
C.H.W.Jones -
c. D. Gagan, Vice-President, Academic
Watt, Director, Secretariat Services
D. Moore, Associate Director, Admissions
R. Heath, Dean of Student Services & Registrar
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Diverse Qualifications Undergraduate Admission Policy
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Summary
The policy proposes that 10% of undergraduate students newly admitted to the University shall be admitted on
the basis of Diverse Qualifications.
Purpose
The purpose of the policy is to encourage applicants to participate in a broad range of activities and services to
society, through recognizing in the admission process their achievements and contributions. This recognition
must not have a negative effect on academic performance of students at the university. Rather, it should
promote an enrichment of the university environment by encouraging applicants to focus less narrowly on
course work and promote a broader appreciation of worthwhile intellectual, and socially-responsible activities
or pursuits.
Policy statement and principles
Simon Fraser University seeks to admit not only applicants who are academically very well-qualified but also
those who meet minimum admission standards and have
• demonstrated commitment and/or excellence in other endeavours and/or
• presented a clear and valid reason for attending Simon Fraser University and or
• have succeeded in their studies in spite of difficult circumstances.
1. Name
The name of the policy shall be the Diverse Qualifications Undergraduate Admission Policy.
2. The policy shall
not alter the trimester
nature of the admission process or the
proportions of new
students drawn
from the various entry groups
Senate has approved admission targets for each semester, broken down into three broad groups and into
Science and non-Science faculties. These targets and the resulting mix should not be changed as a result
of this policy. The policy must provide an opportunity for prospective new students entering any
semester, regardless of origin, goals or age.
3. The policy shall
apply to all general university admissions,
unless a faculty (having
separate admission
requirements and targets)
wishes to opt out
General university admission is currently broken down into two broad groups : non-Science (APSC,
ARTS, BUS, EDUC) and Science. The policy may be applied to all faculties or only to one or other of
these two groups, as Senate wishes.
4. Two' methods of
determining admission
shall be used
1.
Normal academic qualifications, (i.e. the -pa or percent average based on the secondary or
post-secondary record) and
2.
a combination of academic qualifications and Diverse Qualifications.
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(Currently, only academic qualifications are used, and qualified applicants are ranked accordingly by
descending gpa. Offers are made in descending rank order until all available places are filled.)
5.
Academic qualifications alone shall be used for most decisions
Initially, it is recommended that 90% of admission decisions be based on academic criteria alone,
leaving the remaining 10% to be determined under the Diverse Qualifications Policy. These proportions
should be reviewed, based on experience and might change over time.
For
95/96,
this would give the following totals:
Admitted on Academic qualifications alone
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4185
new students
Admitted under Diverse Qualifications
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465
new students
Total planned admissions
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4650 new students
6.
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The Policy shall recognize demonstrated excellence and the applicant's reasons for
believing that s/he
will
be successful
• Demonstrated excellence may be in a number of fields (e.g. academic, social, athletic, artistic,
professional);
• Reasons for success might be prior success in the face of difficult circumstances (physical,
psychological, social or economic) or an unusually high level of motivation.
7.
The Policy shall be
applied onl
y
if the candidate
meets the published admission
requirements
An applicant whose gpa is below the published minimum, who lacks the required English test score,
who has insufficient credit for admission or in any other way has failed to meet the minimum
requirements for admissions set by Senate shall be ineligible for consideration under the Policy.
Consequently, only those who are otherwise turnaways" from the University shall be considered.
8.
Applicant information shall be voluntary and self-reported
Applicants may choose whether or not they wish to provide detailed personal information for
consideration under the Policy. A Personal Information Profile (PIP) may be submitted giving the
following information:
• a 250 word statement of the reasons for wishing to attend Simon Fraser University and why
success is likely;
• a summary of notable activities and achievements;
• the names and addresses of two persons who could verify the information.
• At least one letter of reference.
This information shall be taken into considered in the adjudication process.
9.
Adjudication and Appeals
Adjudication shall be by a specially selected joint committee of the faculties. The University shall
establish a such a committee. A suggested structure is given in Appendix 4. The Committee to Review
Undergraduate Admissions shall continue to hear admissions appeals, where there are significant
special circumstances.
is
10. Scoring
Scoring of PIPs
shall be holistic. Guidelines should be used to achieve reasonable consistency in the
ranking of candidates. (See Appendix 2). The adjudication committee will be expected to refine these
guidelines in the light of experience.
11. Interviews
Candidates will not be interviewed. Given the difficult logistics and low reliability of interviews, these
are believed to be not worthwhile.
12.
Review period
The policy shall be in place initially for three years, starting Spring Semester 1997, with a review by
SCAP with a report to Senate to occur in Summer Semester 1998 before the policy continues. If the
policy is not renewed, it will lapse after Fall semester 1999. The policy may be renewed for two year
periods, with review at the end of every other year (i.e. 2000 etc.)
Procedure
All applicants shall be invited to submit a Personal Information Profile with their applications. Submission of
the
determining
PIP shall
admission
be voluntary.
cases,
It shall
under
be
the
made
Diverse
clear
Qualifications
to applicants that
Admission
reference
Policy.
will be
Further,
made to
applicants
the PIP only
shall
forbe
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advised that admission under the Policy is limited to 10% of admissions and that those to be considered must
meet minimum university entrance requirements. Applicants who feel that their applications might be marginal
should submit a Personal Information Profile. University staff may offer general advice on the desirability of
submitting a Personal Information Profile, but will not give specific advice prior to a formal assessment of
admissibility.
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Applicants must submit the Personal Information Profile by the deadline for submitting an application for
admission. The University
will
not accept late submissions or changes.
The Personal Information Profile is recorded as a received admission document by the Office of the Registrar
and filed, retained temporarily and eventually destroyed according to the Registrars document retention
schedule (usually 12 months).
Applications shall be assessed, as at present, on academic qualifications, and offers made to fill 90% of the
target for that semester. Normally, this will be achieved before the following dates:
5 August ?
Fall applications
5 December Spring applications
5
April ?
Summer applications
The release of new and continuing student to the registration system is usually complete by the above dates.
Typically, the admission target is adjusted after analysis of the registration data. Consequently, by these dates,
the admission -pa (sometimes referred to as the 'cut-off gpa") will be known for that semester, even though
not all decisions will have been made.
All applicants whose applications are complete and who are technically admissible, but who have not been
selected because their admission gpa falls below the "cut-off gpa", (i.e. currently coded as "DL" - Deferred
Limited Enrolment) shall compete for the remaining 10% of places. This pool of applicants is the total number
of remaining qualified applicants and it shall include both those who have and who have not submitted a
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Personal Information Profile.
Scoring, ranking and selection of applicants should take place within approximately 10 days, with admission
offers released around the following dates:
15 August ?
Fall applications
15 December Spring applications
15 April ?
Summer applications
Registration prospects for those selected and offered admission will be reduced compared with those admitted
under academic qualifications alone. It is not easy to correct this unless all offers are processed earlier or if
scoring for all Personal Information Profiles is done on receipt. If so, a much larger number of Profiles must
be scored, because the initial admission decision will not yet be determined. Hence delaying the scoring greatly
reduces the number of applicants' PIPs to be scored, because most will be admitted on academic qualifications
alone.
Adjudication of applications
When the Director of Admissions has determined the number of offers to be made under the Policy for a
particular admission group and has determined the admission gpa for the semester, the following must happen
in the time frame indicated:
1. Score the Personal Information Profiles for all Deferred Limited Enrolment applicants - (time required
5
days);
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2. Rank the Deferred Limited Enrolment applicants by Basis of Admission using the admission GPA
(time required 0.5 day);
3.
The adjudication committee meets and determines new rankings (I day)
4.
Director of Admissions makes sufficient offers to fill the remaining places - (time required 5 days).
Adjudication of ranked candidates
A small adjudication conimittee, Consisting of representatives from each faculty and from the student body, is
suggested (See Appendix 4). If the scoring and rankinghavetaken place prior to the meeting of the committee,
the time spent on adjudication can he rnininiized and the committee can foëus on marginal cases, exceptions
and a review of outcomes.
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Appeals
The Committee to Review Undergraduate Admissions adjudicates appeals, where there are special
circumstances.
Implementation Date
Diverse Qualifications Admissions will start with admissions for Spring 1997.
Return to How to Apply.
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