SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
00
..........SENATE.
...................................
Subject
......EARLY ADMISSION.
SENATE UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
From
.......................BDAID.......................
19 DECEMBER 1983.
Date....................................................
Action undertaken by SUAB at its meeting of 14 December 1983 gives
rise to the following motion:
MOTION: ?
"That the Early Admission be deleted from the
Calendar as a special category of admission
with effect from January 1985."
The rationale for this change is contained in SUAB 121 (revised), attached.
SuAE l.-I
SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
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From ........
.HEATH., . SECRETARY.....................
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SUAB
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Subject.....
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Date......
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December. 8, .1983
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EARLY ADMISSION
Definitions:
The Calendar describes these two entry categories thus, (p.16):
i)
EARLY ADMISSION (Entry to Spring Semester starting in January)
This category is designed for Grade 12 students who are attend-
ing schools on a semester system and who would therefore nor
malty be eligible for graduation in January. Such students may apply
for entry to the Spring Semester starting the beginning of January.
Applicants for Early Admission must meet the following require-
ments:
a) An applicant must have demonstrated his/her ability by.
above-average academic records, and have shown mature
intellectual development to such an extent that he/she would
profit from admission to the University without first securing
Grade 12 standing..
. b) An Iicant ?ntsIsubmit a letter of iecómmendatiort from
his/her school princioal, along with an official copy of his/her
academic record.
c) Admission under this category is at the discretion of the
Admissions Board. Enquiries regarding admission under this
category should be directed to the Director of Admissions.
ii)
EARLY ENTRY
This category is designated for students who have completed
Grade 11. An applicant must have demonstrated his/her abilities by
exceptional academic records (B + or 80% or higher) and have
shown mature intellectual development to such an extent that he/
she would profit from admission to the University without securing
Grade 12 standing. Sections (ii) and (iii) described under Early
Admission also apply to this category of admission.
Early admission has enabled some students to enter SFIJimmediately
instead of waiting until the Summer or Fall semester. In practice, the
school Fall semester runs to the end of January, therefore, those admitted
into this may have strictly not graduated by the time they start at SFU.
Early entry has enabled students to be admitted to SFU without having
taken B.C. Grade 12 and without Secondary School Graduation. In practice,
students entering under this category have usually completed some Grade 12
work in their Grade 11 year.
History:
S
The University began these special entry categories (along with Mature
Student Entry) in its early years on an experimental basis. There was a
-2-
REVIEW OF EARLY ENTRY AND
EARLY ADMISSION Contd....
review in
1969, at which time the categories were put on a regular footing.
Recent statistics:
Data for the past three years indicates
Early Admission ?
- Total 4 students (81-1 (2), 81-2 (1), 83-1 (1))
Early Entry
?
- ?
Total 6 students (81-1 (1), 81-3 (1), 82-3 (4))
The samples are small, but the six Early Entry students have clearly
performed at an above averagelevel in their SFU courses. The four Early
Admission students appear to be below average.
Provincial Exams
?
-
The introduction of the exams has some effect on the Early Admission
category since graduation in January is more uncertain than before and can-
not be confirmed until end of February when exam results are released to
the student. In addition, the student most likely will be writing one or
more Grade 12 exams in the week of 23-30 January, which is already the third
week of the SF1.1 Spring Semester. Thus the problem of semester overlap is
more serious than it was before the provincial exams were introduced. Under
this arrangement, the school might be reluctant for the student to miss two
or three weeks of revision work before the exam. One alternative is to
require that the student register in a reduced course load in SFU courses
that semester and attend both the secondary school and University for the
first three weeks. However, this is not likely to be a popular option.
Advantages and disadvantages:
Disadvantages
Students miss opportunity to win
entrance scholarships and provincial
scholarships. Students might be
insufficiently mature. Unpopular
with school principals because
students' high standing not reflected
in school graduation results,
provincial scholarship exams, etc.
Admitting students before graduation
can be risky. Students miss
opportunity of SFU scholarships.
Students tempted to condense programs
unreasonably (e.g. attend SFU Spring
and Summer then transfer to UBC
contd. ..
Advantages
Early Entry
?
SFU gains by admitting
students of high ability.
.Student makes best use of
his time and is challenged
academically.
Early ?
Students gain time. Makes
Admission ?
good use of SFU trimester?
system.
-3--
REVIEW OF EARLY ENTRY AND
EARLY ADMISSION Contd....
(2nd Year in Fall) - this can be
to their academic detriment.
Student is expected to be in two
places at once in January, including
taking provincial exams in last week
of January (week 3 of SFU semester).
Failure to pass or sit provincial
exams could result in failure to
graduate, but this is not known before
the end of February -
i.e.
mid-
semester - too late for effective
action.
Recommendations:
1.
Maintain Early Entry category and maintain strict controls on
• quality of students entering in this category.
2.
Discontinue Early Admissions category for Spring semester entry
with effect from January 1985.
NH :aj
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