HAMMOND, La. -- The governing board for Southeastern Louisiana University and Nicholls State on Friday approved a request to raise undergraduate admission standards this fall, a year earlier than required.
"We applaud and support Nicholls and Southeastern for moving aggressively in raising standards. It is a key indicator in improving academic success of students," said System President Randy Moffett.
Southeastern President John Crain asked the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System for permission to raise the minimum high school grade point average from the current 2.0 GPA to 2.5, or an ACT composite score from the current 20 to 21, or placement in the top 25 percent of the student's high school class versus the 50 percent placement now required.
He said another requirement would be that students need no more than one developmental course and must have completed the state Board of Regents' core curriculum.
"With this increased importance being placed on graduation rates, we intend to sharpen our focus on recruiting students who possess the academic preparation to succeed in a university environment," Crain said.
Nicholls State also moved to increase its standards. Details were not immediately available but Nicholls President Stephen Hulbert said the move would enhance admission standards that "clearly reflects the increasing quality of our student applicants."
Friday's board action puts the standards in place a full year ahead of the Fall 2011 deadline approved last October by the board for all eight universities in the system.
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