The first question to be addressed is whether provisional admissions should remain. Our practice in this area appears to be unique among selective American universities, but it is a practice of long standing and has been important in the relationship of the University to the citizens of Texas. By this policy, we have provided a path whereby graduates of Texas high schools could earn regular student status at UT Austin by succeeding in a prescribed curriculum during a summer session. There are certainly problems with this program, and it is clear that the preference of the Faculty Council is to discontinue it. However, my judgment, developed from extensive discussion with people interested in the University from across the State, is that we would be acting against the best interest of the University to choose that path.
Abrupt discontinuation is simply too disruptive to our relationship with the public.
Accordingly, I cannot support any proposal that does not include a provisional pathway. Thus, Option 1 is not viable. On the other hand, indefinite continuation of the status quo is also not viable. The rapid growth of the summer provisional program has caused us to lose control of admissions and has resulted in unhealthy consequences, including cancellation of admissions of new freshmen and transfer students in January 2001. Early signs indicate that applications will rise yet again in the admissions cycle just begun, so we can expect a worsening of the problem.