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Ebbtide Staff Observe the DTA! The once Holy Grail to SCC students, has morphed slowly from "Direct Transfer Agreement" into "Don't Try Anymore" as the University of Washington and Washington State University consider steps to inhibit admission by prospective students. The Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) is a policy among Washington universities and community colleges granting preferred acceptance to students transferring from a community college with a two-year degree. In the face of the statewide recession, UW and WSU officials request additional funding from the state Legislature. University Presidents Richard McCormick (UW) and V. Lane Rawlins (WSU) say that without an additional $96 million, the per-student spending gap will continue to grow. In order to protect the quality of education in those institutions, they will raise admission requirements. This will eliminate many applicants, even those under the DTA. If granted, the universities' request will fund Washington schools to the same capacity as other four-year schools with similar programs in other states. President McCormick has produced figures showing the budget Washington State allots is 21 percent less per student than the average of what other states give to universities of comparable size and curriculum. The UW Board of Regents sent a letter to Gov. Gary Locke saying, "Until the University's fundamental budgetary problem is fixed, until we close the per-student funding gap between the University and its peers, until we are able to retain our best faculty and preserve the quality of education families are entitled to expect from us, we can no longer accept new enrollments." This is a turn of events for UW. The University is currently over-enrolled by nearly 3500 students. A source at the UW Admissions office said, "With the current economy, we have seen a huge influx of applications. The layoffs at Boeing and impact on the dot-com sector caused many people to return to school to re-tool and re-train." And return they have. A press release from the University states undergraduate enrollment is 28,362, graduate and professional is 10,854, and non-matriculated (non-degree seeking) is 1418 students. With last year's total enrollment at 37,412, the school saw a 9 percent increase over the previous year. To cope with the surplus of students the admissions office increased the minimum grade-point average of incoming freshman this fall to 3.66, up from a 3.63 in 2001, and an SAT score of 1168, from 1159. Direct-transfer students saw an increase from a 2.5 GPA to a 2.75. Admissions office sources say, "Things are just going to get tougher this Winter and Spring Quarters." A projected DTA grade-point minimum over 3.0 may be on the horizon. Over-enrollment has been attributed to several factors: the economy, baby-boom echo and marketplace demands. The baby boom occurred after World War II when returning soldiers began their families. Now, that generation has college-aged children of their own. The implication being, the collegiate system was unprepared to absorb a population of students that size. The marketplace expects a minimum of a bachelor degree for entry-level positions. During a recent job search, this reporter competed with administrative assistants with master's degrees for the attention of human resource directors who 'only' require a BA. "People view college as a safe-harbor during times of economic adversity," an Admissions office source said. "They collect new skills and weather out the storm until the climate for the workforce is more favorable. This over-enrollment occurred when more students accepted admission to UW than was anticipated." What? The practice follows this model: The legislature grants a budget to the college. The college estimates X number of students will apply. Of that number, Y will meet the requirements and be accepted. From Y, Z number of admitted students accept admission and attend classes. The waves became choppy when Z was larger than the college had budgeted for. Whoops. Compounding the difficulties facing prospective students, the tuition costs are increasing. Four-year schools will increase tuition 16 percent while community college student will see a 12 percent increase. As colleges become more selective of their applicants and the costs continue to increase state officials express concern about the availability of higher education to Washington residents. In his Oct. 19 article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jake Ellison quoted Mark Gaspard, executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Board: "The problem may become so severe that students who don't get into their top choice, might also miss out on their second and third choices. They may delay their education at that point." Students seeking to take advantage of the DTA are challenged to maintain an above-average grade point average, often while working to support themselves. Often the task can seem daunting. For information regarding eligibility for the DTA contact your advisor at the advising and counseling office at (206) 546-4559. © 2002 Shoreline Community College™ |