See the below quotes from EdSource and the Daily 49er:
* This was the TITLE of the EdSource article: "Rising number of rejections raises fears that Long Beach is becoming ‘elite’ university"
* It’s a trend that troubles Long Beach president Jane Close Conoley.
“Other schools use their low admissions rates as a point of pride. Anything rare becomes more desirable,” she said. “We do not want to go down the path of saying we’re becoming an elite university that only takes the best and brightest.”
* “It’s almost as if you need to rank in the very top of your (high school) class now if you want to be admitted,” said Theresa Song, a freshman majoring in biology. “I feel grateful that I was accepted. At the same time, so many of my friends, who are really good students, have gotten left out.”
* The university remains among the most popular CSU campuses and has historically drawn more students from outside its region. Students, faculty and administrators say that’s because of the university’s location, reputation and variety of programs.
The sprawling 323-acre campus, nicknamed “The Beach,” is located in Los Angeles County on the Orange County border – the state’s two most populated counties. It also offers 87 majors, the widest range of any CSU.
* However, a high volume of applicants will result in an increased amount of declined applications. Of the 102,000 applicants, the school will only be able to accomodate 8,500 of them.
Long Beach has faced high rejection rates in the past, with over 36,000 rejection letters sent out to applicants for the fall semester of 2016. President Conoley, who has prided Long Beach as a school that offers education to all, spoke on the issue back in 2016, as reported by EdSource.
GO BEACH
You say that CSULB is the most applied to CSU, which is true. Jane has been here ten years. You say someone wants to reverse the process. Do you have any proof? LB receives awards regularly as an awesome institution of higher learning. You can't have it both ways.
Very simple contrast that can sum it up:
* During Bob Maxson's BEACH PRIDE era, the University finally started to get the recognition it deserved as a great academic institution. It was already a great school but very under the radar/underrated. 350+ President's Scholars (high school valedictorians/top scholars) on campus each year at minimum. Emphasis on identity/BEACH PRIDE - and I was part of a group that helped carry that when we were on campus.
** Alums regularly started telling each other
"GO BEACH"
* F. King Alexander: knew the potential THE BEACH had and helped carry that + further enhance campus life with first year student dorm requirements, acquiring dorms on PCH, etc. More academic recognition.
Since then the campus has been one of the most applied to schools in the entire country. Very popular and not easy to get into (quite difficult for students outside of the local radius).
LB State has been one of the standout campuses in the state, and definitely in the CSU alongside SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, etc.
Seems like the current leadership, at least on the surface, has been intent on reversing that progress, ironically (which is insane). All for, it seems, political ideologies. Jane once said something to the effect that she didn't like admissions acceptance rates being so low. And folks wonder why alums are disengaging... It's not rocket science (which, by the way, is still a big highlight in Long Beach State's academic reputation).
GO BEACH
What does this mean? "especially when your campus focuses doesn’t focus on achievement but rather placates."
I respect Dan, but we have been stagnant. This might be our last chance to hire a coach who can lift the program higher.
Engagement of all donors, fans, students, alumni is the issue. Athletics is tough, especially when your campus focuses doesn’t focus on achievement but rather placates.
I’m in full support of the change, and also realize nothing is guaranteed from our next hire.
Message Thread | This response ↓
« Back to index