IU Purdue Admissions

Lawmakers address IU, Purdue admissions

Senators to look into admissions practices

Leslie Olsen

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Several Indiana state senators are vowing to look closer at how Indiana University-Bloomington and Purdue-West Lafayette admit students -- in particular, Hoosier students.

A 24-Hour News 8 report profiled Decatur Central High School senior Ashley Strube. She was rejected from IU-Bloomington, even though she is in the top 10 percent in her class, has a high grade point average and alumni parents, but a low SAT score.

The report showed a nearly 10 percent, 10-year decline in the percentage of in-state students at the flagship campuses.

Senator Mike Delph (R) of Carmel called IU President Michael McRobbie Monday after receiving a letter from the president. The letter was sent to every member of the General Assembly. Senator Luke Kenley (R) of Noblesville read it during session last week.

President McRobbie responded to a former IU trustee's claims that the school is taking more out-of-state students, saying, "A recent report by an Indianapolis television station also contained these allegations with the additional charge that this is being done for financial gain."

As 24-Hour News 8 reported, the state subsidizes IU and Purdue for about 20,000 Hoosier students a year.

"The president did tell me that they exceed the caps with the number of admissions that they let in. But we shouldn't, in my mind, be denying anybody that's qualified to go to one of these major campuses," said Delph.

Senator Brent Steele (R) of Bedford is also concerned the percentage of Hoosier students accepted to the big campuses has dropped too much.

"Where does that end? What is the proper mix?" asked Steele. "I went to my son's graduation at Purdue a few years ago and I thought I was attending a graduation in a foreign university."

As head of the state Senate's appropriations committee, Sen. Kenley said he's reviewing how the state funds universities.

"We've put so much money into those universities. Certainly, we're gonna insist on a first priority as to what is an appropriate ratio," said Kenley.

Kenley said legislators will keep close tabs on the situation.

McRobbie said a ratio of 62 percent of in-state students to 38 percent out-of-state students is reasonable. Kenley said boosting that number for in-state kids might be better.

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News & Politics

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• Mike Delph
• Indiana

[TheAstralChief]

"Foreign university." What is that supposed to mean??

[linwooddeaton]

no illegals. check for legal entry.