The new policy would only guarantee admission for the top 9 percent statewide and the top 9 percent at each school. Those two groups combined make up about 10 percent of the state's graduating seniors.
The plan, which has been under development since 2004, would give a much broader group of students the chance to make their case to campus admissions officers. Along with grades and test scores, admissions officials will review the achievements, applications essays, family backgrounds and extracurricular activities of students who meet certain criteria.
To be eligible for "comprehensive review," students will have to complete 11 of 15 college preparatory courses, maintain a weighted 3.0 grade point average and take the main SAT or ACT with a writing component.
UC Regent Judith Hopkinson, who abstained from Thursday's vote, said she wanted more time to study the changes because she was concerned they might have unintended consequences.
"Rather than being more inclusive, it could have the impact of being less inclusive because students from high-income places know how to present themselves in a way that will receive more favorable consideration," Hopkinson said. "I don't understand what problem we're solving."
UC regents on Thursday also approved a plan to expand financial aid to students from families earning less than the state's median income of $60,000. The Blue and Gold Opportunity plan will guarantee that students from those families receive enough financial aid to cover UC's annual fees of more than $7,000.
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