Former Congressman Doug Ose speaks out against lowering admission standards

SACRAMENTO – Former United States Congressman Doug Ose has announced today his opposition to the University of California Board of Regents’ current proposal to lower admission standards for the UC system. The UC Board of Regents meets on November 18 at UC San Francisco and has indicated the possibility of a vote on the proposal at this meeting. 

‘The UC system is the premiere network of learning institutions in this country,’ said Ose. ‘Its reputation has been built by generations of students who have worked tirelessly in order to be accepted to one of these schools, and now the UC Board of Regents is seeking to tarnish that reputation by lowering the standards for admittance. As a state seeking to emphasize quality of education, we need to reward those students who have a consistent record of excellence before college.’  

The proposal calls for a lowering of the minimum GPA and the elimination of SAT II subject tests. While the goal of this proposal is to increase diversity in the UC system, studies show that the SAT II subject tests actually are crucial factors in helping many minorities gain admittance into UC schools. This is because the tests allow individuals to distinguish themselves from their peers by performing exceptionally well in specific subject areas such as foreign languages, science and math. 

‘The college admissions process is intended to be about setting high goals and expectations for one’s self,’ continued Ose. ‘The UC Board of Regents should not approve this ‘holistic’ approach to admissions when there are already plenty of eligible applicants and plenty of alternatives to a UC school.’  

Doug Ose is a former U.S. Congressman who represented California’s 3rd Congressional District from 1998 to 2004. He stepped down after three terms, fulfilling his pledge to return to private life after three terms in Congress. Ose currently resides in Northern California and is a successful business owner.