Mr. McRaven's "Blue Ribbon Panel" Reports Back

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

Following the Kroll report, Mr. McRaven commissioned a "blue ribbon panel" to investigate the U.T's admissions practices; they reported back at today's regents meeting:





Highlights:

• McRaven will make his full recommendations at the August meeting.

• (Former U.T. President) Larry Faulkner chaired it, which means it's a joke.

• No firewall between the University President and admissions.
• In limited cases, President should be able to overrule admissions committee
• Prez will report on these cases once a year to the Chancellor.
• Author's Note: Who, of course, will do nothing.

• Letters: Undue influence = Coercion.

• No "sharply restrictive" policies on letters.

• No open records for admissions data.
• Blah, blah, FERPA, blah, blah.

• Abandon admissions holds.
• Author's Note: Essentially, create a new system for business as usual.

• Process is inherently subjective.

• Wallace Hall: "How is it ever acceptable" for someone to gain admission via proximity to the university President or the right legislator?!?

• "President is the ultimate admissions officer."

• Act all butt-hurt that Jim Pitts' incompetent son Ryan's 155 LSAT score became public

The statesman has a detailed write up here.

Bottom Line: Any allegedly new admissions policy based upon the premise that the university "President is the ultimate admissions officer" is, by definition, a farce.