The Evolution of Admissions Standards at Salem State University: 1930-1965

May 2, 2013Salem State University Graduate Research Day

Presented by Brianne M. McDonough

Normal Schools Prior to 1930•Experienced a flood of students post World War I•Resulted in overcrowding of Normal Schools• Unable to place restrictions on admissions• Impact on student faculty ratio and existing facilities

Eager Rush of Students Swamps Colleges, New York Times 1926

Admissions Criteria through 1930• Salem Normal School could not deny admission to those

residing in the Commonwealth• Private universities criticized for excluding racial groups

and students of lower socioeconomic status▫ Elites relied on College Board (CEEB) as part of admissions

criteria• Normal Schools struggled to maintain balance between

overcrowding and honoring their mission of open access▫ Students not meeting scholarship or credit requirements sat

for exams given by the Normal Schools▫ Significant impact on secondary education within the

Commonwealth

Daily Boston Globe

Rating of Personal CharacteristicsApplication for Admission Salem Normal School, 1930

The 1930’s

•1932: Salem Normal School changed to Salem Teachers’ College

•1937: Commissioner of Education designates each teachers college as having a specialty▫Salem’s focus was business administration▫First college with certification of its kind

•1939: World War II

The 1940’s• 1940: Enrollment impacted by military draft• 1941: Temporary modified entrance requirements

▫ “EMERGENCY REGULATION: Entrance requirements have been temporarily modified so that any high school graduate may be admitted to the Massachusetts State Teachers Colleges after an oral interview with the president and successful completion of a scholastic aptitude test.”

(Salem State Teachers College Catalogue, 1941-1942)

• 1944: The G. I. Bill• 1949: Salem State at Capacity

▫ 53% of students admitted, waiting lists popular

• 1949: AACRO established formalizing the field of admissions and registration in higher education

The G. I. Bill of 1944

•Government required schools to be accredited to be eligible for funds▫Salem State accredited in 1950

NEASC and accreditation boards earned federal recognition

•Rush of student veterans applying for admission▫Required a more swift process for

evaluating admissions criteria Lack of traditional transcripts Increased reliance on SATs

The 1950’s

•1951: Salem State required SAT scores•1952: Established Division of Elementary

and Secondary Education in the Commonwealth

•1956: Baby Boomer hit higher education▫Tightened in-state enrollment quotas▫Out-of-state students land on waiting lists

•1957: President Meier urges Legislature for increased funding

•1958: Criticism over SAT

The 1960’s

•1960: Massachusetts Legislature approves multipurpose state colleges▫New courses in arts and sciences and

business administration•1963: Fiscal autonomy to state colleges•1965: Willis-Harrington Act

▫Board of Higher Education▫Board of Trustees at Salem State▫Increased funding for degree programs

The 1960’s (cont’d)

•1965: Meier wins fight for new facilities▫Dormitories (600 beds; 300 for men, 300

for women)▫Student Union ▫New library and academic buildings (1967)▫New physical fitness building (1968)

•1968: School of Public Health and Nursing

•1969: Graduate School

Implications

•National policy and pursuits have a profound impact on higher education▫Access for underrepresented populations ▫Financial support for institutions and

individuals•As employees and students at institutions

of higher education it is our obligation to be civically engaged in the decisions being made on the state and federal level

Things to consider:• Institutional performance•State support for public higher education•Tuition prices and policy•State student grant aid programs•College readiness• Immigration•Competency-based and online education•Gun control policy•Economic and workforce development•Consumer protection for for-profit colleges

Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2013 http://www.aascu.org/policy/publications/policy-matters/topten2013.pdf

Questions?