Minimum Progress

Davis Division Regulation A552.A defines minimum progress "as an average of 13 units passed per quarter, calculated at the end of every quarter for the preceding three quarters. Any student who falls below minimum progress shall be subject to academic disqualification." In 1997, during the semesters/quarters debate, then Provost Robert Grey made a big deal of the fact that UC Davis was losing State money because the number of reported student enrollment was low as compared to other campuses. Going to a semester system, in his mind, was also a way to recuperate some of the lost monies. The Davis Division of the Academic Senate opted to remain on a quarter system but, to take into account Provost Grey's concern, raised minimum progress from 12 to 13 units.

Shortly after that, the various college assistant deans (who should act as the delegated agents of the Academic Senate) decided on their own and without notifying the leadership of the Academic Senate not to implement the minimum progress regulation. Apparently, their justification is that the implementation of minimum progress requires manpower that is unavailable to them. This excuse is unacceptable. Over the past 10 years the executive branch of the administration has grown to a formidable body of associate and assistant Deans. We must remind them that undergraduate teaching and students are the main scope of the university.

The minimum progress rule was established to guarantee a reasonable time for graduation. Disregarding it amounts to behave as cost maximizers. From the available information it appears that_. between 10 and 20 percent of our students fail to make minimum progress. This means that between 2000 and 4000 students will take more than 4.67 years (180 units :13 MP units : 3 quarters) to graduate. Compare these figures with the 3200 eligible students that were turned away by UC this year: A substantial portion of these rejected eligible students could have been admitted at UC Davis alone.

Therefore,

The Representative Assembly of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate RESOLVES

That the Chair of the Davis Division should convey to the administration the extreme dissatisfaction of the Academic Senate for the unilateral decision of not enforcing Regulation A552 concerning minimum progress.

Furthermore, the Representative Assembly re-emphasizes that undergraduate teaching and student performance is entirely under its jurisdiction and that the administration acts only as its delegated agent. Hence, in the spirit of shared governance, the minimum progress rule as defined by Regulation A552 should be enforced beginning with Fall quarter 2004.

With the rejection of 3200 eligible students, the credibility of the UC system is at stake. UC Davis must find an equitable process for enforcing its own rules and demonstrate fairness to all eligible students.