Faculty in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences approved a motion Monday afternoon to decrease the number of Advanced Placement credits granted to fulfill distribution requirements from six courses to two.
The new AP credit policy will affect incoming freshmen next fall.
“It’s becoming a trend to be more careful when accepting AP credit,” said Ron Braeutigam, Weinberg’s associate dean for undergraduate studies.
The proposal will limit the number of AP credits used in each distribution area, such as history and values, to one. Presently, the college accepts up to two credits for most of the six areas. Students still could graduate early because this new rule only impacts distribution requirements and not electives.
Students in the college must complete 12 courses to fulfill distribution requirements out of 45 courses needed to graduate.
Weinberg Dean Daniel Linzer said the new policy will ensure students take more courses on campus. The goal of Weinberg is to allow students to get the full educational experience in all areas of study, he said.
“Displacing one or more area requirements (with high school AP courses) is not consistent with our school’s goals,” Linzer said.
Five faculty members opposed the proposal at the meeting. Associate psychology Prof. David Uttal strongly objected to the reduction of transferable AP credits.
Uttal said the students with AP credits perform the best because they have adjusted to a rigorous academic environment. Students should be rewarded for coming to college prepared, argued Uttal, who also serves as director of undergraduate studies for his department.
“We can’t say that we will disallow what you learned in high school by making you take more distros,” he said.
Asking his fellow faculty members to delay voting, Uttal said he believes the proposal needs more research and statistics showing higher AP standards are positive for students.
Compared with peer institutions, NU is more generous with accepting AP credits. Harvard, Duke and Stanford universities do not accept AP credits to fulfill distribution requirements.
A recent survey revealed 11 of the 19 Weinberg departments suggested the school be more strict when accepting AP credits, whether that meant increasing the minimum score required for credit or accepting fewer credits.
At Monday’s meeting Linzer said the nationwide AP program is not as elite as it was decades ago. He said the AP program is becoming more difficult to equate with college standards especially when some high schools allow students to take AP courses as early as freshman year.
Although more students take AP courses, College Board spokeswoman Jennifer Topiel said the AP program maintains a consistent level of difficulty. The average score for most subjects remains a three out of a possible five.
Weinberg junior Ellen Bird came into NU with six AP credits. She said the credits will allow her to graduate a quarter early.
“If I leave early, it’s extra student loans I don’t have to pay,” said Bird, who called the new policy unfair because students may have less freedom in their schedules to study abroad or have two majors. “There is no reason to force students to come in without credit.”
Taylor Lee, a senior at Miramonte High School in Orinda, Calif., called the new Weinberg policy “unfair.”
“In high school I’m feeling pressure and stress about APs, and doing well on them,” Lee said. “Because I will already be accepted when I get my scores, the whole reason (to take the tests) is to get out of a class in college.”
She said NU administrators must do a good job notifying high school students of the change.
But Lee did note a potential upside of the new rule. Because college courses offer more depth than the high school equivalent, she said forcing students to repeat classes makes sense.
“This might be a deterrent to some of my friends, but they’re considering Northwestern’s reputation,” Lee said. “That’s more important these days.”
Reach Stephanie Chen at [email protected].
Decision Timeline:
March 7, 2002
Vote of affirmation
“We haven’t changed the program at all in the past few years,” Weinberg Assistant Dean Richard Weimer tells The Daily. “I see students coming to us very well-prepared having taken AP courses in high school.?
May 2, 2004
Winds of change
A plan presented to Weinberg faculty proposes reducing the number of AP credits accepted to fulfill graduation requirements to make NU’s policies coincide with its peer institutions.
May 25, 2004
ASG weighs in
In response to the proposed policy change, ASG Academic Vice President Prajwal Ciryam pushes a Senate bill asking Weinberg faculty to maintain the number of credits accepted by the college to fulfill graduation requirements at eight instead of the proposed four.
May 26, 2004
On hold
Weinberg faculty votes to table until Fall Quarter 2004 a proposal limiting the number of AP credits accepted by the college.
