Journal Article

A study of Canadian and American admissions equity at Bringham Young University

Tanner, Jeffrey M, Shute, R Wayne

1999

Overview

Statement of Purpose The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to compare the ACT examination results of Canadian students with their American counterparts to see if the ACT is biased against Canadian students; and 2) to compare Canadian and American students' academic achievement while the students are in their first year at Brigham Young University as a way of determining if high school grades of Canadian students were being undervalued in the admissions process at BYU. [...]there is the problem of selectivity of those things that will be compared. The assumption was that if the admissions selection criteria being used by the BYU Admissions Committee incorrectly under-valued the academic preparation of Canadian students, that under-valuing would be demonstrated by their superior first year university grade performance when compared to the first year university grade performance of U.S. students with whom they were matched. [...]the difference between a 2.83 and a 2.96 grade point average is statistically validated because the difference would continue to appear if the same research procedures were followed a second or third time.

• Publisher: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
• Subject: Academic achievement / Bias / College admissions / College students / Comparative Education / Education / Educational Objectives / Elementary education / Equal Education / Grade Point Average / Researchers / Secondary schools / Students / Teachers