The Admission and Academic Placement of Students from the

203 Pages·2007·5.32 MB·English

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 086 111
HE 005 019
AUTHOR
Fish, Cynthia, Ed.
TITLE
The Admission and Academic Placement of Students from
the Caribbean. A Workshop Report: British Patterned
Education, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Dutch
Patterned Education, the French West Indies, Haiti,
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
INSTITUTION
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and
Admissions Officers, Athens, Ohio.; National
Association for Foreign Student Affairs, Washington,
D.C.
PUB DATE
[73]
NOTE
206p.
AVAILABLE FROM
National Association for Foreign Student Affairs,
1860 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009
($2.50)
EDRS PRICE
EF-$0.65 HC-$9.87
DESCRIPTORS
*College Students; *Foreign
*Admissios" (School) ;
Students; *Higher Education; *Student Placement;
Workshops
IDENTIFIERS
*Caribbean; Cuba; Dominican Republic; French West
Indies; Haiti; Puerto Rico; Virgin Islands
ABSTRACT
This workshop report examines the admission and
academic placement of students from the Caribbean. Workshop materials
concerning the educational systems of the British patterned
Caribbean, Cuba, Dominican Republic; Dutch patterned Caribbean,
French West Indies, Haiti, Puerto Rico; and the U.S. Virgin Islands
are presented. Workshop recommendations suggest: a preliminary
application form can be helpful in providing initial screening before
a complete application is made; the development of files for each
country or area; and performance studies of a given group' of students
at institutions provide helpful sources of information.
(MJM)
c,
PLACEMENT OF
THE ADMISSION AND ACADEMIC
STUDENTS FROM THE CARIBBEAN
A Workshop Report
SPiTISH PATTERNED EDUCATION
CUBA
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
DUTCH PATTERNED EDUCATION
THE FRENCH WEST INDIES
HAITI
PUERTO RICO
U S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
EDUCATION & WELFARE
THE U. S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
EDUCATION
THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO
DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM
THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN
ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS
STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE
SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY
AFFAIRS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FOREIGN STUDENT
AND ADMISSIONS OFFICERS
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGIATE REGISTRARS
JUAN, PUERTO RICO
PUBLISHED BY THE .NORTH-SOUTH CENTER, SAN
FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY
11
THE ADMISSION
AND
ACADEMIC PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS
FROM THE CARIBBEAN
A WORKSHOP REPORT
British Patterned Education
Cuba
The Dominican Republic
Dutch Patterned Education
The French West Indies
Haiti
Pucrts Rico
The U.S. Virgin Islands
Editor - Cynthia Fish
National Association for Foreign Student Affairs
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Published by The North-South Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
ii
PREFACf,
The workshop on the admission and academic placement of students from the
Caribbean area was held in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, from December
4 - 16, 1972.
The workshop was sponsored by the American Association of Colle-
giate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and the National Association
Two previous workshops have been held on
for Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA).
Latin American countries, three workshops on Asian and Pacific countries and one
workshop on Germany.
There were eighteen participants selected for the Caribbean meeting, repre-
All of them have a major concern
senting both AACRAO and I.AFSA constituencies.
for the admission of foreign students at their institutions and all the institu-
tions represented have a significant number of Caribbean students.
As each country was studied, the resource person or persons presented the
historical and educational background as well as a description of the educational
This was followed by an analysis of actual admissions applications
system today.
Each participant was assigned to a study group
and credentials from that area.
This group was responsible for presenting recommendatiOns
for a given area.
regarding the admission and academic placement of students from that area to
Finally, these recommendations were discussed
U.S. colleges and universities.
and approved by the entire group of participants.
The placement recommendations in the report are based upon an analysis of
the materials presented by the resource persons combined with the participants'
experience related to the performance of students from each of these areas. This
combination resulted in this final report, which is presented to the admissions
Pe is understood
It should be interpreted in that l.ght.
community as a guide.
that any additional experience a given institution has with students from this
area of the world should also be brought to bear on any admissions decision.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A large number of organizations was responsible for the financial support of
The initial invitation for a workshop to be held in the Caribbean
the. workshop.
area came from Alfonso Lockward, Executive`Secretary of the Fundaciffn de Ckidito
The FundaciOn contributed financial support
Educativo in the Dominican Republic.
as well as providing logistical support and gracious hospitality for the partici-
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
pants and staff in Santo Domingo.
of the Department of State, the Ford Foundation, the Starr Foundation and the
Graduate Business Admissions Council also contributed financially to the workshop.
These organizations have supported previous workshops, and their continued support
The newly formed International Education Research Foundation
is most gratifying.
contributed financially to the workshop and provided for a member of their Board
Within the Caribbean area there were two organizations,
to attend as an observer.
the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes and the North-
The facilities for our meetingd in
South Center, which contributed support.
Santo Domingo were provided by APEC (ACCkon Pko-Education y Catuu, Inc.).
iii
To all of these organizations NAFSA and AACRAO are deeply grateful.
wish to express special thanks to Gustavo
As Director of the workshop
Rodriguez of the Fundacion de Ckedtto Educativo, as well as other members of
his staff, who were extremely helpful in making the many local arra-gements for
us; to Adolfo Fortier, Executive Director for Latin American Activities of the
College Entrance Examination Board's Puerto Rican office, who was invaluable to
me in the pl:anning stages of the project and for his continued assistance in the
final executiion of this report; to Martin Kushinsky, Cultural Affairs Officer in
the Dominican Republic, who made a number of arrangements for the group which
enhanced the value of having the workshop in a foreign country; to James Bowmar
of the Educational Testing Service and Sanford Jameson of the College Entrance
Examination Board, who generously gave of their time to attend the workshop and
discuss financial aid need analysis and testing programs for admissions, respec-
Cynthia Fish deserves special mention for her excellent work as editor
tively.
I would also like to thank Stephen Fisher, one of the partici-
of this report.
pants, for his assistance in the preparation of the manuscript for the section
on British patterned education.
At times the search for funds and for some of the program resources seemed
interminable.
During that time I was grateful for the interest and suggestions
of P. K. Rao of the Ford Foundation; Estelitta Hart and DaVid Heft of the Organ-
ization of American States; Narita Houlihan and Mary Ann Spreckelmeyer of the
Department of State; Arthur Gillette of UNESCO for his assistance with Cuba;
Charles Hauch of the Office of Education for his supplying out of print reference
materials; and many of my colleagues in NAFSA and AACRAO, too numerous to mention
This kind of support
individually, who all offered suggestions and moral support.
cannot be underestimated.
My personal thanks also goes to tha resource personnel for the workshop.
Their interest, dedication, hard work and excellent presentations made my part
of the process much easier and more enjoyable.
I am also grateful to the parti-
cipants who comprised one of the most thoughtful, challenging and, enjoyable groups
Their contribution very much affected
I have had the pleasure of working with.
I hope that this report will express our
the report which is being presented.
insight into the various educational systems and our commitment to a better under-
standing of those :systems within our own colleges and universities.
Cassandra A. Pyle,
Workshop Director
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
ii
Acknowledgements
ii
vi
Workshop Staff, Participants, Observers
INTRODUCTION
1
GENERAL ADMISSION AND ACADEMIC PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
2
BACKGROUND PICTURE TO THE CARIBBEAN AREA
3
BRITISH PATTERNED CARIBBEAN
Outline for the British Patterned Caribbean
6
I
Background
II
8
Educational System Today
III
9
Special Characteristics and Quality Factors
IV 29
Required Academic Credentials
33
34
Placement Recommendations
VI
Bibliography
36
VII
VIII
Sample Credentials
39
CUBA
Chart of the Educational System Before 1959 and After
46
I
Background
47
II
Educational System -- Until 1959
III
51
Edudational System -- After 1959
IV
57
Special Characteristics and Quality Factors
61
Required Academic Credentials
VI
62
Placement Recommendations -- Before 1959
VII
65
VIII
Recommendations -- After 1959 .
65
IX
66
Glossary..
Bibliography
X
68
.
Sample Credentials
XI
69
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Charts of the Old and New Educational Systems
80
I
Background
81
II
Educational System Today
III
83
Special Characteristics and Quality Factors
93
IV
Required Academic Credentials
94
Placement Recommendations
95
VI
..
Glossary
VII
97
Bibliography
VIII
98
Sample Credentials
99
IX
V
DUTCH PATTERNED CARIBBEAN
Chart of the Educational System of the Dutch Patterned Caribbean
108
I
Background
109
II
110
Educational System Today
III
117
Placement Recommendations
IV
119
Glossary
123
Sample Credentials
VI
FRENCH WEST INDIES
130
Chart of the Educational System of the French West Indies
I
131
Background
II
132
Educational System Today
III
137
Special Characteristics and Quality Factors
IV
137
Required Academic Credentials
138
Placement Recommendations
VI
140
Glossary
VII
142
VIII
Bibliography
143
Sample Credential
IX
HAITI
146
Chart of the Educational System of Haiti
I
147
Background
II
149
Educational System Today
III
154
Special Characteristics and Quality Factors
IV
155
Required Academic Credentials
156
Placement Recommendations
VI
157
Glossary
VII
VIII
158
Bibliography
Sample Credentials
159
IX
PUERTO RICO
169
Background
I
173
Educational System Today
II
180
Special Characteristics and Quality Factors
III
184
Bibliography
IV
185
Sample Credentials
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Background
189
I
Educational System Today 192
II
196
Special Characteristics and Quality Factors
III
Bibliography
198
IV
vi
WORKSHOP STAFF, PARTICIPANTS, OBSERVERS
Workshop Director
Cassandra A. Pyle, Assistant to the Dean of Students
for Foreign Admissions and Foreign Study
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Administrative Assistance
Gustavo Rodriguez, Head, Counseling and Studies Abroad
Fundaa6n de Ckedito Edueativo, Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic
Report Editor
Cynthia Fish, Undergraduate Admissions Adviser
International Student Office
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Gordon Lewis, Professor, University of Puerto Rico
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
British Patterned Educational System
Resource Persons:
Robert Hefling, Director of Gruate& Foreign Student Admissions
University of Colorado, Boulder. :2olorado
Professor _Leslie R. B. Robinson, Pro Vice Chancellor
University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica
Clifford Sjogren, Director of Admissions
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Belize--British Honduras)
Participants:
Billy W. Baker, Director of Foreign Student Admissions
Texas Technological University, Lubbock, Texas
Stephen Fisher, Coordinator of Foreign Student Admissions
City University of New York, New York, New York
Ruth Krook, Admissions Assistant
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
vii
Aline Rivers, Director of Admissions
Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee
Theodore A. Suddard, Director --International Student Affairs
University of Rhode Island, Kingst9n, Rhode Island
Mario A. Watlington, Registrar
College of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
alba
Resource Persons:
Rebecca Dixon, Admissions Coordinator, Office of the Dean of the Grad-
uate School, University of Southern California, Los Angeles,California
Dr. Rolland G. Paulston, International and Development Education
Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Dr. Jaime Suchlicki, Institute of Inter-American Studies
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
Participants:
1
Lee Christensen, Registrar
Kansas State College of Pittsburg; Pittsburg
Kansas
Gwendolyn Hankerson, Admissions Counselor
Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia
Bruce Riddle, Associate Director of Admissions
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Raymond Vitulli, Dean, Admissions & Records
University of Houston, Houston, Texas
The Dominican Republic
Resource Persons:
Rebecca Dixon
Dr. Jaime Vines-Roman, Dean, Faculty of Sciences,
Univeuidad Nacanat Pediw Hemiquez Unact,
Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic
viii
Participants:
Neal Benson, Foreign Student Admissions Counselor
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
)
Suzanne Hart, Foreign Admissions Specialist
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Gary Hoover, Assistant Director of Admissions
University of the Pacific, Stockton, California
Nancy Young, Assistant Director of Minority C International Admissions,
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
Dutch Patterned Educational System
Resource Person:
Robert Hefting
Participants:
The participants listed for the British Patterned Educational System
were also assigned to this area.
Haiti and the French West Indies
Resource Person:
James R. Smothers, Jr., Director, Educational Services,
United Negro College Fund, Inc., New York, New York
Participants:
Peter Bartram, Registrar,
Centennial College, Scarborough, Ont., Canada
Lynne Franks, Admissions Officer
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
Barbara Patterson, Coordinator, Office of International Education
Federal City College, Washington, D.C.
Edith Nicholas, Director of Foreign Admissions
Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Resource Persons:
Cynthia Fish, Undergraduate Admissions Adviser,International Student
Office, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York