Acting to keep the University of California aligned with state policy, the Board of Regents last month increased the minimum high school grade point average required for UC freshman eligibility from 2.8 to 3.0, effective in fall 2007.

The 14-6 vote was in response to a recent report by the California Postsecondary Education Commission that found 14.4 percent of California public high school graduates achieved UC eligibility in 2003, up from 11.1 percent in 1996.

The California Master Plan for Higher Education sets UC’s target at 12.5 percent.

While the 14.4 percent finding was good news about the improving academic preparation of public school students in California, it also obliged the UC faculty to bring the University’s requirements into closer conformance with the Master Plan.

Together with earlier procedural changes, the increased minimum GPA is expected to reduce the statewide eligibility rate to approximately 12.8 percent.