Top 10 percent rule to change at UT

AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) - Being a top student may not win you admission to the University of Texas in the future.

Texas law guarantees admission to any public university for students graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school class, but the UT System's flagship campus in Austin wants to tighten that to the top 8 percent.

Enrollment at the University of Texas increased again this year, up by 1,000 students to a total of 51,032.

The change was authorized for UT in the 2009 legislative session and takes effect in 2011.

Meanwhile, the 10 percent rule remains in place for the other 37 public schools in the state.

University President William Powers told lawmakers UT was losing control of its admissions process. Powers outlined the new policy Monday in a letter to the Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott.

With much of the current freshman class comprised of students who graduated at the top 10 percent of their high school class, some students said it means students are not as well-rounded.

"It's not fair for some private-school students," said UT student Sara Valik. "For instance, my sister couldn't get in because she wasn't top 10 percent. I wasn't either, so it was a lot harder. I think reducing the number of people who get in automatically would be good."

Powers will be making a speech to outline his vision for the university Wednesday at 4 p.m. A livestream is available of Powers' speech.