UC Officials to Begin Verifying Student Application Materials

But some university officials -- including those at UNC -- say verification requests should be considered on an individual basis or is not necessary at all.

The system was tested this year by UC-San Diego, which randomly checked a total of 437 applicants. Only one student was unable to provide the required information.

Four categories were randomly sampled -- including reported family income, participation in special programs, exceptional talents and awards, and leadership activities.

Officials began checking the information provided on applications because several pilot studies showed that some students lie about their involvement in certain activities, said UC-San Diego Admissions Director Mae Brown.

Brown said the random checks of students applications were done to appease people who questioned the application process. "It's to reassure the public ... and the students that yes, we are checking."

She added that the majority of students asked to provide evidence of their activities complied.

"We were very encouraged by the results we found," Brown said.

Brown University Admissions Officer Angela Wright said she does not think there is any reason to question all students' applications.

"If we have a particular question about a student, then we will seek independent verification on a case-by-case basis," she said.

Brown has no plans to implement a system to check students' application information, Wright added.

"We don't think it's necessary," she said. "It's not a real topic of conversation right now."

"The board of admissions felt that we should do verifications, and that's why we did them," Brown said.

And some UNC officials say a similar system likely will not be implemented at the University.

Jerry Lucido, UNC director of admissions, said he does not think verifying a student's application information is necessary.

A review system would be contradictory to the Honor Code system and also would interfere with admissions officers' ability to pick the most qualified candidates, Lucido said.

"It doesn't serve the interests of the Honor Code process very well, and it could even distract us from doing our job," he said.

"We already have the Honor Code right on the application, and we ask students to sign it. We don't have a sense that students are lying on their applications at all."

The verification system adopted by the UC system places students under an "IRS-like audit system," Lucido said.

"We don't wish to play games with students, and we don't expect for students to play games with us."

But Lucido added that he thinks such a system makes sense if administrators believe that many of their prospective students are being dishonest on their applications, though he does not expect it to be implemented at UNC.

He said, "If I felt that there was rampant cheating, then I would think about a new system."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.