When Utah's universities increase their entrance requirements by demanding that prospective students have more credits in certain academic subjects, the sting often is felt in the public schools, a state Board of Education member complained.

The higher education institutions should consult with public education counterparts before imposing such requirements, said board member Keith Checketts."They need to work with us to decide on issues that affect public education requirements," he said.

At issue during a meeting of the state board was a new requirement by the University of Utah and Utah State University that students applying for entrance have three years of science before showing up at the universities.

The state board requires only two years of science credit as a condition for graduation from high school. That means some students may be expecting to attend one of the Utah universities without being aware that they fall short of the entrance requirements.

It also affects high schools, Checketts said. Science is one of the academic areas in which chronic teacher shortages tend to occur. Adding a third year of instruction for those students who are college-bound could add to the demands. Many students anticipating college already take more than the required science subjects, but adding courses to accommodate others could be a hardship on some schools, particularly those in rural areas.

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A requirement for three years of science also may create difficult choices for students who are interested in the arts or humanities as the objective of their college studies.

Checketts said he would raise the issue with a joint committee that studies issues affecting both higher and public education.

The issue arose during a discussion of the state's enhanced science curriculum.

Brett Moulding, the state Office of Education's new science specialist, said the core curriculum has been reworked to include many of the more stringent standards being developed by a national group.

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