Editor's Note: This is the second in a three-part editorial series on the new "Changing Directions" and "Focused Excellence" plans set forth by the Arizona Board of Regents and UA administration.

Despite the economic downturn Arizona has taken over recent years, President Peter Likins' new "Focused Excellence" plan gives the UA an opportunity to excel. The plan accurately states that achieving excellence is possible with tougher admissions standards, a tuition hike, investment in research, and some creative efforts to merge departments where possible or eliminating departments that fail to meet certain criteria.

New admissions standards were long overdue even before the "Focused Excellence" plan was outlined. But these standards shouldn't just mean raising the bar for high school GPAs and SAT scores; they should mean a more individualized approach to admissions that stresses an interview, an essay and non-academic accomplishments.

More holistic admissions standards would give the university the ability to accommodate a realistic number of students. That end is vital to becoming a top institution, but would also mean that state funding for growth would slow. Compound the diminished funding with the ongoing budget crisis, and it's clear a significant tuition hike and increased dependence on private funding is essential.

It is imperative that a tuition hike be coupled with increased financial aid so each qualified applicant has the opportunity to study at the university. The plan calls for increased attention on UA's role as a research institution by further developing departments that will draw in private research dollars

It also appears certain that some academic programs will be cut. Hopefully, though, the restructuring will mean good professors from areas that must be eliminated are reassigned to academically related departments so students don't miss out on the opportunity to work with some of the nation's greatest minds.

"Focused Excellence" has potential to improve the UA academically, but administrators must focus on building excellence across the board, rather than focusing solely on a narrow scope of excellent areas.