FLAGSTAFF - Undergraduates at the state's public universities will face fewer course and degree choices as a result of efforts to improve undergraduate education.

That apparent contradiction was presented in an annual report accepted by the Arizona Board of Regents, which met Thursday at the Northern Arizona University campus in Flagstaff.

The UA's Michael Gottfredson, vice provost of undergraduate education, said the choice limitations are a "trade-off" resulting from an effort to reach goals designed by the board in 1994.

The goals include available classes, adequate advising, classroom technology, student contact with and lower division courses taught by ranked faculty, competitively educated graduates, and student participation in research.

Tom McGovern, faculty council to the regents, said choice limits are a result of changes being made.

"The more faculty are asked to consolidate their time, there will be larger enrollment in more narrow classes," he said.

Regent Eddie Basha said given the slow progress, perhaps a mandate was necessary.

"Contact hours need to be up," he said. "The universities need to put the emphasis where we, the regents, want it."

Basha asked for the specific number of hours instructors are required to spend with undergraduates.

Gottfredson said it depends on the discipline and the amount of research done.

UA Provost Paul Sypherd said an average is hard to arrive at when hours spent in research are not always calculated as a clock hour.

Regent Kurt Davis said he felt many classes are offered that he considered not only repetitive, but "boutique" classes.

"If you look through the course offerings today, for example in political science, there is a course offering on gender in politics and another course offering on feminism in politics," Davis said. "Now, to me, you could probably cover both subjects in on e class."

Regent Art Chapa cited slow progress as a frustration to him.

"It is difficult for us to not look for quicker results," he said. "We have to answer to the Legislature. As I look at these figures, it doesn't show much progress."

In a related item, the regents accepted a report on dropout rates. The report was based on data compiled during a student-conducted telephone survey of 774 exiters, or students who left school prior to graduation. The exiters were enrolled for fall 1994 s emester, but not in fall 1995. The study also surveyed 816 persisters or continuing students.

Don-Paul Benjamin, of the regent's staff for academic and student affairs, presented the study showing personal reasons were cited by 32 percent of exiters. The personal reasons given included a desire to live closer to family and friends, family obligati ons, personal illness, weather, roommate problems and "unprepared for or uninterested in college."

Financial reasons were given by 21 percent of exiters, citing high tuition, financial aid problems, loss of scholarship or waiver and an inability to gain residency. Exiters were found to work more hours at a job and had lower grade point averages.

Benjamin also said the financial difficulty varied by age of the student. Older students were purchasing homes, going through divorces or had children needing braces, while younger students were concerned about food and residence hall fees.

The report stated that the majority of dropouts were enrolled at another college or university or intended to enroll later.