Affirmative action programs have long been controversial, and the Arizona Board of Regents will take on the issue at its August 20 and 21 meeting at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Saundra Taylor, UA vice president for student affairs, said she does not expect major changes to be made at the meeting. The regents will be hearing reports on the issue from the state's three universities.

Recently, the Supreme Court declined to rule in an affirmative action case from Texas. The court, citing a change in the race-based admissions policy that brought the case, let a lower court's ruling stand.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously invalidated policies to increase minority enrollment at the University of Texas Law School. Though Arizona is not in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court's jurisdiction, the case was watched by many concerned about affirmative action. Texas v. Hopwood was thought to be a chance for the Supreme Court to set a precedent on the issue.

"We are always trying to read the tea leaves," Taylor said. "But right now, it is more telling if you look at what the California regents have done. Their climate and legal policies have had more of an impact on Arizona."

In 1995, the University of California Board of Regents voted to eliminate their affirmative action programs.

Taylor expects issues of interest to include waivers that take into account race as a factor, and programs targeted for minority students through minority alumni groups.

"All students go through orientation, but programs such as New Start are more intense," Taylor said. "This is defensible on the grounds that many minority students do not persist or graduate."

Taylor said different rates of persistence and graduation do exist and attention must be paid to them. The reasons are complex.

"I happen to believe there are economic, social and political reasons for these differences," she said.

Many of the affirmative action programs include more than just minority students, she said.

"(The programs) actually have a broader base, I think, than has been apparent," Taylor said. "These programs include students who are first generation college students, those with financial need as well as minority status."

Taylor said the impact of closer examination of affirmative action may broaden the criteria for more students.

"There needs to be a strong effort to maintain our funding base," Taylor said. "Because of success in recruiting, we actually need increased funding, or we won't be able to show success in graduation rates."