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The UCLA Registrar’s Office released information Thursday that suggests a significant rise in the number of self-identified Latina/o and Chicana/o UCLA students on academic probation since the end of spring quarter 2003.

The documents contained statistics revealing a 72 percent increase in the number of self-identified undergraduate Chicano/Mexican American students on academic probation or who were subject to dismissal.

Among students who identify themselves as Latino, Spanish or other Spanish American, 67 students were placed on academic probation at the end of winter 2003 – a 46 percent increase from spring 2003.

According to UCLA policy, students are placed on academic probation if their term or overall GPA falls below a 2.0 but is above or equal to a 1.5. After being on academic probation, students have two quarters to get their overall GPA back to at or above a 2.0. If a term GPA falls below a 2.0 while on probation or the overall GPA is not at or above a 2.0 within two terms, a student will then be subject to dismissal.

University officials were reluctant to release the statistics, initially citing legal statutes which protect students against the publication or release of personally identifiable information and may violate a student’s right to privacy. But as the statistics do not specify individual students, the information was made public and released last week.

University counsel Patricia Jasper expressed skepticism on whether the statistics reveal an accurate picture about the academic situation in UCLA’s Latina/o, Mexican American and Chicana/o communities.

Along with the requested information, Jasper offered a caveat to the apparent rise of the specified students on academic probation.

In a letter to the Daily Bruin, Jasper said people need to remember that the statistics include only students who have self-identified their ethnicity. Since not all such students allow their information to be made public, Jasper states it is difficult to tell how accurate the statistics really are in determining possible academic trends.

“It is not possible to generalize whether the numbers of such students subject to academic action have increased, decreased or stayed the same because the ‘universe’ of students is not complete,” Jasper wrote.

Despite the caution, the statistics raised concerns within the Latina/o communities.

Cindy Mosqueda, a UCLA alumna and director of MEChA Calmecac, a student-run and student-funded retention program focused on increasing graduation rates with UCLA’s Latina/o communities, said it is the single largest increase she’s seen since she assumed her current position in 2002.

Around fifth week of every quarter, Mosqueda said Calmecac receives a list from the Registrar’s Office of the names of all self-identified Latina/o and Chicana/o students currently on academic probation or subject to dismissal. Upon receipt of the list, Mosqueda said her organization sends letters to those students, urging them to take advantage of the numerous services and resources Calmecac provides.

“It’s important for students to know what their options are and that they take preventative measures to avoid being placed on academic probation,” Mosqueda said, adding she doesn’t plan to take any special course of action despite the unprecedented rise in academic probation students.

Henry Pacheco, a fourth-year political science and founder of Hermanos Unidos, an all-male Latino support group focused on community service and professional networking, said some students may not know what resources are available.

“A lot of people don’t know about them or simply don’t use them,” Pacheco said.