More than 1,000 University of California math and science professors are advocating for the reintroduction of SAT/ACT scores for STEM students. A Wall Street Journal opinion by UC Berkeley math professors revealed a gap in student preparation, a crisis that began after the UC system halted standardized tests in 2020. This has led to unprepared students depleting resources and undermining academic goals.
Recently, The New York Times Editorial Board urged the UC system to reverse its decision. They labeled the choice as a “terrible” mistake, which left students less prepared for college coursework. The editorial’s publication coincides with the upcoming UC Board of Regents meeting, where this policy may be reconsidered.
History of Testing Policy Changes
In 2019, the UC system established the Standardized Testing Task Force (STTF), a committee of professors from all 10 campuses. The group examined the role of standardized tests in admissions, releasing a 225-page report the following year. The report concluded that test scores help predict student success, including grade point averages, retention, and completion.
Current Testing Policy and Its Effects
Despite the STTF’s findings, the UC system opted for a “test blind” approach in 2020, where schools did not consider test scores under any circumstances. This decision coincided with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the Times Editorial Board noted a significant decline in student preparedness, citing a report from UC San Diego that showed an increase in the number of first-year students not qualified for pre-calculus.
Although other educational challenges have arisen, such as the impacts of artificial intelligence, school closures, and smartphone distractions, the Times argued that the UC’s policy is to blame for the larger preparedness decline observed in their students.
Academic preparedness and student success are significant priorities at the University of California. The UC faculty Academic Senate is committed to an extensive, data-driven review of methods to assess college readiness and support student success.
Continued Efforts and Response
The UC faculty Academic Senate continues to evaluate the best criteria for admissions. Still, UC faculty, including 2,300 STEM and over 900 humanities professors, have called for a reevaluation of the current policies, citing consequences for student success and university effectiveness.
The Times Editorial Board mentioned Janet Napolitano, past university president and initial supporter of the test blind policy, who now favors reinstating test scores. The board indicates that while the test blind approach was a valid trial, the resulting data suggests a need to revisit the decision.
Other institutions that removed testing requirements during the pandemic, such as Harvard, Brown, and Purdue, have since reintroduced them. Even institutions like the Naval Academy and West Point maintain these score requirements.
This conversation reflects a broader debate over the role of standardized testing in education and how to best measure and foster student success. The university’s trustees, known as the regents, carry ultimate decision-making authority. They are encouraged by the Times Editorial Board to reconsider and reverse the policy established six years ago.