University of California to Review Standardized Testing Policy
The University of California (UC) is set to undertake an extensive review of its standardized testing policy. The announcement comes in response to faculty concerns over students’ lack of preparedness, particularly in middle school mathematics, leading to remediation at the university level.
UC President James B. Milliken emphasized the initiative, asserting the importance of strengthening student readiness. He stated that the Academic Senate’s faculty-led review would address both preparation and admissions, considering the reintroduction of standardized tests.
The push for a policy reassessment gained momentum following a petition signed by over 1,400 faculty members across UC campuses. The petition called for reinstating SAT/ACT math requirements, particularly for students entering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors. This appeal underscores the necessity of objective benchmarks in the admissions process.
A concerning report from UC San Diego’s Senate–Administration Working Group on Admissions (SAWG) revealed a troubling increase in students underprepared for high school-level math. The data indicated a rise from 1 in 200 students in 2020 to nearly 1 in 8 students within five years. An alarming 70% of these underprepared students displayed proficiency below middle school levels.
Faculty members also expressed concern over the reliability of high school transcripts, pointing to grade inflation and compromised application essays due to artificial intelligence use. Karajean Hyde, co-director of the UC Irvine Math Project, emphasized the necessity of objective measures to establish academic standards and ensure students meet readiness levels.
Recognizing UC’s commitment to supporting under-resourced students, faculty highlighted the need for sustainable policies. They argued that testing requirements serve as prerequisites for equity, asserting that failing to address preparation gaps leads to classroom challenges.
The UC Board of Regents holds the authority to alter or reinstate admissions policies based on the recommendations from the Academic Senate, with the potential for changes affecting the fall 2028 admissions cycle.
This review aligns with a nationwide trend where institutions such as MIT, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, and the University of Texas at Austin have reinstated standardized tests after concluding their reliability in measuring college readiness, particularly for students lacking extensive extracurricular backgrounds.