UC Professors Request Restoration of Standardized Admission Tests

Hundreds of professors across the University of California system have requested that school regents reinstate standardized admission tests. They argue that students are entering college inadequately prepared, necessitating instructors to reteach middle-school mathematics. A letter signed by over 1,100 math and science professors highlights that students lack the foundational knowledge required for success in STEM courses. The letter states, “We now observe preparation gaps so severe that instructors must reteach middle-school mathematics while simultaneously teaching the material students need for sciences, engineering, economics, and other quantitatively demanding fields.” Additionally, it noted that nearly one-third of students in a first-semester calculus course at UC Berkeley displayed significant preparation deficits. Faculty members expressed concerns about increased time spent on prerequisite material, a lack of readiness for advanced coursework, and pressure to reduce quantitative rigor. They warned that these trends could lead to declining graduation rates and longer times to degree completion, impacting California's STEM workforce. The University of California eliminated its SAT and ACT requirements in 2020, joining a trend among colleges to move away from standardized testing. Supporters of this change argued that standardized tests were not effective predictors of college success. In 2021, UC adopted a test-blind admissions policy, meaning SAT and ACT scores would not be considered at all. Following the faculty letter, UC Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu stated that the university is reviewing its policies and requirements.