West Virginia University drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement to reduce ‘stress’ of college application process
West Virginia College introduced on Monday that it might no longer require applicants to submit SAT and ACT examination scores to scale back the “stress” of the faculty utility course.
WVU enacted a brief test-optional coverage throughout COVID, permitting potential college students to submit faculty functions without offering examination scores. This week, the college’s board of governors determined to undertake the coverage completely.
George Zimmerman, assistant vice chairman for Enrollment Administration, instructed WVU Today, “WVU is a frontrunner in offering college students with new decisions in relation to faculty and, with this everlasting test-optional transfer, joins the rising variety of establishments nationwide which might be taking this strategy to varsity admissions.”
“College students have been embracing test-optional admissions processes as a part of their faculty searches for the reason that top of the COVID-19 pandemic and, going ahead, we have an obligation to take away any obstacles that will deter these taken with larger schooling,” he added.
The preliminary short-term coverage was enacted earlier than the autumn 2020 semester to accommodate candidates who couldn’t take the SAT or ACT attributable to testing heart closures in the course of the COVID lockdown. The college prolonged the coverage thrice “to handle ongoing pandemic results and scale back the general stress of the faculty utility course of for college kids,” in accordance with WVU In the present day.
Zimmerman said that the coverage that gives “college students the flexibleness to decide on whether not or not standardized checks are included of their faculty functions has proven to be efficient in serving to them really feel extra answerable for the method.”
Whereas the examination scores aren’t crucial for the faculty admission course of, they’re nonetheless required for some scholarships, particular packages, and course placement.
WVU joined greater than 1,800 establishments nationwide which have carried out test-optional or test-free insurance policies, in accordance with Nationwide Heart for Honest and Open Testing.
Earlier this month, the State University of New York‘s board of trustees unanimously voted to drop SAT and ACT examination rating necessities for its four-year undergraduate packages.
“Sustaining a test-optional coverage is in step with nationwide tendencies at peer establishments,” SUNY Chancellor John King instructed the governing board.
Final month, Columbia University turned the primary Ivy League college to completely eradicate standardized take a look at necessities for undergraduate candidates.
“We’ve got designed our utility to afford the best potential alternative and suppleness for college kids to signify themselves absolutely and showcase their educational skills, pursuits, and targets. Standardized testing shouldn’t be a required part of our utility,” Columbia College said.
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