1,100 UC Professors Urge Regents to Restore SAT and ACT Requirements
Updated
Updated · tristatealert.com · Jun 2
1,100 UC Professors Urge Regents to Restore SAT and ACT Requirements
3 articles · Updated · tristatealert.com · Jun 2
Summary
More than 1,100 University of California professors sent an open letter to the Board of Regents demanding mandatory SAT and ACT exams for incoming freshmen.
The professors said freshmen show severe preparation deficits, forcing instructors to spend class time on remedial work, including middle-school-level math and science skills.
They argue dropping standardized-test requirements has let more students enter the UC system—serving more than 300,000 students—without being ready for college coursework.
The push comes as roughly 90% of U.S. colleges are now test-optional, putting pressure on California regents to decide whether UC should reverse course.
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Over 1,100 UC STEM Faculty Demand Reinstatement of SAT/ACT Math Requirement Amid Alarming Drop in Student Readiness
Overview
In June 2026, over 1,100 UC STEM faculty urgently petitioned the UC Regents to reinstate SAT/ACT math requirements for STEM admissions by 2027, citing growing concerns about student underpreparedness in mathematics. Faculty argue that removing standardized tests has shifted barriers from admissions into the classroom, making it harder for students to succeed. They believe SAT/ACT scores are essential for measuring readiness and ensuring equity, especially for talented students from under-resourced schools. The UC Academic Senate’s admissions board is actively reviewing these concerns, with a draft proposal and final policy roadmap expected by June 30, 2026.