University of California Reviews Test-Blind Admissions as 1,400 Faculty Warn of Math Gaps
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
University of California Reviews Test-Blind Admissions as 1,400 Faculty Warn of Math Gaps
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Summary
Thursday’s review will examine whether UC should reinstate standardized testing, with the Academic Senate set to give regents and President James Milliken an initial update in July.
More than 1,400 faculty members—backed by seven of UC’s nine math department chairs—pressed for SAT/ACT math requirements for STEM applicants, saying professors are re-teaching middle school math to incoming students.
UC San Diego data sharpened that case: students testing below high school math rose from about 1 in 200 in 2020 to nearly 1 in 8 over five years, and 70% of that group fell below middle school proficiency.
The stakes are high because UC has been fully test-blind since 2020 and, if regents ultimately reverse course, the earliest a new testing requirement could take effect is the fall 2028 admissions cycle.
As elite universities reinstate the SAT, is the test-optional admissions experiment officially over?
Did abandoning the SAT harm the very students test-blind policies were designed to help?
UC Considers Reinstating Standardized Tests as Math Preparedness Declines and Elite Universities Reverse Test-Optional Policies
Overview
The University of California is facing a major debate as faculty push to reconsider its test-blind admissions policy due to growing concerns about student preparedness, especially in mathematics. Evidence from UC faculty shows a decline in foundational math skills among incoming students, with some struggling on basic algebra problems. This has sparked worries about academic standards and student success. The UC Board of Regents will make the final decision, but any changes would not take effect before fall 2028. The discussion highlights the challenge of balancing academic readiness with fairness in admissions, as the system seeks solutions to support student achievement.