Universities Scrap SAT, Scramble To Stay Diverse Ahead Of Affirmative Action Ruling

Columbia University, the first Ivy League college to permanently eliminate the standardized test requirement last week, allowed hopeful applicants skip the dreaded SAT/ACT.

The move makes the prestigious New York City school the latest in a string of elite institutions to move away from the tests as the argument that standardized testing harms minority students picks up steam. Previously, a low SAT/ACT score would have meant that you were automatically expelled from top-tier schools.

On March 1, release, Columbia University wrote that “students are dynamic, multi-faceted individuals who cannot be defined by any single factor.” The admission process respects the “varied backgrounds, voices and experiences” Columbia stated that the school will assess the success of each student to determine if they are able to succeed. While students may submit test scores, those who don’t will not be penalized.

During the pandemic, many universities — including Harvard and Princeton — jumped at the chance to indefinitely suspend their standardized test admission requirements while in-person testing was on hold. Some, like Columbia, don’t want the chance to go back.

In 2020, the entire 10-school University of California system Voted permanent eradication of standard tests. After a Lawsuit from students claiming the tests are racist and biased against disabled students. New York University, Cornell College and George Washington University have joined the ranks of those who are claiming that the tests are biased against students with disabilities. Allow Students may skip the tests

This fall More than 80% According to one estimate, undergraduate colleges won’t require students to have SAT or ACT scores.

Schools are also abandoning standardized exams like the SAT and ACT. “equity” concerns. Numerous law schools offer these services. Scrapped They must pass the LSAT exam. Advocates even Pushing for medical schools to stop requiring the MCAT, alarming critics who worry that schools could end up graduating less qualified doctors, putting patients at risk.

Schools are now under increasing pressure to stop using standardized tests.

The Supreme Court is set to rule this summer against affirmative action. Universities will be required to come up with new ways to maintain a diverse student body, such as eliminating standardized tests.

In two cases involving Harvard University, North Carolina and University of North Carolina, the Supreme Court is widely expected to rule that affirmative actions are unconstitutional. A group called Students for Fair Admissions sued The schools accused them of unfairly incorporating race into their admissions process. They cited the rejections of applicants from Asian-American and white backgrounds.

Selected universities, as well as selective ones, are looking for ways to replace affirmative actions.

Cornell has Establishment A task force was established to find ways to recruit diverse classes in the event of affirmative action being rescinded by the Supreme Court. In 1995, affirmative action was banned by the University of California system board of governors. adopted It is possible to try various methods to identify minority students like poor neighborhoods or family income. Some schools might now follow the UC’s lead.

Hans Bader is a long-standing civil rights lawyer who was employed by the federal Office for Civil Rights. He said that schools are trying to be civil right advocates. “reduce reliance on merit-based criteria” Prior to the ruling

“From Universities scrap SAT, scramble to stay diverse ahead of affirmative action ruling“

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