Judge bars University of California from all use of SAT, ACT scores in admissions

[bluebayou]

@Twoin18

@bluebayou

Go check out the other thread, in which it is clear that the UC leadership believes that the SAT/ACT are discriminatory, and thus they voted to eliminate them from consideration: test optional for a few years, and then no SAT/ACT. That is written policy.

Sure, not everyone supports that decision, but then what decision ever gets made at a public Uni level that everyone agrees with. Regardless, the Regents approved the new testing policy.

The reference to “UC leadership” obscures the fact that the Regents are political appointees who tell the academic leadership what to do. The academics appear to want to admit based on merit, and recommended the consideration of test scores to facilitate that evaluation.

But California’s politicians certainly do not, as evidenced by them placing Proposition 16 on the ballot this November to repeal Proposition 209 (passed in 1996). Prop 209 stated that the government and public institutions cannot discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to persons on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, and public contracting.

Uh, no. The study by the Academic Senate, i.e., the “academics”, recommends replacement of the SAT/ACT and if that can’t be accomplished, eliminate standardized testing entirely. Since the Senate knows with near certainty that UC does not have the resources or expertise to develop a high quality test…

Removed AA discussion
ED

[socalgb]

The First Appellate District Court of Appeal in California stayed a case against the UC Board of Regents that required the UC system to cease its use of the SAT and ACT in its admissions process until further order from the court.

According to the court docket, the decision is pending further consideration of the petition to stay the case. As the case is temporarily stayed, the UC system may use the SAT and ACT in its admissions at this time.

https://www.dailycal.org/2020/09/24/appellate-court-temporarily-stays-ruling-requiring-uc-to-cease-use-of-sat-act-in-admissions/

[socowonder]

The stay has been lifted, in a unanimous decision of a three-member panel of the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco yesterday.

Campuses are once again barred from accepting the SAT in admissions.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/court-university-of-california-cant-waffle-in-phasing-out-sats-in-admissi/

However, the UC “disagrees with the decision” and is “reviewing its options.”

Sigh.

[ucbalumnus]

Looks like from the campus web sites, UCLA, UCSD, and UCD are the only campuses that say that they are test optional. The other campuses say that they will not use SAT/ACT scores in admission readings (although some of them say that they and SAT subject tests may fulfill a-g subject requirements).

[spaceaquarium]

Now we are back to all UCs test blind. This seems to be the final decision since apps are now open to submit.
https://www.educationdive.com/news/u-of-california-cant-consider-sat-act-appeals-court-rules/588137/

[sushiritto]

I don’t believe anything is a done deal yet. From the UC website:

Exam requirement
Please note: Ongoing litigation related to the University of California’s admissions processes may affect some UC application materials. However, no matter what happens in the litigation, no applicants will be required to submit an SAT or ACT score for Fall 2021, and applications will not be viewed negatively based on the lack of a score.

UC understands that there are real safety concerns about gathering to take a standardized test. The safety of applicants is more important to the University than any test score.

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/freshman-requirements/exam-requirement/

[Pusheen1]

I have a completely different view of this issue, as my DS is a 2E (twice-exceptional) student, meaning he is gifted but also has a learning disability (dyslexia). He has accommodations and his LD has definitely affected his GPA, putting him at a disadvantage for UC admissions. However, since he is gifted and very bright, he can do really well on the testing in order to show his potential, and somewhat make up for the lower grades. He was signed up to take the SAT or ACT in March, June and July and was cancelled, and finally was able to take the ACT in September , and got a 35 (and perfect score on 2 sections), which would help improve his chances of admission. However, since someone else with a disability felt that testing was discriminatory towards their chances, now he is barred from having that option? If I had the money and lawyers I could argue the other way, that this is discriminatory towards my son. I think they should have left it all as test optional, so people could submit or not and admissions readers could take everything into consideration. My DD is a UCLA junior getting straight A’s. My DS has more potential than her, yet he will probably not get in at any UC. This is just wrong.