<p>New policy at CNU:
News Release - August 29, 2007 </p>
<p>Media Contact:
Emily L. Lucier
<a href="mailto:emily.lucier@cnu.edu">emily.lucier@cnu.edu</a><a href="757">/email</a> 594-8428 </p>
<p>(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) - Christopher Newport University has adopted a new policy for admissions that makes the reporting of standardized test scores optional for some high-achieving students. </p>
<p>The reporting of SAT/ACT scores will be optional for prospective students who: </p>
<p>Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 OR rank in the upper 10 percent of their classes AND
Are pursuing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum such as the Virginia Advanced Studies Diploma.
Home-schooled applicants, students attending schools outside the United States , and students who are applying to the Honors Program and/or the President's Leadership Program must submit SAT/ACT scores. </p>
<p>The policy change was prompted by concerns that too many students with outstanding academic records were being rejected for admission to CNU because of low test scores, said Patty Cavender, CNU's Dean of Admissions. </p>
<p>Many other selective higher education institutions have implemented similar policies amid concerns that standardized tests are not an accurate indicator of an applicant's potential for success. A number of these include colleges and universities like Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson, Bates, Bowdoin, and other outstanding Liberal Arts institutions, along with George Mason University in Virginia . </p>
<p>“Our research on CNU students from 2002 to 2007 has shown that high school GPAs are a much better indicator of how well students will do academically at CNU than SAT scores,” said President Paul Trible." These findings are consistent with research findings at other institutions.” </p>
<p>CNU has experienced a 210-point increase in SAT scores of incoming freshmen in the past 10 years. The grade point averages of incoming freshmen at CNU have increased from 2.8 in 1996 to 3.5 in 2007.</p>