UCLA Professor: Test-Blind Admissions Fail Equity Goals

A UCLA professor has asserted that the University of California system's "test-blind" admissions policy has not succeeded in eliminating racial disparities as intended. The policy, implemented in 2020 to phase out the SAT and ACT, aimed to address equity concerns, but enrollment trends suggest otherwise.

Sociology professor Gabriel Rossman noted that while the UC freshman class had been diversifying for two decades prior, enrollment figures leveled off in 2020. He specifically pointed to a stagnation in the ratio of Latino to Anglo students. This observation aligns with analyses suggesting that removing test scores hinders the evaluation of academic readiness, particularly for students from under-resourced schools.

In response to these concerns, a growing number of faculty members, including those from social sciences, humanities, and arts, have publicly supported the reinstatement of standardized tests. They argue that these exams, including verbal reasoning components, are crucial for a holistic admissions process that considers academic merit. Some faculty have also cited a significant drop in student preparedness for college-level mathematics since the tests were removed.

The University of California's Academic Council has directed a review of standardized testing in undergraduate admissions, with faculty advocating for the return of the SAT and ACT to ensure a more robust and equitable evaluation of applicants.