Feasibility Study for a New UC Test
The University of California is conducting a feasibility study to determine the viability of a new UC standardized admissions test.
On May 21, 2020, the University of California Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve the suspension of the current standardized test (ACT/SAT) requirement for undergraduate admissions until 2024 to allow the University to modify or create a new test that better aligns with the content UC expects applicants to have learned and with UC’s values. If UC is unable to either modify or create a test that meets these criteria and can be available for applicants for fall 2025, UC will eliminate altogether the use of the ACT/SAT for California freshman applicants.
The Regents’ action included provisions for a feasibility study, starting in summer 2020 and ending by January 2021, to assess the possibility of identifying or creating a new test that aligns with UC college preparation goals, with the aim of advancing equity in admissions and educational attainment and achievement. President Napolitano asked Provost and Executive Vice President Brown to lead the feasibility study and to deliver a recommendation to the UC President by January 2021.
Between September and December 2020, Provost Brown will convene a Feasibility Study Steering Committee (FSSC) charged with identifying the high-level purpose and goal of a UC freshman admissions test and developing a recommendation to the UC President to (1) pursue a new or modified standardized test for use in UC freshman admissions and selection or (2) eliminate standardized testing at UC beginning with fall 2025 admissions.
A Feasibility Study Work Group (FSWG) — comprised of UC faculty, a UC student, K-12 educators, test experts, the California State University and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office — is charged with determining whether it is possible to develop a new or modified UC standardized admissions test to meet the regental criteria. The work group will submit a recommendation and supporting evidence to the FSSC to inform the Committee’s recommendation to the UC President.
Feasibility Study Steering Committee
MEMBERS
Michael T. Brown, Co-Chair
Provost and Executive Vice President, UC Office of the President
Mary Gauvain, Co-Chair
Chair, UC Academic Council
Loren Blanchard
Executive Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, CSU Chancellor’s Office
Eddie Comeaux
Chair, UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS)
Youlonda Copeland-Morgan
Vice Provost Enrollment Management, UCLA
Linda Darling-Hammond
President, California State Board of Education
John Hetts
Visiting Executive of Research and Data, California Community College Chancellor’s Office
Jay Rosner
Executive Director, The Princeton Review Foundation
Elisha Smith Arrillaga
Executive Director, The Education Trust–West
Kristen Soares
President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
MEETING SCHEDULE
September 14, 2020
October 8, 2020
November 6, 2020
December 11, 2020
Feasibility Study Work Group
MEMBERS
Eddie Comeaux, Co-Chair
Chair, UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS)
Robert Horwitz, Co-Chair
Vice Chair, UC Academic Council
Brooks Allen
Executive Director, California State Board of Education
Tony Albano
Associate Professor, UC Davis School of Education
Mark Appelbaum
Professor Emeritus, UC San Diego Department of Psychology
Adele Brumfield
Associate Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Management, UC San Diego
Emily Engelschall
Director of Admissions & Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Services, UC Riverside
April Grommo
Systemwide Director of Enrollment Management Services, CSU Chancellor’s Office
John Hetts
Visiting Executive of Research and Data, California Community College Chancellor’s Office
Hans Johnson
Director, Higher Education Center, Public Policy Institute of California
Nathan Kuncel
Professor, University of Minnesota
Michal Kurlaender
Professor and Department Chair, UC Davis School of Education
Mayra Lara
Associate Director of Educator Engagement, The Education Trust–West
Owen Long
Professor, UC Riverside Department of Physics and Astronomy
Rebeca Mireles-Rios
Assistant Professor, UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
Jay Rosner
Executive Director, The Princeton Review Foundation
David Stern
Professor Emeritus, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education
Alexis Zaragoza
Student Regent Designate
MEETING SCHEDULE
September 24, 2020
October 1, 2020
October 8, 2020
October 15, 2020
October 23, 2020
October 29, 2020
November 5, 2020
November 13, 2020
November 20, 2020
December 2, 2020
MILESTONES
| Date | Milestone | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| June–July 2020 | Identify and invite FSSC and FSWG members. | |
| August 2020 | Confirm FSSC and FSWG memberships. | |
| September 2020 | Begin convening FSSC and FSWG. | |
| October 2020 | FSSC and FSWG meetings. | |
| November 2020 | FSSC and FSWG meet; FSWG completes work. | |
| December 2020 | FSWG submits a recommendation and supporting evidence to the FSSC. | |
| December 2020 | FSSC delivers recommendation to the UC President to pursue a new or modified test to be offered for students applying for 2025 freshman admission or to eliminate standardized testing in UC admissions. | |
| January 2021 | Report out to the University of California Board of Regents. |