Hundreds of Math Professors Ask UC to Bring Back SAT/ACT

More than 800 professors in the University of California system, including seven of nine math department chairs, call for system leaders to reinstate SAT/ACT testing requirements for applicants to STEM majors. The faculty cite a widening divergence in mathematical preparation levels within the same classroom. A University of California San Diego Senate-Administration Workgroup report found that the number of first-year students with math skills below a middle school level increased nearly 30-fold since 2020, when standardized testing requirements were suspended. Professors report that instructors must reteach middle-school mathematics while also teaching STEM material. They argue UC resources are limited and can only support students when preparation deficits are within reach. Possible causes include COVID-19 impacts, increased enrollment of low-income students, and changes to UCSD’s math placement exam, including a ban on calculator use.

"“We now observe preparation gaps so severe that instructors must reteach middle-school mathematics while simultaneously teaching the material students need for sciences, engineering, economics, and other quantitatively demanding fields.”"

"“UC has been a national leader in supporting under-resourced students to do well in mathematics. However, UC has finite resources and can help only so many students, and only when the preparation deficits they need to overcome are within reach.”"

"“More than 800 professors in the University of California system, including seven of nine math department chairs, are calling on system leaders to reinstate SAT/ACT testing requirements for applicants to STEM majors, citing a ‘widening divergence in mathematical preparation levels within the same classroom.’”"

"“In an open letter, the faculty members pointed to a November report from the University of California San Diego Senate-Administration Workgroup on Admissions, which revealed that the number of first-year students with math skills below a middle school level increased nearly 30-fold since 2020, when the system first suspended its standardized testing requirements.”"

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