Prospective students considering Western Oregon University for a college next fall can take standardized testing off the ‘to do’ list. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, officials have stopped requiring the ACTs and SATs.
It’s not a total drop for the tests. They can be used for certain scholarship competitions, the honors program, and for students with GPAs under 3.0 or who lack the required number of completed college prep courses from high school.
David McDonald is the Associate Provost for Western Oregon University. He says the decision followed some intensive review.
“And we looked at student success data which is GPA, courses attempted, retention and graduation rates. We found there was no correlation between those success measures and the student’s ACT or SAT test scores," says McDonald.
"The most predictive element in terms of college success really is about the rigor of the courses the student took in high school, and how well they did in those courses.”
McDonald adds the move also lessens expense, stress, and accessibility issues for some students.
There are currently more than a dozen Oregon colleges and universities that are designated “optional” or “flexible” when it comes to ACT and SAT tests.
