Vassar College announced that it will no longer require applicants to submit SAT or ACT test scores when they apply for admission.
Elizabeth H. Bradley, president of the Poughkeepsie-based school, said its decision was driven by research.
“Studies have shown that test scores do not always accurately measure the qualities we are looking for in students,” Bradley said. “Standardized testing simply shows who is a good test taker.”
Sonya K. Smith, vice president and dean of admission and student financial services, claimed the tests had a racist element.
“Many studies have shown the inequities built into standardized testing, from correlations between higher socio-economic status and higher scores to built-in biases against students of color to issues with high stakes testing and anxiety as well as stereotype threat,” Smith said. “Requiring testing becomes an access and equity issue, and mental health and wellness also come into play.”
