The University of Maryland Eastern Shore announced today it is implementing a “test-optional” admissions policy for applicants whose high school transcripts show their grade-point average to be 3.4 or higher.
Applicants with strong academic credentials seeking to enroll at UMES will no longer rely on the submission of college test scores for admissions purposes.
The new policy will be used to screen applicants for the spring 2020 semester and beyond.
“As a historically black, doctoral research institution,” UMES President Heidi M. Anderson said, “the university has long embraced its role as a place that creates greater opportunity and access to a quality college education. This new policy supports not only our students, but reinforces our founding mission.”
UMES' internal student-performance tracking shows admitted students with a high school GPA of 3.4 or higher demonstrate higher persistence and 6-year graduation rates than their peers.
Hans Cooper, UMES' vice president for enrollment management and student experience, said the university is embracing an emerging trend in higher education to put greater weight on classroom performance when making admissions decisions.
“We take a comprehensive approach to the review process and allow students to submit materials that best represent them and their potential,” Cooper said. “We believe four years of strong performance in a rigorous high school curriculum is a great measure of their future success.”
UMES joins more than 1,000 accredited colleges and universities with some form of a test-optional policy, including Hampton (Va.) University, University of Delaware and Salisbury University.
It is important to note test scores will still be required for consideration for acceptance into the university's Henson honors program, selected majors as well as NCAA teams.
9 comments:
Northwest Woodsman: Does having a 3.4 GPA signify that those applicants can read and do math at a third grade level? I suspect that most are functionally illiterate. I was an Assistant Professor at a major university for five years and was amazed at the inability of college students to construct a coherent sentence. Some even thought that since my class was not an English class that I had no right to identify and correct their errors. That was in the mid 80s and I’m sure it is worse now.
Pulling back the curtain in OZ...aka moving the goalposts.
We've been led to believe that there should be a strong correlation between HS classroom grades, SAT/ACT scores and college performance.
A large number of HS grads are not prepared to be successful in the college classroom but there are lecture seats and dorm beds to fill and administrators to pay regardless of student outcomes.
UMES is not alone in this charade but their action should not go unchallenged. Historically there has been a gap between the SAT scores of incoming SU and UMES students that is enormous. Applicants without SAT scores or who don't submit them can't drag the average down; this presumes that those with good scores will submit them since they have nothing to fear and something to gain. Like 'em or hate 'em SAT/ACT ask essentially the same questions of all testing students and thus measure the entire cohort testing.
UMES' reliance on HS classroom grades alone is running up the surrender flag. One need not look far in MD and DC to find schools with lots of graduates and high grades where none or very few students actually passed state proficiency exams. But their high grades will gain them college admission.
Two other soft spots in this PR release are apparent as well. The measurement of success they are shifting to is graduation after 6 years rather than 4. 50% more time enrolled and 50% more tuition and loans is not much of a bargain for the student. Revenue to UMES goes up; student post graduate prospects not so much.
The other verbal sleight of hand is characterizing UMES as a doctoral granting operation. Pharmacy students graduate as PharmD and school administrators have a get promoted doc program. Neither is research driven. The Pharmacy program was/is a good idea.
To sum: UMES' traditional applicant base really needs more stringent admission standards and better college level instruction once enrolled so that they can compete in the world of work, and thereby build a positive cycle based on student and university performance. They've elected a short-term strategy that saves administrator hides while continuing to pick the pockets of unprepared students. Shame!
Cheating there is test-optional also.
The father of a childhood friend was a professor at UMES. I had the opportunity to read some of the papers submitted by his students and was shocked. The grammar and spelling were atrocious. When asked about the papers he replied "we have to apply a different standard to our students". That was an eye opening experience for a young naive high school kid. These were college students and it literally sounded as if a fifth grader wrote the material.
Taught for years at Washington College. Believe me, this sentimemt is wide spread
What is the graduation rate of this school and does this improve it? If not its a scam.
They profess the " Trades " I hire entrepreneurial Mexicans they come on time and present well with business cards and websites. They want to work. Last white clown I hired could not finish the job because he over dosed on the job that he'd drug his kid to to babysit. Gave the guy a chance and he was a total mess and ranted on about TRUMP. I'll pay the more professional and aspiring Mexican and let white trash fall where they may.
I would bet that they did this on their own without approval of the State Regency. It has to be a discussion among state schools.
What the hell was that rant about? If you love Mexicans so much, rent a bus, and you and a busload go to Mexico to live.
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