Starting next fall, Western Kentucky University will admit some students without taking into account their scores on standardized tests.
Members of the Board of Regents heard a presentation on Friday about how the school is placing less emphasis on the role of tests like the ACT when it comes to enrolling freshmen.
President Timothy Caboni said the school wants to reward four years of high school success instead of one day of testing.
“While testing can tell you some portion of a student’s capability and capacity, the GPA in high school is the best predictor of college success, so we think we should use that more than other metrics," Caboni told reporters following the Regents meeting.
Starting next fall, standardized test scores will not be required for any student applying with an unweighted GPA of 2.50 or greater. Students will less than a 2.50 GPA will be required to submit ACT or SAT scores. Students with a GPA below 2.00 will still be considered for admission with demonstrated readiness.
In an effort to make college more accessible and affordable, WKU last year reduced the GPA requirement to be eligible for merit scholarships from a 3.3 down to a 3.0 and increased the minimum scholarship to $2,500
