More than 600 faculty members at UC system, led by Berkeley mathematicians, have signed an open letter demanding that SAT or ACT be reinstated for STEM applicants fall 2027. The signatories argue six years of test‑free admissions have left professors teaching middle‑school math to freshmen, compromising rigor. The move reverses the 2020 regents vote that eliminated testing by 2025 amid equity concerns.

The letter cites a diagnostic exam in Berkeley’s first‑semester calculus where at least 20% of students displayed basic‑fluency gaps, forcing instructors to reteach concepts while covering advanced material. Faculty claim these gaps mirror a statewide decline; a UC San Diego report found a thirty‑fold rise in students scoring below high‑school level, with 70% performing at middle‑school standards.

UC leadership has not endorsed the proposal but says it is listening. spokesperson Rachel Zaentz pledged stronger math preparation partnerships with K‑12 schools, while Academic Senate chair Ahmet Palazoglu promised a roadmap on readiness standards by next academic year. The admissions board plans to draft a policy brief this weekend, with a final proposal due June 30. The draft aims to address faculty concerns directly.