Headlines around higher education this year have centered on protests, free speech, and

student safety. But some important changes on the academic and admissions front have gotten

less attention, including some schools turning back to

standardized testing after deciding they would no longer require it.

Paul Salomon has that story for our latest series on Rethinking College.

I was terrible in math. for our latest series on Rethinking College.

I was terrible in math.

Meet Kelly Damfuss, president of Texas State University in San Marcus.

So I ended up going to community college and I got a 2.54 GPA.

When he made it to a four-year school,

he was the first in his family,

just like 43% of the 34,000 undergrads here at Texas State.

So you're sympathetic to the idea that test you... thousand undergrads here at Texas State.

So you're sympathetic to the idea that test should be optional.

Well, yeah, if I had had to take the test, I probably wouldn't have gotten into college.

That test, the SAT, or ACT, which for years most colleges required for admission.

Research having shown test scores correlate with college

gpas.

But during the pandemicemic many dropped the requirement.

Post-pandemic, Texas state remains test optional, and yet retention rates are still

rising, while more than ever.

We look exactly like the state of Texas, the most diverse university in the state.

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