More than 1,300 faculty members across the University of California system have signed a petition calling for the restoration of standardized entrance examinations like the SAT and ACT specifically for students applying to science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.

The faculty petition represents a significant pushback against the UC system's decision to eliminate standardized testing requirements for admissions. The University of California became test-optional in 2021 and later moved to completely phase out the use of SAT and ACT scores in admissions decisions.

The professors argue that standardized tests provide valuable metrics for evaluating students' preparedness for rigorous STEM coursework. They contend that these assessments offer objective measures that can help identify students who possess the mathematical and analytical skills necessary for success in demanding scientific fields.

The push to reinstate testing requirements comes as universities nationwide continue to grapple with admissions policies in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action. Many institutions have been reevaluating their admissions criteria and looking for new ways to assess student readiness while maintaining diverse student bodies.

The UC faculty petition specifically targets STEM programs rather than calling for a blanket return to testing requirements across all disciplines. This targeted approach reflects ongoing debates within higher education about whether standardized tests are more predictive of success in quantitative fields compared to other areas of study.