At UMKC, students are more than test scores. New admissions policy is about inclusion

The University of Missouri-Kansas City has taken an important step to provide more opportunities for qualified people to pursue a college degree.

We now have a test-optional admissions process. That means if applicants have performed well in high school, they do not need to take a standardized test, such as the ACT or SAT, to be considered for admission to UMKC. If an applicant does decide to take such a test, reporting the scores to UMKC is optional.

We made this decision as part of our ongoing commitment to create opportunity. It is in the best interest of the people who live in our community, the workforce needs of our employers, and the overall economic development of greater Kansas City and the state of Missouri. We are proud to be the first university in the UM System to adopt this approach, as we join a growing number of U.S. colleges and universities — more than 1,000 so far — that have established similar practices.

Applicants remain free to take standardized tests and have the scores reported to UMKC. For some students, they can be a benefit. They also will continue to play a role in admission to certain specialized programs and some scholarship opportunities.

The move to test-optional admissions, however, is an evidence-based, educationally sound approach. Numerous studies conducted over many years have established that high school grades are a more reliable overall predictor of college-level potential than are standardized tests. There also is substantial evidence that these tests are less reliable predictors of the academic potential of traditionally underserved applicants.

According to “Defining Access: How Test-Optional Works,” a 2018 study commissioned by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, applicants who chose not to submit standardized test scores with their college applications ultimately graduated at rates equivalent to — or marginally higher than — those who did submit scores.

In short, reliance on standardized tests as an admission standard may exclude many people who have the ability to earn a college degree.

Such exclusion has a negative impact not just on the individual student, but on our overall economy and society. A college degree does not merely improve the quality of life for an individual; a first-generation college graduate changes the trajectory of a family’s opportunities for generations to come. We believe our new standard will be more inclusive and create maximum opportunity for student success.

Rest assured that this is a change in admissions practices, not a change in the academic standards we enforce. The value of a UMKC degree and the educational attainment it represents are unchanged.

UMKC is a public access institution that serves an urban area. Our mission includes providing opportunities for educational success to underserved populations in our community. We are committed to providing all qualified individuals an opportunity to leverage their talent and effort to contribute to our economic development and find success in their lives and careers.