The University of Toledo will begin using a test-optional admissions model for aspiring Rockets to expand access to a high-quality college education during the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

University leaders have been discussing the policy change and are moving forward with a pilot program now as high schools and testing centers across the country are closing to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Some states, including Washington and Texas, have announced canceling standardized testing requirements.

“These are unprecedented times, and it is critical that we innovate and provide flexibility,” UToledo President Sharon L. Gaber said. “In addition to helping prospective students and their families during this current uncertainty, we are looking at test-optional admissions as an opportunity to expand access to a high-quality college education, enhance opportunities for academic excellence and increase socioeconomic diversity.”

Additional flexibility will be implemented in the short term amid the closures during the coronavirus outbreak.

“Given the limited opportunity for high school students to access transcripts, AP exams, ACT testing and SAT testing, UToledo is moving to a test-optional model,” Jim Anderson, vice president of enrollment management, said. “We will use self-reported grades and high school GPA to conditionally admit students until final transcripts are available.”

A student may choose to submit their SAT and/or ACT score(s) if they believe it will be a benefit in the admissions review process. However, the University will evaluate each applicant based on the path they choose. If they prefer not to use a test score, the University will consider a more holistic, robust view of their record, including high school grade point average and community participation, in the admissions review process.

While there may be some exceptions for specific scholarships or highly competitive programs, the new trial period of the test optional admission policy aims to encompass more diverse predictors of college success and attract students from a wide variety of backgrounds who perform well in the classroom but may not perform well on standardized tests.

Students who are home-schooled or attend high schools that do not provide grades do not qualify to be test-optional.

As evidence has shown that standardized test scores are not the best indicator of a student’s potential, this innovative admissions approach is gaining momentum across the country with more than 1,000 U.S. colleges adopting the practice, according to the National Center for Fair & Open Test.

UToledo has a longstanding commitment to educational accessibility and student success. The University’s continued investments in student support services and the dedication of success coaches and academic advisors are reflected in the highest undergraduate fall-to-spring retention rate in at least 12 years and the University’s most recent record high six-year graduation rate.

For more information, visit utoledo.edu/admission/freshman/test-optional-test.html.