FairTest, a testing watchdog group that’s been critical of the ACT and SAT college-admissions tests, is publicizing a list it’s compiled of about 850 four-year colleges and universities that it says don’t use scores from those tests to admit “substantial numbers of students” into bachelor’s degree programs.

On that list is KU, along with the other Kansas Board of Regents universities.

Indeed, ACT and SAT scores are but one of a set of possible hurdles applicants must clear to be accepted to KU or the other regents universities, which, for now, all have the same admissions criteria.

In-state students need only score a 21 or higher on the ACT (980 or higher on the SAT) if they don’t meet one of two other requirements: graduating in the top third of their class or earning a grand-point average of 2.0 or higher while completing a specified curriculum. Requirements for out-of-state students are structured similarly but with higher test and GPA benchmarks.

But KU may find itself off of this list by 2016, if proposed new admissions criteria are approved by the Board of Regents next month. Under the proposed criteria, any student would have to meet an ACT/SAT benchmark to be admitted automatically (24/1090 for students with a minimum 3.0 GPA; 21/980 for those with a minimum 3.25 GPA).

Other students would not automatically qualify, though their applications would be reviewed by a committee that would examine other factors. But depending on how this group defines “substantial numbers of students,” it would seem that it could count at least one fewer university on this list in a few years.

Another note: All of KU’s new four-year renewable scholarships have an ACT/SAT benchmark, with the exception of those related to the National Merit program (and those are based on performance on another standardized test, the PSAT).

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