SAT eliminated as entrance requirement for adult learners

By JAMES W. BAKER
Collegian Staff Writer

Citing such factors as competition from other universities and the SAT's inability to predict future performance, the Faculty Senate voted Tuesday to waive the SAT requirement for adult learners.

Charlene Harrison, director of the Center for Adult Learner Services and co-author of the proposal, said the main purpose of this proposal is to redress the unfairness that the SAT requirement presents to adult learners.

She referred to a recent report by the College Board, the group that creates and distributes the SAT, indicating that the SAT did not take into account such factors as "life experience and high motivation."

Diane Resides, a counselor at the Center for Adult Learner Services, agreed with the report, adding, "in general, the literature indicates that the SAT is not an accurate predictor of academic adult-learner performance."

During the Spring Semester last year, adult learners scored three-tenths of a grade point higher than their traditional-age counterparts, according to statistics compiled by the center.

Felix Lukesic, professor of plant pathology and co-sponsor of the proposal, believes that adult learners are an asset to the classroom.

"They set the tone for the class," he said.

Recognizing this performance, many schools -- including Ohio State University and the University of Pittsburgh -- have already waived the SAT requirement for adult students. As a result, Penn State was at a disadvantage when competing for adult learners, Harrison said.

With the passage of this proposal, Lukesic is hopeful that Penn State will represent a "much friendlier atmosphere" for adult learners.

"It should make (the University) more attractive to them," Lukesic said.

However, one undergraduate student is a bit skeptical of the proposal. K.C. Cardello (junior-business management) believes waiving the SAT is a fair proposal, but said adult learners "should have some testing" to insure that "no one is getting cheated."

The proposal stipulates that the SAT requirement will be replaced with an interview and, possibly, a personal statement entailing the applicant's goals.