EAST STROUDSBURG -- It's freshman orientation at East Stroudsburg University. We found dozens of students taking a tour of the place they will call home in the fall.
Kyree Thompson is one of those freshman.
"I love it. It's very diverse," said Thompson.
Thompson had to submit his standardize testing scores when he applied last year. His class will be the last to do so. Come spring 2017, students will no longer be required to submit SAT or ACT scores when applying to the university.
It's all part of a test-optional admission pilot program.
"We think that we have been missing some good students who don't perform well on standardized tests and do well in classes. They are contributing members of their high school. They have taken a challenge in curriculum, but just haven't performed well on standardized tests," said David Bousquet, Enrollment Management.
ESU will be the first university within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to introduce test-optional admissions.
Students who opt out of submitting their scores will be assessed based on their high school classes, grades, and attendance.
Current students tell us they like the test-optional plan and that's because not everyone does well on standardized testing and they hope this initiative will bring more people to the campus.
"A lot of students who score low on the SAT and ACT they feel like a university might judge them and they won't be able to learn in this type of environment, so I mean it's pretty good for students," said Thompson.
"By not requiring it for an admission decision, we are opening the door and widening the nets," said Peter Hawkes, Colleges of Arts and Sciences Dean.
Once the program is in place for a year, administrators will go back and review to see if the program will continue.
