WSU Tri-Cities drops SAT, ACT requirement for new students amid coronavirus worries
WSU Tri-Cities is telling dozens of potential new students they don’t need to worry about taking the SAT or ACT.
Millions of students planned to take one of the two standardized tests this year, but in the face of the coronavirus the springtime exams were canceled.
Many of the students taking the tests are juniors looking to apply next year.
With seniors in Washington state looking at a possibility of not having a graduation ceremony, along with trying to learn as much as they can from home, WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes said they didn’t want to add to the stress.
“Applying for college is already stressful and prospective students worry about submitting their materials on time,” she said in a news release Friday. “Now they have the added worry caused by the unknowns of the global pandemic. We are here for our incoming students and want to help them succeed and still realize their college dreams.”
Along with removing the requirement for the SAT or ACT, Richland campus officials are extending the application deadline through the summer.
The change means students only need to worry about their grade-point average and factors like community service, extracurricular activities and school involvement.
To apply people can visit tricities.wsu.edu/admissions or email tricities.admissions@wsu.edu.
The campus’ director of enrollment, Jana Kay Lunstad, wanted to let potential students know that there is an affordable choice close to home.
Along with taking applications for incoming freshmen and transfer students, the Richland campus is also taking applications for its Running Start program.
The program allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses without needing to pay for tuition. Applications are available at tricities.wsu.edu/running-start.
“WSU Tri-Cities is here to support our local students and make the college admissions process easier,” Haynes said. “We are here for our community, we are here for our students. We want to make their college experience easier.”
Along with these changes, the university will be teaching its summer courses online at all of the campuses. The change applies for all of the summer courses.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Bryan Slinker said the move applies to all of the campuses.