Mills College Goes “Test Optional” and Joins Forces to Boost Student Diversity

Mills College, the liberal arts educational institution for women in Oakland, California, has announced that it will no longer require applicants to submit results from the SAT or ACT college entrance examinations. According to the The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) in Massachusetts, more than 800 four-year colleges and universities do not require applicants to take standardized tests for college admission.

Mills College also announced that it has joined the Oakland Promise College Pathway Partnership, a coalition of 12 colleges and university in northern California dedicated to helping students from the Oakland Unified School District enter and complete college. Partners in the consortium agree to offer financial aid and mentoring support to Oakland public school students and to cooperate on recruiting, college advising, and college visit programs.

Alecia DeCoudreaux, president of Mills College who is stepping down this June after five years at the helm, said that “since its founding in 1852, Mills has been committed to diversity and inclusivity. While Mills is doing a good job enrolling students of color, we believe we can do better. By making standardized test scores optional, and by creating a pathway to college for our hometown high school graduates, we hope to further this proud legacy by making access to higher education more attainable.”