The California State University system is weighing changes to its English-language testing rules as colleges throughout the state contend with a drop in international enrollment.
The 23-campus system could revise its admissions policy to let applicants whose first language is not English demonstrate proficiency without taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, The Sacramento Bee reported.
Vice Chancellor Dilcie Perez presented the proposal at a Board of Trustees meeting last week. Trustees could vote on the potential change in November.
Under Perez’s plan, the TOEFL would be replaced by “multiple approved measures” of English proficiency. Supporters say the approach would address obstacles such as limited test availability and registration costs without weakening expectations for language readiness.
“The amendment would neither eliminate nor lower the English language proficiency requirement,” Perez said. “Applicants would still need to demonstrate proficiency sufficient to participate successfully in and benefit from university-level study.”
One possible model is the system used by the University of California. UC applicants can qualify by earning a minimum score on an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam taken in high school, or by completing one of several approved tests, including the SAT and Duolingo English Test.
The proposed admissions revision would primarily affect international applicants, who account for about 2.5% of California State University’s roughly 470,000 students. Foreign students represent approximately 12% of enrollment across the University of California system.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Wells Fargo Fires Former Cornell Fraternity Member Diego Sarabia After Rape and Drugging Probe Reopens
International enrollment at California universities has declined, however, amid a federal immigration crackdown.
The Association of International Educators has projected a 15% drop in international student enrollment during the current academic year. According to CalMatters, that would amount to about 7,000 fewer students in California.
The organization also estimated that the decline could cost the state $1 billion in revenue tied to international students’ tuition payments and living expenses.
California State University officials backing the proposal argue that offering more ways to prove English proficiency would make the admissions process more accessible to students from abroad.
The TOEFL is offered throughout the year and is administered by an educational testing organization based in New Jersey. Fees vary by country, but registration typically costs more than $100.
More than 13,500 institutions recognize the exam. Still, the TOEFL has faced criticism in the past from those who question whether it fully reflects an applicant’s real-world English ability.
The proposed change comes as colleges and universities continue to debate the role of standardized admissions testing.
California colleges eliminated SAT and ACT requirements after years of criticism that standardized tests deepen inequities in college admissions. In recent years, however, some professors have called for testing requirements to return, citing concerns that students are arriving on campus without basic math skills.
