Westminster College announced it will waive the SAT/ACT requirements for fall 2020 admission consideration in response to the closing of testing sites across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Westminster's test-optional approach, students are encouraged to submit test scores if they have them, but students without test scores will still be considered for admission.

The groups that administer both the SAT and ACT tests announced on March 16 that the next nationwide examinations will be postponed or canceled. The April 4 ACT test has been rescheduled for June 13 while the May 2 SAT has been canceled.

Dr. Jeffrey Coker, vice president for academic affairs and enrollment and dean of the college, said that while the SAT and ACT scores are sometimes useful, high school grades are more predictive of success at Westminster.

"These are unprecedented times and we want to make sure that every qualified student who desires a Westminster education is considered, regardless if they took the SAT or ACT tests," he said. "Students will not be disqualified from consideration for admission because of test site closures due to novel coronavirus."

"We are here to work with students and their families in every possible way to ensure Westminster is accessible to families during these challenging times," Coker said.

For more information about Westminster College's admissions procedures, please visit www.westminster.edu/admissions, email admissions@westminster.edu or call 724-946-7100.