Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Fitchburg State Going Test Optional for Fall 2018

  • 05/15/17

FITCHBURG, MA – Starting this fall, Fitchburg State University will no longer require standardized test scores as part of its admissions process.

In adopting the “test optional” model, Fitchburg State joins other institutions in acknowledging that standardized tests are often not as accurate in predicting academic success as a student’s prior academic record and grade point average. Eliminating the test score requirement is also expected to increase the university’s accessibility to a greater population of students, which is in keeping with Fitchburg State’s mission and core values.

Director of Admissions Sean Ganas says giving students the option to submit SAT or ACT scores also empowers students and their families. “It puts them more in the driver’s seat about how they choose to present themselves to the university,” he says. “Students may feel their SAT scores are a good indication of their ability to succeed at the university, or they may not. This will allow them to have more say in how they’re presented to the admissions office.”

For students who don’t feel their scores accurately tell their story, Ganas says, the option not to submit will be removing a perceived barrier to continuing their education.

The university will still require the tests for certain programs and for determining eligibility for merit-based financial aid.

Featured

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.