Indiana State University Newsroom

Submitting college-readiness test scores will soon be optional at Indiana State University.

The ISU Board of Trustees approved Friday the change to admissions policy 210, which was recommended by the administration and approved by Faculty Senate. It is effective for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Freshman applicants younger than 21 years old and transfers who have completed fewer than 24 transferable credits will no longer be required to submit their scores for the SAT or ACT.

"A student's high school GPA is the best initial predictor of success at college," said Jason Trainer, vice provost for enrollment management at Indiana State. "We've long considered the whole student at Indiana State, and this change will allow for faster admissions decisions so we can focus on interacting with admitted students and providing the best service possible."

The SAT or ACT will still be required for certain merit-based scholarships and for students seeking advanced placement in English and math courses. Applicants with a high school GPA below 2.5 will also be required to submit SAT and ACT scores, along with other requirements for conditional admission.

"Test-optional admissions criteria are increasingly the standard for both colleges and universities of similar size and mission as ISU and flagship institutions," said Mike Licari, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Indiana State. "Making test scores optional at Indiana State removes what can be an obstacle for many of the students we are proud to serve."

In other business:

• Trustees approved elevating the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice to the School of Criminology and Security Studies.

The department name did not represent the range of the new programs, and contacts with people in the field of security studies and intelligence analysis were confused why these programs are within a criminal justice department. The name of the department also caused confusion with faculty recruitment.

The more distinct name allows clearer communication regarding the range of programs and how broadly its resources can be used, such as beyond just criminology programs. A School of Criminology and Security Studies better aligns the graduate program with like programs to assist with recruiting top students.

The department's chair will be renamed director and assume all normal responsibilities. The master's and bachelor's in criminology and criminal justice, bachelor's in intelligence analysis and bachelor's in cybercriminology and security studies will remain in the school.

• Trustees approved changing the Department of Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology (CDCSEP) to the more concise Department of Applied Clinical and Educational Sciences (ACES), effective this fall.

CDCSEP was created when the three departments of counseling, communication disorders and educational and school psychology were first merged. The new name and acronym is easier to manage and encompasses the programs.

• Trustees approved a new deaf/hard of hearing licensure program in the Bayh College of Education, effective this fall.

The program is designed to prepare teachers to work with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is made possible by the Promoting Achievement for Students with Sensory Loss (PASS) grant funded by the Indiana Department of Education through the Blumberg Center at Indiana State. The 20-credit program may be completed in 24 months of study.

• Trustees approved a new forensic sciences minor, effective this fall. Students who pursue this minor develop foundational understanding that prepares them for future study to become forensic laboratory technicians and medical examiners. The minor incorporates coursework in anthropology, chemistry and biology.

Six students proposed a multidisciplinary minor in forensic sciences in the past year, which suggests future popularity of the program.

• Trustees approved a new entertainment design and technology minor, effective this fall.

The new minor program in the theater department is tailored toward students with an interest in theater and entertainment design and technology but do not want to major in theater. Undergraduates of any major will be able to explore skills and practices suited towards in-demand careers in the entertainment industry.

The minor will require completion of 27 credit hours, drawn from courses currently offered as part of the design and technology concentration in the department of theater, as well as the option to include coursework from related disciplines across campus.

• Trustees approved a new minor in humanities for health and medical professionals. The minor will focus on the intersection of the liberal arts (especially history, communication and philosophy), social and behavioral sciences, and health care and medicine. It will complement programs of study in nursing and pre-medicine, as well as those in the fields of athletic training, public health, health administration and many other health-related majors.

• Trustees approved changes to the University Handbook: University Promotion and Tenure Oversight and Policies and Procedures for the Evaluation, Renewal, and Promotion of Instructors (policy 305, sections 18 and 19); Policies and Procedure for the Evaluation and Reappointment of Lecturers (policy 305.20); Academic Department Chairperson Duties and Responsibilities (policy 350.2);
Faculty Duties and Responsibilities, Textbooks (policy 310.1.12);
Mid-Semester Change of Faculty (policy 310.1.7).

• Trustees approved the academic calendars for 2020-21 and 2021-22.

The next meeting of the ISU Board of Trustees is set for June 21.

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Media contact: Libby Roerig, University Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or libby.roerig@indstate.edu