The Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education, a new commission established by the U.S. Department of Education, is planning to discuss the administration of a standardized test to all colleges and universities and will release its recommendations in approximately six months.
Carina Wong, communications director of Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, stated in an e-mail message that the main focus for giving a standardized test to all schools in America would be to hold the institutions responsible for their students' education.
"The real issue is accountability for quality of higher education," she said.
Although Wong said the Chief Executive Officer of Kaplan, Jonathan Grayer, is not in favor of a single national test, he would like to see each institution assess the students in some way.
"He's in favor of institutions, whether on their own or in groups, seeking their own standards to show what they are achieving," she said.
The pros and cons of a standardized test will be debated until the report comes out in early August. The commission is deciding if a test that holds institutions accountable for students' progress is beneficial.
Tony Pals, spokesman for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said the method which is already in place for making institutions accountable is efficient.
"The system that is currently in place, which includes accrediting agencies and self measurement is doing the job it is designed to do," he said. "Institutions are constantly looking at ways to better assess students."
While the commission wants to find a compliable way to assess the scholar's abilities, students grow wary of the idea of an extra exam or assessment added to their already demanding schedules.
Sophomore Ivanna Goldsberry said having all of one's achievements examined in a test is not a fair assessment of student progress.
"I don't think it would be a good idea because not everyone tests well," she said.
Charles Miller, chairman of the Secretary's Commission on the Future of Higher Education, stated in a Jan. 20 press release that the main focus is to make all colleges accountable for the education students are said to be receiving.
"We need to improve, and even fix, current accountability processes, such as accreditation, to ensure that our colleges and universities are providing the highest quality education to their students," he said.
Whether students agree with the test, the commission feels the issue needs to be addressed for America to see proof of each college's achievements.
"The commission is reviewing promising new developments in the area of student testing, which indicate learning and related institutional performance," Miller said.
Margaret Donlan, mathematical sciences professor, said she has numerous questions about how a specific test could be given to students because many students take different types of classes.
"Everybody is different and everybody has different likes," she said.
Jason Mycoff, political science and international relations professor, said some benefits could be found with assessing students on what they have learned.
"It would guarantee they have met some minimum standard," he said.
Although there are many benefits with this type of student assessment, Mycoff said he is unsure how the commission will address the differences of students nationwide.
"How do you find a single exam that is acceptable to all of the students?"
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