More than 800 University of California system professors, including seven of nine math department chairs, urged system leaders to reinstate SAT/ACT math requirements for applicants to STEM-intensive majors. In an open letter, faculty members cited widening preparation gaps within the same classrooms and argued the system can’t “help only so many students” when deficits are too deep. They pointed to a University of California San Diego Senate-Administration Workgroup on Admissions report stating that the number of first-year students with math skills below a middle school level has increased nearly 30-fold since 2020, when UC suspended standardized testing requirements. UC faculty also tied the issue to classroom experience—describing situations where instructors are reteaching middle-school math while covering college-level STEM material. The UC system spokesperson said leaders would continue focusing on strengthening instruction, collaboration, and support, and UC Academic Senate chair Ahmet Palazoglu said the admissions board should address readiness concerns. The UC Academic Senate’s Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools is scheduled to meet June 5, with the faculty letter raising the likelihood of renewed systemwide admissions policy debate ahead of the next admissions cycle.