More than 800 University of California professors—including seven of nine UC math department chairs—asked UC leaders to reinstate SAT/ACT testing for applicants to STEM majors. In an open letter, faculty argued that math preparation levels have diverged sharply within the same classrooms, citing what they describe as worsening readiness after UC suspended standardized testing requirements. The faculty cited a November UC San Diego Senate-Administration Workgroup report stating the number of first-year students with math skills below a middle-school level increased nearly 30-fold since 2020. Professors said instructors are forced to reteach middle-school math while also covering course material needed for sciences, engineering, economics and other quantitative fields. UC officials said the system will continue strengthening instruction and support, and Academic Senate chair Ahmet Palazoglu called on the admissions board to address timely readiness issues. The UC Academic Senate’s Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools was scheduled to meet June 5 as the request surfaced.