The University of Memphis is making changes to help students graduate.
Dan Poje, assistant vice provost for academic programs, said The University is changing the requirements for senior testing.
In order for students to graduate, they must take the senior test. It is not mandatory for a student to pass the test, just mandatory to take it.
As of Jan. 1, the senior test will not be mandatory. The test will not be administered by The U of M testing center, but instead it will be administered by each college. Each college will choose a minimum number of students to take the test each semester.
"In the late '70s, Tennessee introduced a program (exam) designed to show that The University was doing well in graduating students," Poje said.
These tests used to take a student three hours. Now, the tests will take 45 minutes. Since the tests take only 45 minutes, "they can be administered in a classroom setting," Poje said.
Poje said students would no longer have to take extra time out of their schedule to take the senior test.
"I am glad that the senior test is no longer mandatory," said Christi DeLappe, a senior health administration major.
"Trying to graduate and meet all those deadlines is very stressful so this will be one less thing to worry about," DeLappe said.
"I think the senior test should be mandatory because it is something you could put in your portfolio when you apply for a job," said Jessica Conrad, a senior fashion merchandising major.
"The test also lets The University know how the students are doing," Conrad said. "Without the test, our school may not know how the curriculum is being taught, if the students are learning or what changes should be made."
"We did not try to keep this a secret," Poje said.
The changes had to be approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents and Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
For students graduating in December, the test is still mandatory.
