California State University weighs dropping TOEFL requirement for international applicants
Cal State's Vice Chancellor has proposed letting applicants whose first language isn't English prove proficiency by several measures instead of the TOEFL; trustees could decide in November.
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The story, neutrally told
The 23-campus California State University system is considering letting applicants whose first language is not English skip the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). New York PostR “The 23-campus system will consider changing its admissions policy to allow students whose first language isn’t English to skip the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “The 23-campus system may rewrite its admissions rules so that students whose first language is not English can skip the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).” Read at Breitbart ↗ Vice Chancellor Dilcie Perez raised the idea at a Board of Trustees meeting last week, and a decision could come in November. New York PostR “Vice Chancellor Dilcie Perez proposed the idea at a Board of Trustees meeting last week, and a decision could be made in November.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “the trustees could vote on it in November” Read at Breitbart ↗ Perez's proposal would replace the test with "multiple approved measures" of English proficiency, which she says would reduce barriers such as cost and test availability. New York PostR “claiming the change would reduce barriers like test availability and costs while maintaining standards for language readiness.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “She argued that the current requirement shuts out applicants through its cost and limited availability” Read at Breitbart ↗
Perez said the amendment would neither eliminate nor lower the requirement. New York PostR ““The amendment would neither eliminate nor lower the English language proficiency requirement,” Perez said.” Read at New York Post ↗ Proficiency could be judged as the University of California does, using AP or IB results, the SAT or the Duolingo English Test. New York PostR “applicants can meet a minimum score in a high school Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam or take one of a variety of tests, such as the SAT or the Duolingo English Test.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “accepting the Duolingo English Test, the SAT, or Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate results” Read at Breitbart ↗ International students are about 2.5% of Cal State's roughly 470,000 students and about 12% at the University of California. New York PostR “who make up around 2.5% of California State University’s student population of approximately 470,000” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “International applicants make up about 2.5 percent of Cal State’s 470,000 students and about 12 percent of the University of California system.” Read at Breitbart ↗
International enrolment in California has fallen amid the federal immigration and visa crackdown; a trade group projected a 15% drop, about 7,000 students and roughly $1 billion. New York PostR “The Association of International Educators projected a 15% decline in international student enrollment this academic year” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “International enrollment in California has fallen this year during the Trump administration’s crackdown on student visas.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Both outlets link the move to a wider retreat from admissions testing, noting that California dropped SAT/ACT requirements and that some professors report students unable to do basic math. New York PostR “California colleges dropped SAT/ACT testing requirements amid pushback over equity in college admissions” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “some professors now report students arriving unable to do basic math” Read at Breitbart ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Presents the proposal as a response to falling international enrolment and ties it to a broader California retreat from standardised testing and to concerns about academic standards.
- Emphasis
- Financial stakes of declining foreign enrolment, Perez's assurances, and the SAT/ACT and basic-math concerns. Breitbart adds the work-permit path (OPT) and the point that visa screening still applies.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No critics of the proposal are quoted, and neither piece includes comment from the testing organisation or from faculty on the proposal itself. Both are secondary reports of the meeting.
- Charged language
- “federal immigration crackdown”“Trump administration’s crackdown on student visas”
- For example
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“calls to reinstate the standardize testing requirements have grown as students show up unable to do basic math, according to professors.” — New York Post
“Some say the looser rule will not matter much, because the State Department still decides who receives an F-1 student visa” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Cal State may let non-native English speakers skip the TOEFL
- Vice Chancellor Dilcie Perez proposed it; trustees could decide in November
- International students are about 2.5% of Cal State enrolment
- International enrolment is projected to fall about 15%, roughly 7,000 students in California
California State University organisation
Through Vice Chancellor Perez, says the change would cut cost and availability barriers without lowering standards.
““The amendment would neither eliminate nor lower the English language proficiency requirement,” Perez said.” — New York Post
“insisted the university would not lower its standards” — Breitbart
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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California universities could scrap English test for international students
Neutral Reports the proposal with Perez's quote and enrolment figures, closing with the wider testing debate.
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California State University System Weighs Dropping International Student English Test Requirement
Mixed Reports the proposal, then stresses the money, work-permit pathways and doubts that the change matters, ending on basic-math concerns.
- 29 Sep 22:29 First New York PostR California universities could scrap English test for international students
- 30 Sep 22:30 +24h 2m BreitbartR California State University System Weighs Dropping International Student English Test Requirement
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.