Binghamton University may choose to participate in the Voluntary System for Accountability program, a system designed to help compare undergraduate institutions, according to Provost Mary Ann Swain.

The program, which is a collaboration between two organizations ‘ the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges ‘ will measure students’ critical thinking, reasoning and written communication. It will compare institutions through a template called the college portrait, which will include information such as living costs and financial aid information.

‘Binghamton University intends to be part of the discussion among NASULGC institutions about the potential usefulness of some measures that have been developed to assess writing and critical thinking skills,’ Swain said.

Participating schools will have to implement standardized testing, most likely to freshmen and senior classes, that will evaluate the school’s improvement in scores.

The University has not committed to participating in the program, as it will be several years before a clear plan is developed.

‘At present, NASULGC anticipates it will take around four years to determine the efficacy of these instruments,’ Swain said, ‘and how these measures relate to learning experiences designed for students and faculty evaluations of student growth.’

Swain was unable to comment on the University’s opinion of gauging academic growth through the exam, as well as how the testing would directly affect the University.