Make SATs Optional, Boost College-Student Performance

A pilot program at Salisbury University in Maryland that makes the SAT optional for students with grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher is setting the stage for larger universities to do the same. According to the university, non-SAT students had higher grade-point averages and earned more credits during their first semesters, and financial aid awarded to non-SAT students was 10 percent higher than those who submitted SAT scores, reports Inside Higher Ed. Could this mark the beginning of a new trend? Increasingly, schools are realizing that SAT requirements are exclusionary. Just recently, SAT scores experienced their biggest drop in 30 years, with Black and Latino students being the most affected.

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To learn about biases that may be hidden in admission processes, check out DiversityInc's video interview with Dr. Steven J. Diner, provost of Rutgers University, Newark. Also, look for Diner's column in the upcoming April 2008 issue of DiversityInc magazine to learn more about SATs.

House, Senate Approve New Mental-Health Bill

The House approved a mental-health bill that will require most group health plans to provide more equitable coverage for mental-illness treatment comparable to physical illnesses, reports The New York Times. "Illness of the brain must be treated just like illness anywhere else in the body," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Supporters of the House bill, including consumer groups and the American Psychiatric Association, said it would be a boon to many of the 35 million Americans who experience disabling symptoms of mental disorders each year." Many opposed the House bill, including businesses and insurance companies, saying it would drive up costs; the Senate approved a similar bill requiring equivalent coverage of mental and physical ailments, reports the Times.

Working Women Uneasy About Economic Future, New Study Finds

Less than half of women professionals feel well suited to compete in a future global business environment, according to a study released by Accenture, No. 50 in The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity^®. The report, "One Step Ahead of 2011: A New Horizon for Working Women," gives results of a survey of more than 4,000 male and female business professionals in 17 countries across Europe, Asia, North America and South America. The study found that only 43 percent of women feel well equipped for the economic future, reports Business Wire. The research also looked at career advancement and found that 59 percent of women professionals attributed their career advancement to ambition and drive versus 54 percent of men. Stay tuned for the March 2008 issue of DiversityInc magazine to learn six ways women leaders differ from men, as well as advice from top female professionals on how to get ahead.

Vatican, Muslim Scholars to Talk Ideology

The Vatican and Muslim scholars have agreed to discuss theological, social and political issues, reports National Public Radio. The talks, scheduled to happen every two years, alternating between Rome and a Muslim country, will begin as soon as this November. Pope Benedict, a major catalyst for promoting the similarities between the two religions rather than their differences, will attend the first forum. The delegation says terrorism will be one of the main topics, reports NPR.

Want to Build a Pipeline? Reach Out to High-School Students

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