The Executive Committee of the University of Illinois System Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a request by the three universities to allow high school students to apply for admission in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years without taking standardized tests.

The request was made in response to continued pandemic-driven restrictions on large gatherings in many places around the country that limit students’ ability to take the SAT and ACT tests.

Thursday’s decision extends a policy allowing test-optional admissions at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Springfield for the 2021-22 academic year. Many other universities in the United States have already extended test-optional policies, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This decision by the Executive Committee will allow those considering a U of I System university to apply without worrying about the availability of a standardized test,” system President Tim Killeen said. “I thank our trustees for continuing to make the safety of our prospective students and fairness in our admissions processes top priorities.”

The Executive Committee meets when action is required before a regular board meeting and acts with the authority of the full board. Thursday’s action, which occurred during a virtual meeting, will be reported to the full board at its next regularly scheduled meeting, on May 20. The committee currently consists of board Chairman Don Edwards and Trustees Patricia Brown Holmes and Ricardo Estrada.