Records of the University of Florida Board of University Examiners

The Board of University Examiners was created in 1935 to administer comprehensive examinations held by the General College (later University College) and all admissions and placement examinations required by the University of Florida. Shortly after its creation, the Board was given responsibility for the Florida Twelfth Grade Testing Program. (A minimum score on the Florida Twelfth Grade Test was required of in-state applicants for admission to one of the state universities.) For a period of time, the Board also conducted clerical and stenographic tests for University staff.

Policy for the Board was set by a committee which included the Registrar, the Dean of the University College, and three members appointed by the University President. For the first two years, the Board was part of the Registrar's Office. In 1937, the Board was made an independent unit and, in 1939, the position of University Examiner was created. The Examiner reported directly to the President.

John Vredenburgh McQuitty was appointed University Examiner and he remained at that position until the Board was abolished in 1973. In the early 1970s, a decision was made to phase out the University College and 1973 was the first year that freshmen and sophomores were not required to enter the lower college. The Florida Twelfth Grade Test was also superseded by the Scholastic Aptitude Test that year. Since 1973, all standardized testing conducted on campus has been supervised by the Office of Instructional Resources.