PRINCETON, NJ -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/05/07 -- ETS is pilot testing its new Major Field Test for Associate Degree Business Programs at 20 community colleges nationwide. This is the first of ETS's Major Field Tests (MFTs) specifically designed for use by two-year and community colleges.

The MFT for Associate Degree Business Programs, developed in partnership with the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), assesses knowledge and skills in the core curriculum of a two-year business program in the following areas: accounting, economics, management, finance and marketing.

"We developed this assessment in partnership with ACBSP and with heavy involvement from community college business department chairs and faculty so that ETS could produce the most useful measure of the knowledge and skills their students have acquired in the program area," says Linda Tyler, Executive Director of Postsecondary Solutions for ETS. "The test is designed to help community colleges assess student achievement, meet external requirements, develop and improve curricula, and conduct benchmarking and trend analysis."

Continuous test administration for the MFT for Associate Degree Business Programs will begin during the Fall 2007 semester. The test will be about two hours long and will be available in both online and paper-and-pencil formats.

"Over the last several years, the ACBSP leadership team has been working with ETS to develop this MFT for community college business programs," says Douglas Viehland, Executive Director of ACBSP. "This collaboration marks a first for both organizations in creating a new Associate Degree test that complements MFT tests that are used in undergraduate and MBA programs. It will be the first associate degree-level MFT for any subject area."

ETS offers 16 Major Fields Tests -- including tests for Physics, Computer Science, Psychology and MBA -- which are designed for four-year and graduate programs. For more information, please visit www.ets.org/mft.

About the Major Field Tests

ETS Major Field Tests are undergraduate- and graduate-level assessments designed to measure student academic achievement at the conclusion of major study. Developed in 1989, the MFT program assesses mastery of concepts, principles, and knowledge as well as abilities to analyze information, solve problems, and interpret materials. Test results are used by academic departments to assess and refine curricula and to gauge and compare student progress among similar programs across the campus or with similar programs in other schools across the country. MFTs are available in 16 subject areas. Additional information is available at www.ets.org/mft.

About ETS

ETS is a nonprofit institution with the mission to advance quality and equity in education by providing fair and valid assessments, research and related services for all people worldwide. In serving individuals, educational institutions and government agencies around the world, ETS customizes solutions to meet the need for teacher professional development products and services, classroom and end-of-course assessments, and research-based teaching and learning tools. Founded in 1947, ETS today develops, administers and scores more than 24 million tests annually, in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. Additional information is available at www.ets.org.

About ACBSP

The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs is the only business accrediting organization for both associate and baccalaureate/graduate degree institutions. Founded in 1988, ACBSP focus in accreditation and member services is on supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence. ACBSP membership includes over 540 institutions and over 5,400 individuals at these institutions located in 17 different countries. Additional information is available at www.acbsp.org.

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