Question: What Ivy League university is the only school in the nation to require students to pass a swim test before earning their diploma?
Answer: Cornell!
The swim test, which includes jumping into the deep end in feet first and a 75 yard swim, dates back to an old college tradition established in 1918. The policy was reviewed again several years ago, and the faculty choose to keep it in their requirements both because it’s part of school legacy and because they think it’s an important life skill. Students are encouraged to take the test during their freshman orientation, giving a new, literal meaning to the phase “jump into college feet first.”
For more fun facts about Cornell’s swim test, check out http://swimtest.cornell.edu.
ECU requires students to pass a swim test to graduate and if you do not pass, you are required to take a swimming class.
This is not true – Columbia has a swim test as well.
Indeed it does! I had to take it when I did SCUBA as my PE credit.