I recently read an article titled “Making waves on campus: A once-proud tradition is becoming awkward for elite universities” in The Economist about swim test requirements at some U.S. universities as a condition for graduation. I didn’t know that this was a requirement at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and Columbia University in order to receive a diploma. When I first read about it, I immediately thought it was some kind of military-related requirement to ensure students were fit for duty, and at least I got that part right. But apparently, some leaders also believed it contributed to a well-rounded education. 

Here is some background information about the reasons for the requirement, found on the Cornell University website:

“Male – 1905 – In the fall of 1905 Colonel Frank Barton (Yes, that Frank Barton) instituted the test. He stated: ‘In view of the fact that recent wars have conclusively demonstrated that a soldier who cannot swim is so much dead timber in the command, and the United States now refuses to graduate from West Point or Annapolis cadets who are unable to swim, no student will be credited with a passing mark for spring term’s drill who has not previously passed an examination in swimming satisfactory to the Professor of Physical Culture.’ This practically made swimming a requirement for graduation since military drill was required of all male four-year students. (Oswego Daily Palladium, Nov 28, 1905). Cornell was the first college in the country (other than the service academies) to require a swim test.

Female – 1920 – Al Gantert (Director of Physical Education, 1978–2009) had a number of discussions with Dorothy Bateman (First Director of Sports and Physical Education, 1920–1962) before she passed away. Dorothy instituted the women’s swimming test in 1920. She stated that she felt it was an important part of a well-rounded education for a young woman.”¹

The Economist article explains that colleges are eliminating long-standing swimming requirements for graduation. These tests, introduced in the early 20th century, were originally tied to physical fitness and even military preparedness. Over time, most universities dropped the requirement due to cost, inconvenience, and changing priorities. More recently, the main reason for abandoning swim tests has shifted toward concerns about racial equity. Data shows significant disparities in swimming ability in the U.S., with Black Americans far less likely to know how to swim. At some schools, a disproportionate number of students failing swim tests were students of color, leading administrators to view the requirement as unfair or exclusionary.

Knowing how to swim is a good thing, but I agree with the article’s concerns about racial equity, and I would add economic factors as well. The chart published with the article shows that all races are affected when household income is low and community pools are not always available. Even when pools are accessible, the challenge often lies in teaching people how to swim.

In my case, I learned how to swim the hard way when I was a kid. I remember that day clearly. When we were young, we did a lot of exploring, and one of our favorite spots was near a lake. Typically, we stayed in waist-deep water just to cool off. But one day, one of the kids pushed me from a higher point that kids used to jump into the lake, and I landed in the deep end. I struggled to reach the shore and barely made it. I thought I was about to drown, but instinct kicked in and I made it. The kid who pushed me was terrified and apologized. After that incident, I started working on my swimming by watching what other kids were doing. There weren’t any public pools where I grew up, and we didn’t have money for swimming classes.

I became a strong swimmer by the time I got to college. Once there, I was more concerned about passing Physical Chemistry, which was a key class for graduation, so I had no interest in taking advanced swimming classes on campus. All my spare time was focused on the prerequisites for Physical Chemistry—Physics (which required Calculus I) and Calculus III. Of course, General Chemistry was also required, but I had taken that as a freshman, so I just needed to focus on the others, and it took me a while. So I’m glad there wasn’t a swim test requirement at my university.

Once I joined the Army, things were different. As a young lieutenant attending the Infantry Officer School at Fort Benning, a swim test was required, and we had to pass it at the start of the course in order to continue. For infantry officers, swimming with equipment and weapons is essential, as amphibious operations and water landings can be part of the mission. The instructors spent significant time teaching us the necessary techniques, including how to make a flotation device using our pants. We received instruction in the afternoons after regular classes. It was a lot of fun, and I survived all of it.

After graduating and reporting to my first assignment with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, I went through another swim test during in-processing. It included jumping from a platform about five meters high in uniform and treading water for about five minutes. We also had to swim 50 meters in uniform. During my time in Hawaii, I participated in a couple of helocast missions, where we jumped from a helicopter into the water and then swam to shore for follow-on operations. Super fun, to say the least.

With all that said, I don’t think a swim test should be a requirement for college graduation. It’s already challenging enough for young adults who are struggling financially to make it through college without having to worry about passing a swim test. A personal finance class would probably be more helpful, since 100% of students will deal with financial issues at some point, versus the smaller percentage who will ever need to rely on swimming skills. To me, this is an unnecessary burden, one that places yet another obstacle in front of students trying to improve their lives. I’m glad to see that many schools are eliminating this requirement, and hopefully the remaining colleges will follow suit in the near future.

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1.  https://scl.cornell.edu/pe/swim-requirement/history-swim-requirement#:~:text=Male ,Daily Palladium, Nov 28, 1905 ↩︎

• Ed’s Notes