2008
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Under Texas Education Code,
Section 51.307, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THEBC) is
authorized to adopt rules to implement the provisions of Texas Education Code,
Section 51.3062. The Texas Education Code, Section 51.403(e) authorizes the
THECB to establish guidelines and reporting requirements. It is the policy of
The Panola College Board of Trustees authorizes the Administration to establish local policies for implementation of the Texas Success Initiative Plan (TSIP). The TSIP will be reviewed annually as part of the Institutional Effectiveness Action Plan. The specific regulations are subject to change as the result of sessions of the Texas Legislature and meetings of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Any significant changes to this plan will be filed with the Coordinating Board.
EXEMPTIONS/EXCEPTIONS
A.
State
law provides for certain exemptions from the TSI provisions. Documentation must
be on file in the Admissions and Records Office prior to enrollment.
Exemptions/exceptions are associated with actual enrollment in college.
1.
For a
period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and
performs on a single administration of the test at or above the following standards:
a.
ACT:
composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on both the English and the
mathematics tests.
b.
SAT: a
combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on both the
verbal and mathematics tests.
2. For a period of three (3) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards:
·
TAKS (Exit Level): 2200 in math and/or 2200 in
English/Language Arts (ELA) with a writing sub score of at least 3.
3. A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
4. A student who transfers to an institution from a private or independent institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution.
5. A student who has previously attended any institution and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.
6.
A student who is serving on active duty as a
member of the armed forces of the
7. A
student who is currently serving as and, for at least the three-year period
preceding enrollment, has served as a member of a reserve component of the
armed forces of the United States. [HB
286, Sec.51.3062, (r), (5)]
8. A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or of the Texas National Guard or served as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
9. A student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less (Level-One certificates, 42 or fewer semester credit hours or the equivalent) at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college.
B. Exception - An institution may exempt a non-degree seeking or non-certificate seeking student.
1. This student may defer testing and related TSI requirements until he/she:
a. self-declares as a degree or level-two certificate seeker, or
b. enrolls in more than two courses in a semester, or
c. attempts to enroll in a semester after the 12th college-level hour has been accumulated.
2. This student must sign a request for exception each semester declaring that neither a degree nor a certificate is being sought.
3. This student may not enroll in courses designated as “blocked” or courses with specific unmet
prerequisites.
4. The Vice-President of Student Services or the Vice-President of Instruction may make an exception to this stipulation. Such exceptions are allowed based on the specific courses taken and the pattern of enrollment, which would indicate that personal enrichment, personal health, or job skill upgrade is the desired outcome.
ASSESSMENT
A. A student designated as exempt will not be
prevented from enrolling in a course designated as “blocked” unless he/she has
not met the course prerequisite.
B.
C.
D.
A
student qualifying under circumstances specified in Section 4.55(a) who has not
been assessed prior to enrollment may, after individual consideration, enroll
in selected freshman-level academics coursework. The student must be assessed
for TSI purposes not later than the end of the first semester of enrollment. If
any student fails to test during the designated semester, the student will not
be permitted to enroll in any courses other than non-degree courses until
he/she has been assessed. Exceptional circumstances include, but are not
limited to:
1.
Documented
illness, injury, or other bonafide emergency that
prevents a student from testing;
2.
Diagnosed
and documented disability for which reasonable and appropriate accommodations
could not be provided by
3.
Reasonable
assessment opportunities have passed and students, through no fault of their
own, have not been assessed.
E.
Students not designated in an
exempt/exception/waiver category will be assessed for readiness to enroll in
courses designated as “blocked.” Readiness may be demonstrated by providing an
official transcript showing that a minimum grade of “C” has been earned in one
of the blocked courses in each of the three skill areas. If coursework can be transferred for only one
or two areas, the student must be assessed in any uncompleted area. The last
grade for repeated courses will be used to determine readiness. A course with a
grade of “D” may be used for credit but will not satisfy the “readiness”
requirement.
F.
Transfer students from a
B. A student who fails one or more sections of an assessment instrument may satisfy requirements by retesting and achieving a passing score or earning a grade of “C” or better in the developmental course designated as the highest level for reading, mathematics, or writing.
A student may retake an assessment instrument at any time using any of the current Board-approved instruments. The College offers the on-line Accuplacer on a daily basis and the THEA at designated times.
C. A student who completes the provisions outlined in an individualized plan for academic success which was developed with the student will have satisfied the requirements.
GENERAL POLICIES (TSIP)
A.
An
individual plan for academic success will be determined which will include
developmental education, reassessment option, assignment of a faculty mentor,
copy of a degree/program of study curriculum, other available support services,
and may include appropriate non-developmental activities. A copy of this plan
will be available to the student and the faculty mentor.
B. A student not successfully meeting the minimum passing standard in each skill area must begin developmental education upon enrollment and continue enrolling in at least one course or designated activity until requirements are complete.
C. A student must enroll each semester in a minimum of one developmental course that corresponds to the level and area of deficiency. Any student failing to take a section of the test or canceling the score on a section will be held liable for developmental education in any section not previously passed.
D.
E. The student must enroll in an appropriate developmental class each semester. The student who is absent beyond the established minimum number of class days or who does not participate in the course work will receive a grade of “F” for the course. Each syllabus will include this policy. A general statement is published in the Schedule of Classes each semester and in the College catalog.
F. In the developmental studies program, a
grade of “C” or better indicates satisfactory progress for advancement either
to the next level within the developmental program or into academic studies.
Students are placed according to assessment scores. Students may be moved up or down a level in developmental coursework if a counselor and developmental instructor agree that the adjustment has merit. The student who has successfully completed the highest level in reading, math and/or writing will be considered to have completed the required readiness coursework in that area. Developmental course sequences: Reading 0301, 0302; Math 0301, 0302; Writing 0301.
The 0100 courses are not part of the
developmental course sequence. These courses may be used to satisfy the
enrollment in a developmental course each semester but may not be used to
satisfy the requirement for readiness. An exception may be considered if the
student would benefit from utilizing a 0100 course as a lab tutorial in “other
appropriate support services.” The student who retests and improves his/her
score may be reevaluated and placed in a higher level. The student will not be
placed in a lower level without the student’s consent. A conference with a
counselor will be required.
G. Intersession Courses: A student who has not completed all TSI requirements may participate if he/she attended college in the preceding fall or spring semester and was enrolled in an appropriate developmental course. A student may to enroll in a blocked course until readiness has been determined and prerequisites have been met.
RETESTING
A.
THECB
approved Instruments
1.
THEA/TASP
a.
Initial
testing: If only one section is
attempted, all three sections are considered to be attempted.
b.
Retesting:
Each section stands individually. A section must be attempted before that
section can be considered as a retest possibility.
2.
ASSET/COMPASS/ACCUPLACER
a.
Initial
testing: Each section stands
individually. Each section must be attempted.
b.
Retesting;
Each section stands individually. A section must be
attempted before that section can be considered as a retest possibility.
B. A student may retest using the test they took initially or any other Board-approved instrument.
C. Retesting and Passing During the Semester.
1. Immediately after passing a placement test, a student will take the placement test score document and “Placement Test Pass” form from the Admissions/Records Office to the instructor; the student and instructor must select and sign option a or b on the “Placement Test Pass” form and immediately return the form to the Admissions/Records Office.
2. If a or b is not selected by the student, then the student must immediately select option c and contact the Admissions/Records Office for information to start the withdrawal process.
Options:
a. The student can elect to take an automatic “C” in the course or
b. The
student can elect to remain in the course and earn a grade or
c. During
the designated period, the student may withdraw from the class and receive a
“W”.
EVALUATION OF PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED DEVELOPMENTAL
COURSES
A. Coursework
completed at
1. A student who has been enrolled at any time during the past 2 years and has also retested during this period may enter the developmental sequence at the level indicated by the most recent test scores or continue the sequence in progress during the last enrollment.
2. A student who has been enrolled at any time during the past 2 years but has not re-tested during this period will continue from the sequence level obtained during the last enrollment.
3. A
student who completed the remedial sequence but has not been enrolled at
A. Students
transferring form another
1. At least 30 days prior to registration, a student must provide an official transcript of previous coursework and request an evaluation of any completed developmental courses. If needed, the student must provide a catalog or statement from the previous registrar describing the sequence of developmental courses.
2. Students who do not provide official transcripts at least 30 days prior to registration may not have their developmental work evaluated in time and will be placed in developmental courses based on the results of their assessment test.
3. Only the developmental courses successfully completed (grade of “C” or higher) within the past 2 years will be evaluated or considered.
4.
Developmental courses taken more than 2 years
prior to enrollment at
COURSE RESTRICTIONS
The student may not attempt a restricted course prior to presenting a passing score or an approved assessment instrument, transferring an equivalent course with a “C” or better, or successfully completing the highest level developmental course unless exempt. Any additional course prerequisites must be met.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
The high school student who is not exempt and who seeks to enroll must be assessed for TSI purposes prior to enrolling. The high school student who fails to achieve the minimum passing standard set by THECB may not enroll in college level classes related to sections of the test not passed. Enrolling in a developmental course each semester is not required.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Federal laws pertaining to individuals with disabilities shall be considered when assessing and advising students. Under the coordination of the Career/Technical Counselor, requests and accompanying documentation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
STUDENT OUTCOME
The student will successfully complete freshman-level academic coursework.
EVALUATION
The THECB shall evaluate the effectiveness of the Texas Success Initiative on a statewide basis and with respect to each institution. This evaluation will be based on specific data and timelines as required.
COMMENTS
A. The Vice-President of Instruction or the Vice-President of Student Services can, upon receipt of proper documentation of extenuating circumstances, give approval for students to enroll in restricted courses and/or make exceptions for individual students in the sequencing of developmental coursework.
B.
Reevaluated/revised 11/2008
This page maintained by Randy Graves.