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Developmental Education and Texas Success Initiative (A-57)

Original Implementation: April 18, 2000
Last Revision: October 30, 2007

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a program administered by the Center for College Readiness at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).  The objective of the program is to assist colleges and universities to ensure that Texas students are prepared academically to succeed in higher education.

The TSI program requires each institution of higher education to assess the academic skills of each entering undergraduate student to determine the student’s readiness to enroll in freshman-level academic coursework.  The THECB designates particular diagnostic instruments approved for assessing students’ skills in reading, writing and mathematics.

Entering undergraduates may earn exemption from TSI assessment by supplying certain scores on designated assessment instruments, such as SAT, ACT or TAKS.  Other students may earn exemptions through prior study at private or out-of-state institutions, or through qualifying military service. 

The purposes of the SFASU Developmental Education policy are to:

 

Exemption from Testing

The assessment requirements of the TSI program do not apply to the following students:

  1. a student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education
  2. a student who has transferred to SFASU from a private, independent or accredited out-of-state institution of higher education after satisfactory completion of college-level coursework as designated by SFASU
  3. a student who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard
  4. a student who is currently serving as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least the three-year period preceding SFASU enrollment
  5. a student who was honorably discharged, retired or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard on or after August 1, 1990
  6. a student who was honorably discharged, retired or released from service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States on or after August 1, 1990
  7. a student who is enrolled at SFASU in a non-degree-seeking status
  8. a student who has achieved certain scores as determined by THECB on the SAT or ACT and has enrolled at SFASU within five years of achieving those scores
  9. a student who has achieved certain scores as determined by THECB on the exit-level assessment required for public high school graduates in Texas and has enrolled at SFASU within three years of achieving those scores
  10. a student who has satisfied all readiness requirements at another Texas institution of higher education and has supplied appropriate documentation of that status

 

Testing Requirements

SFASU accepts scores on any of the assessment instruments designated by THECB for use in assessing college readiness:  THEA, ASSET, COMPASS or ACCUPLACER.  Each undergraduate student must supply assessment scores in reading, writing and mathematics, or demonstrate qualification for exemption from such assessment, prior to initial enrollment.

Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be allowed to enroll in certain freshman-level courses for one semester without TSI assessment scores.  (Enrollment restrictions based on prerequisites and other entry criteria will limit courses for which the student is eligible.)  The student must then supply TSI assessment scores by the end of the first semester of enrollment.  Examples of exceptional circumstances include a documented illness, injury or emergency that prevented testing, or necessary delays in providing appropriate accommodations for a student with a documented disability.

 

Developmental Education Program and Advising

For each student who fails to meet the minimum passing standards as set by THECB on a TSI assessment instrument, SFASU will:

Each student who has not met all college-readiness requirements must meet with an advisor in the Academic Advising Center before registering for classes each semester.  The student’s progress towards meeting readiness standards will be reviewed during that meeting.  An advisor will provide individual assistance in registering for required developmental coursework and in resolving any questions related to the student’s readiness status.

 

Meeting Developmental Requirements

For each failed area of a TSI assessment instrument, the student must enroll immediately in developmental coursework to address that area of deficiency.  The student must continue to enroll in assigned developmental coursework until SFASU determines that the student is ready to perform freshman-level academic coursework in that area.  As indicators of readiness, SFASU may consider the student’s performance in developmental education; performance in appropriate non-developmental coursework; and/or performance on an approved TSI assessment instrument.  For course-based developmental work (ENG 099, MTH 099, RDG 098), an earned grade of “C” or higher will demonstrate that the student is college ready.  A student may retest at any time to demonstrate readiness using any of the four assessment instruments approved by THECB (THEA, ASSET, COMPASS or ACCUPLACER).  It is the student’s responsibility to submit any updated test scores to the Academic Advising Center.

 

Documentation of TSI Status

In accordance with THECB regulations, the SFASU transcript will indicate each student’s current status regarding college readiness in reading, writing and mathematics.  This status will be updated each semester as soon as practical and feasible.

 

Dual-Credit and Concurrent Students

High school students who achieve certain scores on the tenth-grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test (or other state-administered assessment approved by the THECB) may enroll in dual-credit courses without taking a state-approved TSI assessment through their senior year of high school.  Upon enrolling for degree-seeking credit, these students must satisfy requirements for TSI exemption or take an approved TSI assessment test in reading, writing and mathematics.

Any high school student seeking concurrent enrollment must demonstrate qualification for exemption from TSI assessment or take an approved TSI assessment instrument before enrolling in any coursework at SFASU.

 

Attendance, Grades, and Academic Standing

Students who have not met all readiness requirements must engage in appropriate, continuous developmental education upon enrolling at SFASU.  Students are not allowed to drop developmental courses from their schedule unless they pass a TSI assessment instrument or can provide documentation of satisfying readiness requirements in another manner.  If a student is allowed to drop a developmental course, the dropped course does not count towards the course drop limitation policy as described in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules, Chapter 4, Subchapter A, Section 4.3.

Grades earned in developmental courses do not count towards a student’s cumulative GPA.  Credit for developmental courses may not be used to meet graduation requirements.

 

Evaluating Effectiveness of Developmental Education

Beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year and every third year thereafter, the Academic Advising Center will collect and compile information about students’ success in achieving TSI readiness standards and their subsequent performance in related freshman-level academic coursework.  This information will be prepared for the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and it will be used to determine program modifications and enhancements to ensure student success.

 

Cross References: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules, Chapter 4, Subchapter A, Section 4.3 and Subchapter C, Section 4.51-4.60; Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062

Responsible for Implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Contact for Revision: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Forms: None