All first-time freshman students under the age of twenty-one (21) are required to submit their American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores as a condition for admission. ACT sub-scores in Reading, Math and English are used to determine initial placement in college preparatory or college-level courses. Any student, regardless of age, who has a valid ACT will be placed according to that test. Students who place in college preparatory courses and who wish to challenge their initial ACT placement in Reading, Math and/or English may take the COMPASS adaptive computerized placement test for a fee of $20. First-time students over twenty-one years of age who do not have a valid ACT will use COMPASS for placement purposes. There is no fee if COMPASS must be used as the placement test.
Transfer students who have not been previously assessed and who have not earned credits in college-level English composition or college-level, algebra-based mathematics must undergo COMPASS assessment in the appropriate area(s). Transfer students are not required to submit ACT/SAT scores, although they are encouraged to do so if they have valid scores.
Non-degree students who have not completed the first college-level course in English or mathematics must undergo COMPASS assessment in the appropriate subject area and must complete courses indicated by COMPASS placement prior to enrolling in the respective college-level English or mathematics course.
On the basis of the placement test results, students will be placed in remedial/developmental classes and/or laboratories or college-level courses. Completion of remedial and developmental courses and labs is required before students can move to degree-credit courses for which developmental courses are prerequisite. Students who are placed according to their ACT scores are exempt from COMPASS testing unless such testing is required to remove 1989 high school deficiencies. However, if during the first two weeks of classes, an instructor has well documented evidence that a student is deficient in one or more of the basic skills or academic competencies, the instructor may refer the student to the Director of Developmental Studies for assessment and placement, using the form provided by the Director’s office. Such students shall not be allowed to continue in a college-level course for which their COMPASS assessment indicates the need for pre-requisite skills.
If placement test scores so indicate, the student may be administratively withdrawn, upon proper notification, from course(s) which require the skills in which he/she is deficient.
Students must not be enrolled in an R/D English, mathematics, or reading course without a valid ACT or placement. The student must meet the exit criteria of the final R/D course in the subject area and complete the final subject-area examinations to meet all requirements for that area.
Failure to abide by ACT or COMPASS placement will not be used as a basis for waiving requirements.
If there are extenuating circumstances, a student may retake the COMPASS for a fee of $20, providing the student has taken no course work in the retest area.