TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE

DETERMINING IF THE STUDENT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE

Students attending Texas public institutions of higher education must be in compliance with the Texas Success Initiative, which replaced the Texas Academic Skills Program in Fall of 2003. The law requires all entering college students to be assessed for college readiness in mathematics, reading and writing unless the student qualifies for an exemption. Each student who fails to meet the minimum passing standard of the assessment instrument must be advised regarding developmental education necessary to ensure his/her readiness to perform freshman-level academic course work, and placed in a developmental program designed to help the student reach that goal. The following information is provided to help students determine what they need to do in order to be in compliance with the Texas Success Initiative.

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE (Formerly the Texas Academic Skills Program)

WHEN MUST STUDENTS TAKE A TSI (TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE) TEST?

Students must take a TSI Test and have scores on file before they can enroll in college-level classes. It is the student's responsibility to inform the institution of his/her exemption.

WHO MUST TAKE A TSI TEST? Students who are:

1. entering or enrolled in a Texas public institution of higher learning and are not exempt,
2. exempt only in one subject area (must test in the other area(s)), or
3. in a teacher education program.

WHO IS EXEMPT FROM TAKING A TSI TEST? Students who:

1. have earned an associate (AA or AS) or a baccalaureate (BA or BS) degree from a Texas public institution of higher education,
2. have an ACT composite score of 23 or higher with a score of at least 19 on both the Mathematics and English sections,
3. have a re-centered SAT score of 1070 or higher with at least 500 on both the mathematics and verbal sections,
4. scored at least TLI X-89 in reading, TLI X-86 in mathematics and 1770 in writing on the TAAS Test,
5. scored 2200 on the ELA and Mathematics sections of the TAKS Test with a writing essay score of 3 or higher,
6. transferred from outside Texas or from a private Texas college or University and successfully completed an approved course in each of the reading, mathematics and writing portions of the TSI test,
7. are determined to have met readiness standards of a previous institution, or
8. are serving on active duty in the military, the Texas National Guard or the reserves, or were honorably discharged, retired or released from active duty in the military, the Texas National Guard or the reserves after August 1, 1990.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A WAIVER (TEMPORARY EXEMPTION)? Students who:

1. are enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less, or
2. are not seeking a degree or certificate may be exempt at the discretion of the institution.

WHO IS PARTIALLY EXEMPT BY SUBJECT AREA?

1. An ACT composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English or the mathematics section shall exempt the appropriate section of tests. However, the student must test in the area that was not exempt.
2. A SAT combined score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the verbal or the mathematics section shall exempt the appropriate section of tests . However, the student must test in the area that was not exempt.
3. A TAKS with a minimum of 2200 on the ELA (with a sub score of 3) or the mathematics test shall exempt the appropriate section of tests taken as of April, 2004. Students still must test in the area(s) that was (were) not exempt. A student who has a TAKS test exemption has satisfied the TSI requirement. However, the student's ACT or SAT scores will be used for placement purposes at SHSU to realistically improve the student's success in freshman academic coursework. See the Chart below:

	COURSE	ACT	SAT
Mathematics	MTH 031D	1-18	1-499
	MTH032D	19-22	500-559

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PASS ALL PARTS OF A TSI TEST?

1. They must enroll in at least one appropriate developmental course before they can enroll in college level courses.
2. They must enroll and participate in a required developmental course each semester until they satisfy all TSI requirements.

WHEN MUST STUDENTS BEGIN REMEDIATION?

1. Only students who fail sections of a TSI Test are required to take developmental courses.
2. Students must enroll in at least one developmental course each semester until they satisfy all TSI requirements.
3. Students who fail the reading portion of a TSI test must enroll in a developmental reading class before enrolling in any other developmental class.

WHAT TESTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AS TSI TESTS?

The following tests have been approved: (a) the ACCUPLACER, (b) ASSET, (c) the COMPASS, and (d) the THEA OR THEA Quick Test. Students must provide SHSU with official score reports of tests taken at another institution or a letter on the institution letterhead listing the scores and confirming they are official.

WHAT IS A PASSING SCORE? The following scores are considered as passing scores for

1.	Scaled Accuplacer:	RDG-78	Elem Alg-63 or higher	WRT-80/5 or 6
2.	Scaled Asset:	RDG-41	Elem Alg-38 or higher	WRT-40/5 or 6
3.	Scaled Compass:	RDG-81	ALG- 39 or higher	WRT-59/5 or 6
4.	THEA/TASP/QT:	RDG-230	MTH- 230 or higher	WRT-220

HOW MAY STUDENTS MEET TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE REQUIREMENTS? Students may meet TSI requirements by:

1. passing a TSI test,
2. completing an approved college-level course(s) in the appropriate area with a grade of "C" or better,
3. acceptable performance in the appropriate developmental program(s) or
4. retesting and acceptable performance in the appropriate developmental program(s) if their initial score was less than the required minimum score.

For information on the Quick THEA or Accuplacer test, the Testing Center can be contacted by e-mailing: Test.Ctr@shsu.edu or by telephone (936) 294-1025.

SHSU REQUIREMENTS TO SATISFY THE TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Students must continuously enroll in the appropriate developmental program until they have satisfied all TSI Requirements.

Students who fail one or more sections of a TSI Test may satisfy TSI Requirements by:

1. getting a passing score on a retake of a TSI test,
2. completing a developmental program in the appropriate area with a grade of "C " or better, or
3. completing an approved college-level course(s) in the appropriate area with a grade of "C" or better

Students who think they meet the requirement should provide the Registrar's Office with an official score copy if the score is not on file in the system.

Students are not required to take remedial courses during the Summer I or Summer II Sessions.

SPECIFIC MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENTS

Students can enroll in a college level mathematics course if they:

• have a documented TSI Exemption,
• meet the required score with a TSI Test (See Placement Chart above),
• completed a previous college level mathematics course with a grade of "C" or better,
• completed MTH 032D with a grade of "C" or better,
• completed the higher level MTH 031D with a grade of "C" or better in F03 or with an "S" prior to F03,
• are repeating a mathematics course previously attempted, or
• are currently taking MTH 032D at SHSU with the understanding that they will not be allowed to remain in the course if MTH 032D is not completed with a grade of "C" or better.

Students can enroll in college level Reading courses if:

• Students who sco re below 77 (Accuplacer) 40 (Asset), 80 (Compass) or 229 or below (THEA/TASP) must take RDG031D, complete work satisfactorily and earn a grade of "C" or better.
  
• Students who score at least 78 (Accuplacer), 41 (Asset), 81 (Compass), or 230 (THEA/TASP) are not required to remediate.
• Students who have not satisfied TSI Reading requirements will be blocked form enrolling in Reading-intensive classes.
• Students who have a passing score have satisfied their TSI requirements and are not required to remediate
• Students who have not passed the reading section and have completed RDG 031 with a "C" or better will satisfy their TSI Reading requirement.

Students can enroll in college level English courses if:

• Students who have not passed the writing section and complete ENG 031 with a "C" or better will satisfy their writing requirement.
• Students who have a passing score have satisfied their TSI requirements and are not required to remediate.

During Advance Registration, students will be permitted to register for the next level of remedial course or college level course, but will be removed if the appropriate course is not completed with a "C" or higher.