Texas Success Initiative

(Formerly the Texas Academic Skills Pro­gram)

When do I have to test?

Who is exempt?

What is a passing score?

Who qualifies for a waiver?

What is an exemption by subject area?

Responsibilities of students not passing all parts of TSI test?

When must students begin remediation?

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 in only one subject area (they must test in the other area(s)), or
3. in a teacher education program.

For information on the Quick THEA or Accuplacer test, the Testing Center can be contacted by e-mail at TEST.CTR@SHSU.EDU or by telephone (936) 294-1025.

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 Math and English sections (scores are good for five years from the original test date),
3. have a re-centered SAT score of 1070 or higher with at least 500 on both the math and verbal sections (scores are good for five years from the original test date),
4. scored at least TLI X-89 in reading, TLI X-86 in math and 1770 in writing on the TAAS Test (scores are good for three years from the original test date),
5. scored 2200 on the ELA and Math sections of the TAKS Test with a writing essay score of 3 (scores are good for three years from the original test date),
6. transferred from outside Texas or from a private Texas college or University and successfully completed two reading intensive courses and an approved course in each of the math and writing portions of the TSI test,
7. are determined to have met readiness standards of a previous institution,
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,
2. are not seeking a degree or certificate may be exempt at the discretion of the institution.

WHAT IS AN EXEMPTION 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 taken within the last five years of when the test was taken. 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 taken within the last five years of when the test was taken. 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 within the last three years of when the test was taken. However, the student must test in the area that was not exempt.

 

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS NOT PASSING 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 or defer 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 Quick THEA. 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	WRT-80/5 or 6
2.	Scaled Asset:	RDG-41	Elem Alg-38	WRT-40/5 or 6
3.	Scaled Compass:	RDG-81	ALG-39	WRT-59/6 or 6
4.	THEA/TASP/QT:	RDG-230	MTH-230	WRT-220

 

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,
3. completing an approved college-level course(s) in the appropriate area with a grade of "C" or better.

    Students are not required to remediate during the Summer Sessions.

SPECIFIC MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENTS

PLACEMENT CHART FOR DEVELOPMENTAL MATHEMATICS
TSI STATUS	COURSE	THEA/TASP	ACCUPLACER	ASSET	COMPASS
Not Complete	MTH 031D	001 - 229	01 - 62	01 - 37	01 - 38
Not Complete	MTH 032D	230 - 269	63 - 108	38 - 52	39 - 75
Complete	MTH 163, 164, 169 , 170 184, 199, STA 169	270 - 300	109 - 120	53 - 55	76 - 100

    The Mathematics Department has additional prerequisite score requirements before enrolling in college level courses. 

    Students that are exempt from placement testing based on their TAKS scores in the mathematics section will be placed according to their SAT and/or ACT scores.

 

• Students can enroll in a college-level math course if they:
  • have a documented TSI exemption,
  • meet the required score with a TSI Test (See statement above),
  • completed a previous college-level math course with a "C" or better
  • completed MTH 032D with a "C" or better,
  • completed the higher level MTH 031D with a "C" or better in F03 or with an "S " prior to F03,
  • are repeating a math 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.

Reading

    Students can enroll in college level Reading courses if:

• Students who score 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 enroll in RDG 011D must take two reading intensive courses and attend 15 hours of tutorials in the Reading Center to satisfy TSI requirements
• 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.

 

Writing

• Students who score below 79/5 (Accuplacer), 39/5 (Asset), 58/5(Compass) or 219 (THEA/TASP) must take ENG 031D, complete work satisfactorily and earn a grade of "C" or better. 

• Students who score at least 80/5 or 6 (Accuplacer) 40/5 or 6 (Asset), 59/5 or 6 (Compass) or 220 (THEA/TASP) are not required to remediate.

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