Texas Success Initiative

In order to be ADVISED and to REGISTER, students must meet TSI.

NEW! Use our new TSI Status Program to find your TSI Status!

 

"How do I meet TSI?"

 

• You must either be Exempt or
• You must have taken the Accuplacer, Compass, Asset, Quick THEA, or THEA test.

 

"What's My TSI Status?" 

 

• Look at the Charts below or
• Contact the TSI Team in the Registrar's Office at ask.regstaff@shsu.edu

 

Exemption In:	Reading Exempt	Writing Exempt	Math Exempt		If you have a Math Exemption:	If you have a Math Exemption:
TAKS	2200 ELA With 3 Essay   College Level Reading Ready	2200 ELA With 3 Essay     College Level Writing Ready	2200 Math       *TSI Exemption in Math places student in MTH 032		Automatic Placement into MTH 032.	You can place college level if you have SAT Math 560 or ACT Math 23
ACT	19 English With 23 Composite   College Level Reading Ready	19 English With 23 Composite     College Level Writing Ready	19 Math With 23 Composite     *TSI Exemption in Math places student in MTH 032		Automatic Placement into MTH 032.	You can place college level if you have SAT Math 560 or ACT Math 23
SAT   The Composite Score for SAT: Critical Reading + Math = SAT Composite	500 Critical Reading With 1070 Composite     College Level Reading Ready	500 Critical Reading With 1070 Composite     College Level Writing Ready	500 Math With 1070 Composite       *TSI Exemption in Math places student in MTH 032		Automatic Placement into MTH 032.	You can place college level if you have SAT Math 560 or ACT Math 23

 

Placement Tests	Reading College Level	Writing College Level	MTH 031 Placement	MTH 032 Placement	Math College Level Placement
Accuplacer	Rdg - 78	Wrt - 80/5 or 6	1 - 62	63-85	86
Compass	Rdg - 81	Wrt - 59/5 or 6	1 - 38	39-75	76
Quick THEA & THEA	Rdg - 230	Wrt - 220	1-229	230-269	270
Asset	Rdg - 41	Wrt - 40/5 or 6	1-37	38-52	53

 

"I'm a Transfer Student, how do I know where I place?"

 

• Additional TSI information is available below, if you don't find your answer,
• Contact Us at ask.regstaff@shsu.edu

 

Your official placement test scores or valid exemption must be on file before you can see an advisor or register. Please provide us with your official scores from your placement test(s): THEA, ASSET, ACCUPLACER, and/or COMPASS.

• What is TSI?
• When must students take a TSI test?
• Who must take the TSI test?
• Who is exempt?
• Who qualifies for a waiver (temporary exemption)?
• What is an exemption by subject area?
• What happens if a student does not pass?
• Which tests have been approved for the TSI?
• What are the required scores?
• Which courses have been approved for the TSI?
• Chart I - Passing TSI Scores
• Chart II - Math Placement Scores
• Need to Review?
• Need Additional Study Materials?
• Need to schedule a test date?
• FAX

 

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE (TSI)

 

WHAT IS TSI?

Students attending Texas public institutions of higher education must be in compliance with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). 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 readiness to perform college level academic course work and will be placed in a developmental program designed to help the student reach that goal.  The following information is provided to help students determine what is needed to comply with the Texas Success initiative at Sam Houston State University.

 

WHEN MUST STUDENTS TAKE A TSI 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 THE TSI TEST?

Students who are:

• entering or enrolled in a Texas public institution of higher learning and are not exempt;
• exempt in only one subject area (they must test in the other areas); or
• in a teacher education program.

For more information on taking 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. See www.shsu.edu, click on University Fast links then click on Testing Center.

 

 

WHO IS EXEMPT FROM TAKING A TSI TEST?

Students who:

• have earned an associate (AA or AS) or a baccalaureate (BA or BS) degree from a Texas public institution of higher education;
• *** 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);
• *** 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);
• *** 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; scores must be TAKS EXIT LEVEL initial testing scores);
• 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 (see Approved Courses below);
• are determined to have met readiness standards of a previous institution; or
• 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.

***Students who are exempt from TSI by the state's guidelines above may still be subject to developmental coursework in math based on the Mathematics Department additional prerequisites for college level math placement (see Chart II below).

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A WAIVER (TEMPORARY EXEMPTION)?

Students who are:

• enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less; or
• not seeking a degree or certificate may be exempt at the discretion of the institution.

 

WHAT IS A TSI EXEMPTION BY SUBJECT AREA?

• 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.
•  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.
• 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 AND WHEN MUST THEY BEGIN REMEDIATION?

• Students who fail sections of a TSI test or do not meet the Mathematics Department prerequisites for college level placement are required to take developmental courses.
• Students must enroll and participate in at least one developmental course each term until they satisfy all TSI requirements (this includes the complete math developmental sequence for college level placement required by the Mathematics Department).
• Students who fail the reading portion of a TSI test must enroll in a developmental reading class before enrolling in any other developmental class.

Students are not required to remediate during the Summer Sessions.

 

WHICH 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.

 

APPROVED TESTS

THEA (Recommended)	Results take Appx. 30 Days	.
QT-THEA (Recommended)	Results Take Appx. 10 Days	.
Accuplacer	Immediate Score Results	.
Compass	Immediate Score Results	.
Asset	.	No information provided at this time.

 

WHAT IS A PASSING TSI SCORE?

 

The following scores (Chart I) are considered passing TSI scores by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

For additional information, please visit http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=233A17D9-F3D3-BFAD-D5A76CDD8AADD1E3 or go to www.thecb.state.tx.us, click on Laws/Rules (select Current Rules), click on Texas Success Initiative.

 

 

 

	READING	*MATH	WRITING
Scaled Accuplacer	RDG - 78	*Elem Alg - 63	WRT - 80/5 or 6
Scaled Asset	RDG - 41	*Elem Alg - 38	WRT - 40/5 or 6
Scaled Compass	RDG - 81	*Alg - 39	WRT - 59/5 or 6
THEA/TASP/QuickTHEA	RDG - 230	*MTH - 230	WRT - 220

 

*See CHART II below for mathematics placement at SHSU.

 

Once the student has met TSI Compliance {they have a valid exemption or a passing score from an approved TSI test (Chart I)} then they are subject to math placement using the following institutional guidelines as determined by our SHSU Mathematics Department (Chart II):

 

 

	MTH 031	MTH 032	COLLEGE LEVEL MATH
Accuplacer	Elem Alg   1-62	Elem Alg   63-85	Elem Alg 86
Asset	Elem Alg   1-37	Elem Alg   38-52	Elem Alg 53
Compass	Algebra     1-38	Algebra     39-75	Algebra 76
THEA/TASP/Quick THEA	1-229	230-269	270
*ACT	.	19-22	23
*SAT	.	500-559	560

 

*If a student has not met TSI Compliance with an approved exemption or with a passing TSI score (Chart I) in math, then they must be placed directly into MTH 031 regardless of their ACT/SAT math score.

 

WHAT ARE THE APPROVED COURSES USED TO SATISFY INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT TSI COMPLIANCE?

One of the following reading intensive courses with a grade of "C" or better may be used to satisfy the Reading TSI:

 

CRIJ	ECON	ENGL	GEOG	HIST	PHIL	POLS	PSYC	SOCI
2361	2300	2331	1301	1301	2361	2301	1301	1301
2362	2302	2342	1321	1302	2303	2331	2315	2319
	2301		2355	2311	2306	2332		1306
			2356	2312		2335
						3365
						2366
						3381
						2302

 

One of the following English courses with a grade of "C" or better may be used to satisfy Writing TSI: 

 

ENGL

1301

1302

 

One of the following math courses with a grade of "C" or better may be used to satisfy Math TSI:

 

MATH	STAT
1316	1369
1332
1369
1314
1324

 

NEED TO REVIEW?

www.thea.nesinc.com/practice.htm
www.testpreview.com
www.studyguidezone.com/undergraduate_exams.htm
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/accuplacer/preparation-sample.html

*Contact the Sam Center for Accuplacer tutorial.

 

NEED ADDITIONAL STUDY MATERIAL?

For a more hands-on approach, please contact our SAM Center today and take advantage of our FREE Accuplacer Tutorial!!!

Visit the Sam Center in Bldg CHSS Rm 170 or
Contact Margaret Ferguson at (936) 294-4361

 

NEED TO SCHEDULE A TEST?

Contact our SHSU Testing Center at www.shsu.edu/testing or call (936) 294-1025

FAX: Please fax your official score report to FAX# (936) 294-1737

REMINDER: Students must provide their placement test scores prior to being advised or registering.

 

For additional information and questions regarding TSI at SHSU, please contact:

Registrar's Office
Box 2029
Huntsville, TX  77341
(936) 294-1052, ext 41052
Email: ask.regstaff@shsu.edu