Placement, Proficiencies and Policies Carrie Ahern, Dir of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment January 11, 2010

Today’s Presentation u Math and English course placement for incoming students u Course completion policies u Proficiency Testing

Student’s Course Placement: Traditional Freshmen u Initial Course Placement in English, Math, and Reading u Based on ACT or SAT Scores OR u Computerized Placement Test Scores (COMPASS) u Handouts: u ACT and COMPASS Placement Scores u FAQ on Placement testing u ACTs and SATs: valid for 5 years

Student’s Course Placement: Transfers u Checksheet- Registrar equates previous coursework to DSU courses u Must have all official transcripts into Enrollment Services! u Note: If equivalent courses not completed- will use ACTs and/ or COMPASS test

Course Placement Report u Examples: u ACT Reading 15:Register for LART 110 u ACT English 18:Register for English 101 u ACT Math 17:Register for Math 021

Challenging Placement u Students are allowed one challenge to their ACT placement using the COMPASS u COMPASS: online ACT u Study material online –copies available at the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment (OIEA) u Contact OIEA to schedule time

How do students receive this information? u Registration Sessions u Sandy and Carrie present the information u Students receive a Course Placement Report before they register for their first semester u Students receive an FAQ in their registration packet u Advisors receive copies of Course Placement Reports

Pre-General Education Courses – Course Completion u Pre-General Education Courses: u MATH 021, MATH 101 and ENGL 033 u “RS / RU” grades for 000-level courses u System Rules: u Successfully complete within first 30 ATTEMPTED regental credits u Otherwise, registration hold (CPG1) on student’s Colleague record u Flashing yellow – warning to student / advisor u Can’t register through WebAdvisor

Pre-General Education Courses – Course Completion u System Rules: u Successfully complete within first 42 ATTEMPTED regental credit hours u Otherwise, registration hold (CPG2) on student’s Colleague record u Moved to special student (non-degree seeking) status u Not eligible for financial aid or athletics u Register only for pre-general education courses. 9

How do students receive this information? u Complete online pre-general education form u reminders from the OIEA u Advisors are copied on the s u CPG1 hold list sent to DSU-Records Note

Proficiency Testing u SD regental system policy: ACT CAAP- Reading, Writing, Math and Science Reasoning tests u For associate degree-seeking students: completion of 32 credit hours at or above 100 level u For baccalaureate degree-seeking students: completion of 48 credit hours at or above 100 level u Handouts: FAQ on proficiency testing

Proficiency Testing u Main campus undergraduate classes cancelled u One day in the Fall- first two weeks of November u One day in the Spring- last two weeks of March u Faculty and staff conduct review sessions u Practice tests available for students u Online material to study prior to testing u Students can request a one semester deferment u Students who “skip” the test are suspended for two terms

Proficiency Testing u Students must meet minimum score on each test u If they do not, will retest in the specific area (e.g. Reading) u Develop remediation plan with campus remediation advisor u Retake 2 times (total of three chances)

Alternate certification: Demonstrate Proficiency u Alternate certification: for students who do not pass the third time u To be eligible for the process u MUST have retested u MUST have worked with remediation advisor u Four DSU faculty review student‘s alternate certification (e.g. portfolio) u If student passes, can register for next term u If student doesn’t pass, must retake proficiency test and pass before allowed to register

How do students receive this information? u notifications from the OIEA u Numerous s for first time testers u Numerous s to students eligible for deferment u Advisors are copied on the s u Athletic office receives complete list of all first-time testers

How do students receive this information? u Students who do not pass the first time testing: u Letter from OIEA u CPF hold on Colleague u Must sign acknowledgement form before hold is lifted u Numerous contacts from remediation advisor u Academic advisor receives copies of all notifications u OIEA notifies student of next test session

Three-Strike Rule  Limit on number of times student may enroll in course without earning credit  Counts all attempts (“W”, failing grades, transfer courses and repeats) except audit  WebAdvisor hold  Appeal process – VPAA 17

Resources u Websites: services/index.aspx services/index.aspx services/index.aspx u FAQs: online and printed u Contact Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment:

Questions and suggestions