Placement Testing Under the new Texas Success Initiative (HB 286) (TEC 51.3062), effective Fall 2003, university students' academic skills may be assessed using the ASSET, COMPASS, THEA or ACCUPLACER tests. Incoming Texas Southern University students who are not otherwise exempted by law are recommended to attempt either the ASSET or THEA test for placement purposes. Education majors may only attempt the THEA test for admission into the College of Education. Placement testing allows the university to effectively educate all students by providing a "roadmap" of each student's strengths and weaknesses. Click here for Information on ASSET.

Placement Test Standards

Students who do not meet the minimum requirement for the multiple-choice portion of the Writing assessment but who earn a satisfactory score on the essay will be considered as having passed the Writing section.

EXEMPTION CRITERIA (as of September 1, 2003)

• ACT Scores: Composite-23, English-19, Mathematics-19 (Valid for five (5) years from the date of testing).
• SAT Scores: Combined score of 1070 on the Verbal and Mathematics tests with a minimum of 500 on each (Valid for five (5) years from the date of testing).
• TAKS Scores (Exit-Level): English/Language Arts (ELA)- 2200, Mathematics - 2200 and Writing – 3 (Valid for three (3) years from the date of testing).
• TAAS Scores: Writing-1770, Mathematics-86, Reading-89 (Valid for three (3) years from the date of testing).
• Associate or Bachelor's degree holders.
• Transfer students with Satisfactory Completion credit. Transfer students who have met their previous institution's readiness standards, Certificate program of one year or less (Level-one, 42 or fewer semester credit hours or the equivalent)
• Active Duty Military (US armed forces, Texas National Guard or reserves) with at least three years of service, Honorably discharged, retired or released military on or after August 1, 1990.
• Non-credit or transient students.

Transfer Students

Transient Students

International Students

Satisfactory Completion Exemption Policy

"C" or Better Policy

Developmental Sequence

• Completion of Developmental CourseworkEnglish 129, English 130Reading 130Math 130, Math 131Computer-assisted Laboratory (GUAC 101); or
• Retaking and passing the appropriate section(s) of a placement test.
  

Placement Testing Policies and Procedures

Placement Testing Options
· In accordance with the Texas Success Initiative (Texas Senate Bill 286), students enrolling in a state institution of higher education have the option of choosing the placement test that best suits their educational goals (ASSET, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER or THEA). Texas Southern University (TSU) administers both the ASSET and THEA exams. However, the ASSET exam is recommended for all incoming students with the exception of Education majors, who may only attempt the THEA exam.
· Placement tests may be taken at TSU, or any other institution that administers the test. However, if the student elects to take the test at any institution other than TSU, an official copy of the test scores must be brought to the designated GUAC personnel.
· Students may retrieve ASSET test scores, if taken at TSU, on the following business day. THEA test scores are available within three to five business days from the date of testing.Based upon their performance on the placement test, students are classified as TEST Responsible, TEST Passed or TEST Exempt. Each student’s scores and placement suggestions are recorded onto an Individualized Instruction Plan (IIP), obtainable in GUAC.Students who do not earn satisfactory scores on any part of a placement test must retest and may do so with an institution-approved instrument (ASSET, COMPASS, THEA) at any time.

Placement Classifications
TEST Responsible
A student who has failed one or more sections of a placement test is considered TEST Responsible. This student must:
-see his or her assigned GUAC Advisor for academic plan advisement and registration approval.
-complete the developmental sequence as outlined in the IIP.
-retake the placement test
-enroll in Satisfactory Completion Exemption courses, with concurrent GUAC 101 Interdisciplinary Laboratories for exemption consideration.
-obtain a final IIP from a GUAC testing representative when a grade of “C” or higher has been attained in a Satisfactory Completion Exemption Course and GUAC 101 requirements have been met. This will give the student TEST Exempt status.

TEST Exempt
A student seeking exemption based upon state approved criteria must submit acceptable documentation. If the exemption is either standardized test score, degree conferred, or college-course grade related, copies of transcripts must be provided. For military-related exemptions, acceptable government documentation must be provided. An exempt student will receive an IIP verifying his or her status and permitted to seek advisement from the chosen academic department.

Compliance
During the course of each term, GUAC will audit all enrolled TEST Responsible students for compliance with the policies and procedures addressed herein. Each student found to be out of compliance with these terms will receive written notification of the violation. Failure to appropriately rectify the compliance issue may result in the student’s enrollment in the course(s) in question being purged from the system.

Non-Compliance With Placement Testing Policies

For more information contact

Sannie Regan Assistant Director, Student Success Services reagan_sm@tsu.edu 713-313-7462

Desmond Lewis FH room 161 lewis_dd@tsu.edu 713-313-7803

Stephanie Neveu TSI Coordinator neveusr@tsu.edu 713-313-4248