1. All students must have taken an approved assessment test prior to registration at Texas A&M University-Commerce or be otherwise exempt from assessment. If a student does not have assessment scores at the time of registration, he/she will be referred to Student Assessment and Testing to complete an assessment or placement test. Students who have registered to take a future assessment test may enroll conditionally for one semester. If their scores are not available by the end of the first enrolled semester, they will not be allowed to register for future semesters until the scores are reported. Each incoming student whose assessment scores indicate a deficiency will work with an academic/faculty advisor to create an individualized developmental education plan for academic success.
2. Students with a documented learning disability apply for assistance with the Disability Resources and Services Office. The documentation may be no more than two years old. Once approved by the Academic Support Committee, the student will complete any developmental coursework that is required based upon assessment scores. Once the student has completed the prescribed developmental sequence with a grade of “C” or better, he/she will have completed the TSI requirements.
3. Students are expected to follow the developmental sequence as prescribed by A&M-Commerce, although exceptions may be made to allow students to enroll in non-course-based developmental activities (i.e., tutoring) on a temporary basis.
4. Students who are eligible for an exemption according to the Texas Success Initiative shall take a placement test to determine entry-level course work in the three skill areas if the exemption is not based upon a test score or a college-level course with a grade of “C” or better.
5. Students who have not completed college-level course work in the three skill areas and who have assessment scores that are more than two years old shall test in the area(s) not completed using an approved university placement instrument.

1. All students, including those enrolled in developmental courses, are advised on appropriate course placement by an assigned advisor until they have:
   a) successfully completed the requirements of TSI; and
   b. met with a faculty advisor to declare a major
2. Students who have not declared a major by the time they have completed TSI requirements will engage in career advising to assist them in choosing and declaring majors.
3. Students who have declared a major are assigned to a faculty advisor with whom they consult before each registration period. The faculty advisor is responsible for making changes to degree audits so that students will have an accurate account of course requirements remaining in their degree programs.

1. A&M-Commerce students shall begin the developmental education program immediately upon having failed one or more sections of an assessment test. Exceptions are made only for non-degree and part-time students. If a student changes from non-degree to degree-seeking status, he/she must comply with all TSI policies.
2. Students must follow the developmental course sequence as prescribed by A&M-Commerce on their Individual Developmental Plan. Placement in developmental courses is based upon assessment/placement scores.
3. After a student has completed the developmental sequence, he/she shall enroll in and complete a related college-level course the next semester of enrollment. (see approved reading, math, and writing course lists.*)

Developmental Education Program Sequence

A&M-Commerce places students in math and English courses based on their assessment scores. Students who have failed one or more sections of an assessment are placed immediately into a course-based developmental program. A&M-Commerce offers three (3) levels of non-credit (NC) developmental math and two (2) levels of non-credit developmental English:

Intermediate Algebra 131 (Course based-highest level-3 sch NC)
Elementary Algebra 306 (Course based-mid-level-3 sch NC)
Math Skills 300 (Course based-lowest level-3 sch NC)

English 110 (Course based developmental highest level-2 sch NC)
English 100 (Course based developmental-highest level-4 sch NC)

Tutoring 101 (Non-course based developmental for Writing-alternative)
Tutoring 102 (Non-course based developmental for Reading-alternative)
Tutoring 103 (Non-course based developmental for Math-alternative)

Successful Completion of Developmental Work

A&M-Commerce defines successful completion of developmental work as earning a “C” or better in a prescribed course. If the student does not earn a grade of “C” or better, he/she will be required to repeat the course. A student with one failure in a developmental course is placed on developmental probation, which limits the student to 14 semester credit hours and requires him/her to repeat the course. Two failures in a developmental course places the student on developmental suspension—a one-year suspension from the university. Students may appeal the suspension on the grounds of extenuating circumstances that contributed to the course failure.

Monitoring Students’ Success in Appropriate Developmental Education Course

Success is monitored in all developmental courses in the following manner:

1. Students are apprised of the importance of attendance to their success at Texas A&M University-Commerce when they register for classes;
2. instructors of developmental courses report absences and unsatisfactory grades to the TSI Coordinator;
3. The TSI Coordinator distributes the lists to each College advisor; and
4. Each College advisor contacts students by mail and includes a list of recommended campus resources that can help the student with any problems. The advisor also warns the student that non-attendance could lead to developmental probation or developmental suspension.

Transfer Students

Transfer students from other Texas public institutions who have not passed all sections of an assessment or have not met the TSI readiness standard will be required to take appropriate developmental courses. Out-of-state or private college transfer students will be required to pass all parts of an assessment unless they are transferring approved courses in the three skill areas with a grade of “C” or better.

Test Instruments and Performance Levels

The Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) will be the preferred assessment instrument for placing in developmental math, developmental English, as well as college-level math and English.

A&M-Commerce places students who pass both the reading and writing sections of THEA and those who are exempt from assessment into college-level English composition, whereas, we place those who fail either the reading or writing sections into developmental English as specified.

Students who score 270 or above in THEA math will be placed into Math 141, Math 175 or Math 179. Students who score below 270 will be placed into the appropriate developmental math class. Those who score below 270 have the option of taking a math placement test to place into a higher-level math; however, those who do not score at least 230 on the THEA math may not place higher than intermediate algebra. Students who are exempt from assessment will be placed into a math class according to the Basic Skills Placement chart for Exempt Students. Exempt students who are placed into intermediate algebra have the option of taking a math placement test to place into college algebra.

The passing standards and placement for other assessment instruments:

*An essay score of 6 or 7 with any objective score is passing
*An essay score without an objective score is failing

*An essay score of 6 or 7 with any objective score is passing
*An essay score without an objective score is failing

Students who fail both reading and writing sections on an assessment are placed into English 100, a course-based developmental education program for a minimum of one semester.

Students who pass the writing, but failed the reading, on an assessment may enroll in English 110 (developmental) with English 101 (credit course in Freshman Composition).

Students must complete the developmental sequence before enrolling in approved college-related courses.

1. Completion of a Developmental Program
   Students have successfully completed the developmental program when they have completed the described sequence with grades of “C” or better.
2. Students who have previously scored below the TSI deviation standard in one or more areas shall retest in the failed area(s) using any approved assessment instrument.
3. Students who initially scored within the deviation standard in one or more areas will not be required to retest in that area(s).
4. Students who retest and pass failed area(s) will be designated as having completed TSI requirements.
5. Students who retest and score within the deviation standard will be designated as TSI complete.
6. Students who retest and score below the deviation standard must make a grade of “C” or better in a related college-level course from the approved course list before the institution will designate them as TSI complete.
7. Students who fail to earn a “C” or better in a related approved college-level course will be required to meet with the Academic Advisor in their college to discuss their future at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
8. Students can opt to retest at any time.

Mechanisms and Standards to Evaluate and Measure the Effectiveness of the Program

Two mechanisms are used to measure the effectiveness of the Texas A&M University-Commerce developmental program:

1. Each semester, the TSI coordinator will prepare and submit a report to the Provost and college deans. The report will be used to monitor the measures of effectiveness and will contain, but will not be limited to, the following information:
   • Passing rates of students in each developmental course section;
   • Success rates of students who have completed developmental sequence and have completed
   college-level course work; and
   • Retention rates of students.
2. Annually, the Provost will review all data and, if necessary, develop an action plan focusing on quality enhancement of the developmental education program.

*Approved Related College-Level Courses

Approved Reading courses

• History 121, 122
• English 201, 202, 203, 204
• Political Science 220, 221
• Psychology 131
• Sociology 111

Approved Writing courses

• English 101
• English 102

Approved Math courses

• Math 141
• Math175
• Math 179
• Higher-level math courses