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Beginning in 1985, all Tennessee Board of Regents universities, colleges, and technical institutes implemented the Developmental Studies Program as a condition for enrollment. All policies and procedures for assessment and placement under this program have been implemented at Motlow State Community College along with a full complement of basic and developmental courses. The purpose of this program is threefold: (1) identify students who are under-prepared for college-level studies, (2) provide programs of instruction designed to remove academic deficiencies, and (3) prepare students for entry into the college-level curriculum.
DSP ASSESSMENT AND PLACEMENT PROCEDURES
The provisions for assessment and placement apply to all degree-seeking applicants, some returning/readmit students, and special students for credit. Additionally, other students enrolling in English or mathematics for the first time are subject to assessment/placement requirements in the applicable discipline. Listed below are applicant categories subject to assessment/placement provisions:
- Applicants who are under twenty-one (21) years of age must take the American College Test (ACT). Applicants whose ACT composite scores and English and mathematics sub-scores are 19 or greater may enroll in regular college curriculum without assessment/placement providing they have met high school criteria under the 1989 Admissions Requirements (see section entitled "Removing Unit Deficiencies" for information on removing high school deficiencies in English and mathematics). Applicants whose ACT composite scores are 18 or less may take the reading portion
of the COMPASS test. Applicants whose ACT sub-scores in English are 18 or less may take the writing composition portion of the COMPASS test. Applicants whose ACT sub-scores in mathematics are 18 or less may take the appropriate mathematics portions of the COMPASS test. Only ACT scores which are on file in the Office of Admissions and Records at the time of admission will be considered. ACT scores must be less than three years old as of the first day of the admitting term. Performance on the COMPASS test results in either placement in the regular college
curriculum, developmental studies, basic studies, or a combination of these.
- Applicants who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older as of the first day of classes of their admitting term and who seek regular admission must take all portions of the COMPASS test. Although students 21 years of age or older are not required to present ACT or SAT scores, those who elect to submit valid scores will be screened for assessment according to the regulations applying to students under 21 years of age. Performance on the COMPASS test results in either placement in the regular college curriculum, developmental studies, basic studies, or a combination of these.
- Returning or readmit students and transfer students who have not previously been assessed or who have not earned college-level credits in English composition or college-level, algebra-based mathematics must take the appropriate portion(s) of the COMPASS test before they can enroll unless they are under 21 years of age and otherwise exempt by ACT scores. Performance on the COMPASS test results in either placement in the regular college course, developmental course, or a basic course.
- Special Students for Credit who accrue twelve (12) or more semester hours or who enroll in English or mathematics for the first time must take the appropriate portion of the COMPASS test before enrolling. Performance on the COMPASS test results in either placement in a college level course, developmental course, or a basic course.
- Applicants who graduated from high school spring 1989 or after and who lack required high school credits in English or mathematics must take the appropriate portions of the COMPASS test and enroll in the course(s) prescribed by test results or provide a valid ACT with composite score of 26 or greater (see section entitled "Undergraduate Admissions Requirements")
- Applicants seeking the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree who have GED equivalency diplomas must take all portions of the COMPASS test to remove English and math high school unit deficiencies. Performance on the COMPASS test results either in placement in the regular college course, a developmental course, or a basic course.
Students who gain regular admission to the college without assessment and who later prove to be underprepared
for college level work will be referred to the program director for assessment in the appropriate area.
Students who are referred and assessed must enroll in the course(s) appropriate to their assessment results.
Referred students who are enrolled in a college level course for which they lack prerequisite skills must drop that
course and re-enroll in the appropriate basic or developmental level course. Students who have previously taken
the AAPP test must take the COMPASS test (or portions of it) if their previous test scores are three or more years
old and if the students have not completed their placement requirements at the admitting institution or any other
TBR institution. Referred students must comply with all operational guidelines relevant to their progression through
the Developmental Studies Program.
Exceptions to mandatory assessment and placement may be granted in individual cases in which a
student's level of readiness into college level course(s) is not considered detrimental to his/her academic
progression. Such exception from mandatory assessment/placement will be permitted only after thorough
evaluation of student records and documented performance. Recommendation for exception will be made by the
DSP Director and granted, after further review, by the Dean of Humanities and Social Science. All exceptions will
be adequately documented by the program director.
DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM TEST: COMPASS
Beginning fall, 1999, the Developmental Studies Program implemented the COMPASS
test to assess students for college level readiness. COMPASS is a computer adaptive
testing system which assesses students to determine their academic readiness
in reading, writing, and mathematics. The test experience is conducted on a computerized
format using interactive response software specially designed to determine academic
readiness and to record student results in institutional records for appropriate
placement. The reading skills portion of the COMPASS is designed to measure the
student's reading comprehension. This component assesses the student's
ability to recognize appropriate vocabulary, to isolate main ideas, locate explicit textual information, and to draw
inferences. This test also provides a reader profile to assist instructional programming. The writing skills
component assesses the student's knowledge of mechanics, language, and rhetorical skills. The mathematics
portion measures the student's ability to solve problems in pre-algebra/numeric
skills, elementary algebra, and intermediate algebra.
The COMPASS is not a pass/fail test. Test results do not determine whether or
not a student is admitted to the college. Instead, test results determine which
courses are best suited to the student's level of readiness. Each
test component has a separate score which determines student placement. Students
who transfer to other Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institutions may have
their test results forwarded. Additionally, test results are included in student
transfer information sent to other TBR institutions.
The COMPASS test is provided free of charge to all students who require assessment. Students who take
the COMPASS test and feel their test results have placed them incorrectly may challenge their initial placement
score and re-take the test or portions of the test. The college charges a $10 test challenge fee for each portion of
the test or $20 to challenge the entire test. Challenge fees should be paid when the challenge test is taken.
Challenge test scores replace original or most recent test scores; students must comply with placement scores from
most recent tests. Students may not challenge the test or any portion of the test once they have enrolled in a DSP
course or earned a letter grade in the course. Exceptions to these guidelines must be approved through the DSP
Director and appropriate division deans.
COMPASS is given regularly throughout the year at Motlow's main campus, at the
teaching centers at McMinnville and Fayetteville, and at other teaching sites
as the need arises. In circumstances where local computer support is not available
and the COMPASS test cannot be used , the ASSET test will be administered. The
ASSET is a traditional, booklet and answer sheet, multiple choice test whose
results are correlated to the same placement values as the COMPASS.
Special test accommodations are available for students who require other than standard conditions for
taking the test. There is no fee for the COMPASS. The DSP Director should be contacted for information about the
test and test dates.
BASIC/DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES
A component of the Developmental Studies Program is a series of basic and developmental level courses
in writing, mathematics, reading, and study skills. These courses are designed to assist students who need
preparation for college-level work. Basic and developmental studies courses provide learning experiences which
help students succeed in their college level courses.
BASIC COURSES
Basic Studies is a program of instruction that leads to proficiency in the academic
skills defined and assessed by the Tennessee State Department of Education in
the Tennessee Competency Assessment Program (TCAP). Applicants who are placed
in basic studies will be admitted to the college on a controlled admissions basis
and will be required to complete appropriate basic courses. Following completion
of required basic courses, students are required to complete successfully all
corresponding developmental courses before enrolling in collegelevel courses.
Basic courses may not be taken for audit. See section entitled "Basic and Developmental
Curriculum".
DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES
Developmental studies is a program of instruction designed to provide students
a level of proficiency in the Basic Academic Competencies described by the Educational
Equality Project of the College Board as required for successful pursuit of college
studies. Applicants who are placed in developmental studies will be admitted
to the college on a controlled admission basis. Applicants who are found to be
deficient in a basic academic competency at the level of developmental studies
may not enroll in a regular college-level course which requires that competency
as a prerequisite until the exit criteria of the appropriate developmental studies
course have been met. Developmental courses may not be taken for audit. See section
entitled "Basic and Developmental Curriculum".
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