TSI ADVISING FOR UT ARLINGTON
Audra L. Sneed, Ph.D.,Texas Success Initiative Liaison
Adraine Jones, TSI Advisor
UT Arlington
UT Arlington Student Website: www.uta.edu/tsi
OVERVIEW
Exemptions
Assessment
Advising
Development
UPDATES! NEW TSI ASSESSMENT TIMELINE

Implementation Date: Institution’s first class day AY 2013-2014
(e.g., August 27, 2013)

Timeline:

Field test content items (R,W,M)—fall 2012

Field test content items (ABE)—fall 2012/spring 2013

Standard Setting—Jan/Feb. 2013

Board approval of Standards—April 2013

IHE Training—May-August 2013

AY 2013-2014—establishment of DE/ABE populations

**On August 22, 2013, any student not enrolled, MUST take TSI
assessment test. (Could impact our add/drop processes)
EXEMPTIONS – SAT, ACT
SAT and ACT scores good for five years
 Mix-and-match exemptions: Can be exempt for
only one section

If exempt for one section, still liable to take an approved
test.
 Must have passed THEA or other alternative test in that
area


SAT
Writing and Reading: a combined verbal and mathematics
score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the verbal test
 Math: a combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070
with a minimum of 500 on the math test


ACT
Writing and Reading: composite score of 23 with a
minimum of 19 on the English test
 Math: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the
Math test

EXEMPTIONS –TAKS
 TAKS scores good for three years
 Mix-and-match exemptions: Can be
exempt for
only one section
 If exempt for one section, still liable to take
an approved test.
 Must have passed THEA or other
alternative test in that area
 Writing: Essay score of 3 (must provide
student score report to be exempt or show
the passing score on High School
transcript)
 Reading: 2200 on English Language Arts
section
 Math: 2200 on Math section
 No word on STARR exemption (~2015-16)
EXEMPTIONS – MILITARY

A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the
armed forces of the United States, the Texas National
Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the
armed forces of the United States and has been serving for
at least three years preceding enrollment


Each student will provide official documentation to Audra
Sneed, Success Initiative Liaison. For active duty military, a
letter from the CO will be required showing at least 3 years of
active duty service
A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably
discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a
member of the armed forces of the United States or the
Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve
component of the armed forces of the United States

Each student will provide official documentation to Audra
Sneed, Success Initiative Liaison. For discharged or retired
military, a “long form” DD214 will be required
EXEMPTIONS – PRIOR ACADEMIC
EXPERIENCE (TRANSFER STUDENTS)

Students who have graduated with an associate or
baccalaureate degree from a Texas state school


Includes technical degrees
Students who transfer from a private or out-of-state IHE and
who have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework
Completion in Reading and Writing is fulfilled with a grade of
C or higher in ENGL 1301, 1302; any 4 credit hour course
with similar requirements; or two, 2 credit hour courses from
an institution on the quarter system ( see approved course
lists for more course)
 Completion in Math is fulfilled with a grade of C or higher in
College Algebra ( see approved course lists for more course)


Students who have attended any institution and have been
determined to have met readiness standards by that
institution. In order to prove completion, student must show
academic advisor a copy of transcript with the TSI completion
status on the transcript. NO EXCEPTIONS.
EXEMPTIONS- NON-DEGREE SEEKING
 For
Transient students (will have official
transient status through Admissions)
 For students that are considered nondegree seeking:
Foreign exchange students, Second
Baccalaureate
 For other special circumstance (i.e. Katrina
students)


Approval granted by UAC Director (TSI Liaison)
ASSESSMENT
Required prior to enrolling in courses
 THEA
 Accuplacer
 Compass
 Asset
 MAPS (historically accepted test)

ASSESSMENT TSI UPDATE

August 22, 2013: One assessment instrument and one
set of standards (cut-scores) that cannot be raised

If a student passes the new TSI assessment test, they are
college ready and able to enroll in College Algebra. Student
cannot be forced to take MAT for placement.

Exception: If a student wants placement in higher level math course
above College Algebra, then they can be required to take the MAT or
other math placement determined by the Math department.
ASSESSMENT PASSING STANDARDS
ASSET
COMPASS
Reading Skills
41
Reading
Comprehension
78
Elementary
Algebra
38
Elementary
Algebra
63
Writing Skills
(objective)
40
Sentence Skills
80
Written Essay
6
Written Essay
6
Reading Skills
81
Algebra
39
Writing Skills
(objective)
59
Written Essay
6
ACCUPLACER
THEA
Reading
230
Math
230
Writing
220
○The minimum passing standard for the written essay portion of all tests is a score of 6.
However, an essay with a score of 5 will meet this standard if the student meets the
objective writing test standard.
WHEN SHOULD A STUDENT TEST?

A student should be referred to testing by
the TSI Advisor or a UAC advisor:

If you meet with a student and think they need to test, refer them
to the UAC to meet with the TSI advisor. The TSI advisor will
them make the referral if necessary.
ADVISEMENT- MEETS TSI STANDARDS

Student will be advised to register for college
level coursework if they meet on of the
exemptions or pass TSI approved assessment
test.
ADVISEMENT- DOES NOT MEET TSI
STANDARDS
DEVELOPMENT COMPLETION AT
ANOTHER INSTITUTION
If student completes highest level development at another
institution, they are complete of their developmental
requirements at UT Arlington. (Must be a C or better in
Intermediate Algebra)
o In order to prove completion, students must submit a copy
of transcript with the TSI completion status on the
transcript to Office of Admissions. NO EXCEPTIONS.
(According to state law all Texas public institutions are
required to document TSI status on their transcripts, for the
sole purpose listed above)
o Out of state/Out of area students: Refer these students to
Penny Lock, TSI Advisor: pylock@uta.edu
o
WHAT IF NOT DEVELOPMENT
COMPLETE?
o
Students are required by law to complete
developmental courses if they fail to meet TSI
college readiness requirements as outlined.
Student must test first. If they pass, they will be
allowed to enroll in college level course.
o If they fail, they must enroll in a developmental
course at UTA only. No term exemptions, no waivers,
or exceptions.
o

Any student enrolled at UT Arlington must take UT
Arlington developmental courses. Student are not
allowed to concurrently enroll at other institutions
when their TSI status is not complete.
CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT COMPLETION
REQUIREMENTS

Students MUST register for developmental courses at UT Arlington if they are TSI not
complete and are not allowed to drop or withdraw from the developmental course.
st
 1 Semester of Noncompliance – Hold will be placed on students record and
student will not be allowed to register for next enrollment period until they speak
with an advisor in the UAC.
nd Semester of Noncompliance- Hold will be placed on students record and student
 2
will not be allowed to register for next enrollment period until they speak with an
advisor in the UAC. Student will be warned that they have one more semester to
get compliant or their enrollment at UT Arlington will be limited.
nd Semester of Noncompliance. Student will be required to complete
 After 2
his/her TSI status at a community college and will not be allowed to re-enroll at
UT Arlington until TSI status is confirmed on official transcript from a community
college/university in Texas. If student happens to have out of state coursework we
will look at the coursework to determine if he/she meets TSI compliance through
the out of state coursework.
Noncompliance is defined as failing to enroll in developmental course, dropping/withdrawing
from developmental course, or receiving a failing grade in the developmental course student is
enrolled in.
**This ensures that UTA is in compliance with its obligation to make sure students become
college ready and protects UTA from auditing periods by the state.
MATH DEVELOPMENT COURSES

Required courses:



Passing Standard:



Math 0301 – THEA score of 219 or lower, or failed
Asset, Compass, Accuplacer
Math 0302 – THEA score of 220-229
Grade of 70 or higher passing
Grade of 60-69 receives a Z grade
Attendance Requirements:

Final grade affected by attendance for quizzes and
exams
READING AND WRITING DEVELOPMENT
COURSES
 Required

courses:
ENGL 0300

ENGL 301 has been discontinued currently

Passing Standard:


Grade of 70 or higher passing
Z grade at discretion of instructor
 Attendance

Requirements:
Final grade affected by attendance
COURSE RESTRICTIONSStudents with a TSI failure in a particular area
are restricted from taking the following courses
until such time as the student is determined to
be college ready in that area:
 Mathematics:
 Any mathematics course at the level of MATH
1302 or higher, or Math 1308 or higher,
including MATH 1301, CHEM 1441, CHEM
1465, BIOL 1441, ECON 2305, ECON 2306
Reading:
 ENGL 1301, ENGL 1302, HIST 1311, HIST
1312, POLS 2311, POLS 2312, PSYC 1315, SOCI
1311, ECON 2305, ECON 2306

DEVELOPMENT COMPLETION
Once student passes development, TSI
requirements completed
 Development completion immediately noted in
system with a passing grade in development
course

Advisors should encourage them to
enroll in the next-level course
immediately following development