STARTing Off Right: TSI Advising

STARTing off Right: TSI Advising

UCAN MeetingFebruary 2011

A: TSI is a state law that applies to all undergraduate students at public colleges and universities in Texas. TSI requires students to demonstrate readiness in reading, math, and writing before enrolling in college-level coursework. This is called being “TSI Complete.”

Q: What is the Texas Success Initiative (TSI)?

A: Many first-year students show readiness through their SAT, ACT, or TAKS scores. Transfer students often show readiness through their previous college coursework. TSI considers students showing college readiness in this way to be exempt from further testing. Our website has specific information about the exemption criteria.

Q: How does TSI measure readiness in reading, writing, and math?

A: Students who are not exempt based on SAT / ACT / TAKS scores, must take a state-approved test (Accuplacer, Asset, Compass, or THEA) before they can register for classes.

The START Office offers the Accuplacer test before each Orientation and on a weekly basis when classes are in session.

Q: What about students who didn’t take SAT / ACT / TAKS?

What can they do to show TSI readiness?

A: Students can complete their TSI obligation for any of the three subject areas (reading, writing, or math) when the following sequence is completed:

1. The student re-takes the ACCUPLACER, ASSET, COMPASS, or THEA and passes.

(Students must wait at least 30 days between attempts.)

2. The student passes the prescribed developmental sequence. A grade of “D” is not considered a passing grade for developmental classes.

Q: What happens if a student doesn’t pass the Accuplacer?

Reading / Writing: TECM 1200 – Technical Communication

This is a combination of college-prep reading and writing designed for students who are not TSI Complete in reading and / or writing.

Students must complete this course with a C or better before taking any college-level ENGL or TECM course.

Math: NCTM 331 – Pre-Algebra (offered through NCTC) NCTM 351 – Beginning Algebra (offered through

NCTC) MATH 1010 – Fundamentals of Algebra

Q: What developmental courses does UNT offer?

TSI Holds in EIS

START Office Contact Information

Telephone Number: 940-565-4403

Location: Stovall Hall, Room 117

Website: http://www.unt.edu/academicreadiness