The purpose of this policy is to identify the process by which students are placed in the appropriate level English, reading, and mathematics courses. Arkansas state law requires that all first-time entering degree or technical certificate seeking students demonstrate proficiency in these areas or be placed in courses/programs that will help students prepare for college-level coursework. The minimum test scores used for placement were established by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. A student may retest on one or more sections of a placement exam after a minimum of 30 days in order to allow time for the person to study before attempting the exam again. The Director of Student Development may make an exception to this where special circumstances exist. Placement score requirements are as follows:
Reading Course Placement
| Course | ACT Reading | Accuplacer Next Generation Reading | GED Reasoning Through Language Arts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Level Courses |
19-36 - or - 13-18 w/ Approved High School GPA1 |
237-300
|
Minimum of 165 Reasoning Through Language Arts | |
| Integrated Reading and Writing | 0-18 | 200-236 | Not Applicable2 | |
** Free Adult Education Program available to improve reading skills.
Students who test into Reading Improvement must enroll in Reading Improvement during their first or second semester in college and each subsequent semester, if necessary, until the course is completed with at least a grade of “C.”
Integrated Reading and Writing is a prerequisite for English composition I for students who score below 19 on the ACT Reading or below 237 on the Accuplacer Next Generation Reading, unless the student meets the high school GPA requirements. Students must successfully complete Integrated Reading and Writing with a “C” or better to enroll in English Composition I when test scores require.
1High School Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher AND a grade of “B” or higher in English 12 (413000) or higher-level English course.
2Alternate placement examination scores required.
English Course Placement
| Course | ACT English | Accuplacer Next Generation Writing | GED Reasoning Through Language Arts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Level (English Comp I) |
19-36 – or – 13-18 w/ approved High School GPA1 AND 19-36 in Reading – or – 13-18 in Reading w/ Approved High School GPA1 |
250-300 in Writing AND 237-300 in Reading - or – 220-236 in Reading w/ approved High School GPA1 |
Minimum of 165 in Reasoning Through Language Arts |
|
| English Comp I w/ Writing Studio | 13-18 | 237-249 | Not Applicable 2 | |
| Integrated Reading and Writing | 0-12 | 200-236 | Not Applicable2 | |
| Writing for the Workplace | 16+ | 237+ | Not Applicable2 |
1High School Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher AND a grade of “B” or higher in English 12 (413000) or higher-level English course.
2Alternate placement examination scores required.
Math Course Placement
| Course | ACT Math | Accuplacer Next Generation, Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) | GED Mathematical Reasoning |
| College Level Mathematics (Quantitative Literacy or College Algebra) |
19-36 - or - 17-18 w/ approved High School GPA1 |
264-300 | Minimum of 165 in Mathematical Reasoning |
| College Level Math with Support** | 17-18 | 249-263 | Not Applicable2 |
| Essentials of Math | 12-16 | 200-248 | Not Applicable2 |
| Technical Math | 12+ | 200+ | Not Applicable2 |
1High School Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher AND a grade of “B” or higher in Algebra II (432000) or higher-level math course.
2Alternate placement examinations scores required.
**College Algebra with co-requisite MTH 0001 Math Skills -or- Quantitative Literacy with co-requisite MTH 0021 Math for Life