Kentucky Community and Technical College System
E-learning

Students enrolling in KCTCS colleges for the purpose of earning credit applicable toward an educational credential (certificate, diploma, associate degree) must demonstrate through the submission of scores on specified assessment instruments that they possess the minimum academic skills essential for success. Students who do not demonstrate these academic skills must remedy the identified skill deficiencies prior to enrolling in entry-level courses for which those skills are essential

Students who do not intend to seek an educational credential (non-degree) are exempt from taking the assessment instrument. However, all students must meet individual course pre-requisites such as those for entry-level English and mathematics courses.

This assessment and placement policy specifically applies to:

  • Degree-seeking students who will enroll in a KCTCS college for the first time in fall 2001 or later.
  • Students who intend to transfer to a university and are defined as degree-seeking
  • Students who are undecided about their choice of program
  • Transfer students who have not demonstrated academic skills appropriate for the educational credential they seek, either through assessment results or successful completion of relevant entry-level courses.
  • Students who change their status from non-credential seeking to credential-seeking and who have not demonstrated the academic skills appropriate for the educational credential they seek.
  • Students in certificate and diploma programs who will enroll in a KCTCS college for the first time in fall 2001 or later, except students in programs identified in Attachment 1.
4.13.1 General Provisions

Assessment instruments from ACT, Inc. are the preferred assessment instruments. However, SAT scores will be accepted in lieu of ACT scores. SAT scores cannot be used to determine placement in developmental courses. Minimum admission scores in reading , English, and mathematics are included in each placement chart to indicate the level of academic skills required for placement in KCTCS courses and programs.

Students with disabilities may request accommodation consistent with the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Students who are undecided about their choice of program may be eligible for financial aid programs. Students who do not intend to seek a credential (non-degree) are not eligible for financial aid.
4.13.1.1 Associate Degree-Seeking Students
For students seeking any associate degree, a minimum score of 18 on the ACT in reading, mathematics, and English qualifies the student to enroll in the appropriate entry-level course in the discipline. For students who do not submit ACT scores or whose ACT scores are below the minimum for placement into entry-level courses, refer to the mathematics, reading, and English charts for the relevant COMPASS or ASSET score and associated course placement. Students whose COMPASS or ASSET scores are below the level for placement in developmental courses will be referred to adult basic education services.

MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT AND COURSE PLACEMENT
ACT
COMPASS Algegra Domain
ASSET
Community Colleges
Technical
College
20 or Higher
48-100
El. Alg. 45-55
Int. Alg. 40-55
MT 150 or any course listed below
Entry level courses
19
41-47
El. Alg. 43-44
Int. Alg. 39
MA 150 with MT 100 or any course listed below
Entry level courses
18
35-40
El. Alg. 41-42
Int. Alg. 38
MT 145, MT 150 with MT 100, or any course listed below
Entry level courses
30-34
El. Alg. 39-40
Int. Alg. 36-37

MT 120, MT 122,
MT 105, MT 110,
MT 115, MT 125 or any course listed below
Courses to be identified
16-29
El. Alg. 23-38
Int. Alg. 23-35
MT 065 or MT 055
Courses to be identified
COMPASS Pre-algebra Domain
  41-100
N. Skills 42-55
MT 065 or MT 055
Remedial Mathematics (ARI 030)
  17-40
N. Skills 29-41
MT 055
   
N. Skills 23-28
Refer to Adult Basic Education
Refer to Adult Basic Education
   
   
READING ASSESSMENT AND COURSE PLACEMENT
 
Compass
ASSET
Community Colleges
Technical Colleges
 
ACT 18 or above
COMPASS 81-100
ACT 18 or above ASSET 42 - 55
Entry-level courses
Entry-level courses
 
COMPASS 70-80
ASSET 38 - 41
RDG030

Remedial Reading (ARI 020), RDG 010, RDG 020, RDG 030
 
COMPASS 51-69
ASSET 34 - 37
RDG020
 
COMPASS 44-50
ASSET 23 - 33
RDG010
 
ENGLISH ASSESSMENT AND COURSE PLACEMENT
 
Compass
ASSET
Community Colleges
Technical Colleges
 
ACT 18 or above
COMPASS 70-100
ACT 18 or above ASSET 41 - 54
ENG 101
Entry-level course
 
COMPASS 38-69
ASSET 35 - 40
ENC 091
Developmental Writing (ARI 010)
 
COMPASS 21-37
ASSET 23 - 34
Enc 090
 
COMPASS 14-20
Refer to Adult Basic Education
Refer to Adult Basic Education
Note: During the Stage I implementation period (2001-2002 and 2002 - 2003) students who place into RDG 030 will be permitted to enroll in selected entry-level courses.

Note: Students may be advised to enroll in ENC 092 (Writing Laboratory) concurrent with their enrollment in ENG 101 if they have completed ENC 091 and need the assistance provided by the writing laboratory.

4.13.1.2 Certificate and Diploma-Seeking Students

As stipulated in the CPE administrative regulation on admission (13KAR 2:020), KCTCS has determined cut-off scores for placing students in certificate and diploma programs. Certificate and diploma programs with their cut-off scores are presented in Attachment 2 (COMPASS) and Attachment 3 (WorkKeys). Colleges may exempt students enrolled in selected certificate and diploma programs from assessment and placement in mathematics, English, and reading by using the waiver process described below.


4.13.2 Special Provisions

4.13.2.1 Students with Borderline Scores

KCTCS colleges may place students seeking a credential who score below the system-wide standard into an entry-level college course, if the course offers supplementary academic support, such as extra class sessions, additional labs, tutoring, and increased monitoring of students, beyond that which is usually associated with an entry-level course. Students whose COMPASS score is within three points of the minimum admission level for the desired course or program and who have taken the diagnostic portion of the relevant subtest(s) may enroll in the course or program.

4.13.2.2 Waivers

College districts may establish procedures to exempt students from placement determinations based on assessment results. The procedure must include the conditions under which a waiver will be granted. COMPASS scores may be waived for students applying for certificate or diploma programs whose WorkKeys scores at or within one level identified through the WorkKeys program profile. The college must identify the students who are granted a waiver and the reason for the waiver. The college district's waiver policy must be on file in the college and system Academic Affairs Office.

4.13.2.3 High School Students

Alternative 1: High school students may enroll in KCTCS courses under collaborative dual credit and articulation agreements that contain alternative assessment and placement procedures. Collaborative agreements may be at the college district level or systemwide.
Alternative 2: Individual high school students may enroll in KCTCS courses according to the same standards as college students.

4.13.2.4 English as a Second Language (ESL)

Some KCTCS colleges offer instruction to non-native English speakers. The ESL portion of the ACT/COMPASS (reading and grammar/usage) should be administered to non-native English speakers to determine appropriate placement in entry-level or ESL courses. ESL students will take COMPASS for mathematics placement.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
READING ASSESSMENT AND COURSE PLACEMENT

92-99 Entry-level course

80-91 ESL 053 (High-Intermediate Reading for Non-Native Speakers)

65-79 ESL 052 (Improved College Reading for Low-Intermediate Non-Native Speakers

38-64 ESL 051 (Introduction to College Reading for Non-Native Speakers

1-37 Refer to Adult Basic Education

ENGLISH (GRAMMAR/USAGE) ASSESSMENT AND COURSE PLACEMENT

94-99 ENG 101

84-93 ESL 063 (Foundations of College Writing III for Non-Native Speakers)

63-83 ESL 062 (Foundations of College Writing II for Non- Native Speakers)

42-62 ESL 061 (Foundations of College Writing I for Non-Native Speakers)

1-41 Refer to Adult Basic Education

Note: Grammar and usage scores are to be used in conjunction with a writing sample.