Students who provide ACT, SAT or CPT scores (two years current) below the scores required to enter college level courses must enroll in college preparatory courses. These courses include reading comprehension, communication skills, basic math and introduction to algebra. Enrollment in the preparatory program is based on placement scores. Grades earned in college preparatory courses will not count toward graduation nor will they be calculated into the grade point average, however they are calculated in the SPA for financial aid purposes. Students are permitted to enroll in college preparatory instruction concurrently with credit instruction in courses for which they are qualified. College preparatory students may not enroll in the following categories of college credit courses while completing their college preparatory course work:
- College preparatory students who are deficient in mathematics
may not enroll in any college-level mathematics courses or courses
that require mathematics skills beyond the skill level of the student.
- College preparatory students who are deficient in English and/or
reading skills may not enroll in English or humanities courses that
meet the Gordon Rule requirements, or any course that requires communication
skills beyond the skill level of the student.
- College preparatory students who are deficient in all three areas may enroll in college-level courses such as college success courses or courses that are not dependent on college-level computation and communication skills.
College preparatory reading comprehension focuses on vocabulary development, literal reading skills, and basic critical reading. College preparatory communication skills emphasize grammar, punctuation, usage and basic elements of sentence style, the paragraph, and the essay. Basic math is designed to teach students arithmetic skills necessary for introduction to algebra. The topics include whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, measurements, area, perimeter, volume, operations with integers, simple equations, and formulas. Introduction to algebra follows basic math and is also a preparatory course. This course focuses on signed numbers, formulas, polynomials, rationales, radicals, factoring, and graphing. It provides the necessary foundation for intermediate algebra.
Students are allowed up to three attempts at each college preparatory course. Withdrawal from a college preparatory course after the last day to drop and receive a refund counts as an attempt. Since the state will fund only two college preparatory attempts, students will pay the full tuition cost, equal to out-of-state tuition, on the third attempt.
For more information regarding the college preparatory program, placement testing, test scores and/or placement, please contact your Advisor or Center Director.
College Preparatory Rule
Rule 6A-10.0315(14) states that students enrolled in college preparatory courses may be permitted to take courses concurrently in other curriculum areas for which they are qualified. Students who test into college prep instruction must successfully complete the required college preparatory studies by the time they have accumulated 12 hours of college credit course work OR students must maintain continuous enrollment in college preparatory course work each semester until the requirements are completed while performing satisfactorily in the degree earning course work. College preparatory students who are deficient in all three areas (reading, English and math) may enroll in college-level courses such as college success courses or courses that are not dependent on college-level computation and communication skills. Upon successful completion of remediation, students then qualify to enroll in college-level courses. For further information please contact your Advisor or Center Directors.