Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

TSI is a program mandated by Texas law, and its requirements apply to all students in Texas public colleges and universities.

In order to help students be successful in their academic careers, the TSI program evaluates each student's abilities in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics. Students are then assigned into the appropriate developmental coursework as necessary.


Exemptions from TSI

TOTAL EXEMPTION

You may earn total exemption from TSI testing if you satisfy all scoring requirements on one of the following tests:

 

SAT	1070 Combined	500 Math	500 Critical Reading
ACT	23 Composite	19 Math	19 English
TAKS	11th grade only	2200 Math	2200 ELA and 3 essay
Please note the following:
TAKS (11th-grade test only) - expires three years from test date. SAT, ACT - expire five years from test date.

PARTIAL EXEMPTION

You may earn partial exemption from TSI testing by meeting both the combined or composite score AND the subject score from the same testing date. For example:

• ACT 23 composite + 19 math = exempt from Math.
  
  
• SAT 1070 combined + 500 verbal = exempt from Reading and Writing.

It is possible to be totally exempt from TSI testing by combining partial exemptions.

If you meet the score requirements for English/Verbal, then you are exempt from testing in both writing and reading.

NOTE: 10th grade TAKS test scores may not be used for exemption; however, they may be used for concurrent/dual enrollment. Contact the Academic Advising Center at 939-468-5803 to find out more information and how this may apply to you.

Other exemptions:

• You possess an associate or baccalaureate degree.
• You are not a degree-seeking student.
• You have met collegiate readiness standards at another public college or university in Texas (must be documented on transcript or addendum).
  NOTE: Your TSI status must be resolved BEFORE you will be allowed to register for courses at SFA. If you are transferring from an accredited Texas public college or university you must supply a transcript with your TSI status clearly indicated. Please be aware that many electronic transcripts sent between institutions may not have all information needed, a printed official transcript is preferred. If this transcript does not state that you are TSI Complete or Exempt in one or more areas, you will be required to enroll in developmental courses at SFA regardless of earn college-credit.
• You have earned college-level credit from a private or out-of-state accredited higher education institution in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics with a grade of C or higher in each course.
  Note: Only certain courses may be used for this exemption, contact the Academic Advising Center to see if any of your courses may be used to satisfy this requirement.
• You are serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces, Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces and have been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.
• You have been honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces or the Texas National Guard on or after August 1, 1990.

  If you want to be considered exempt from testing by any of the above conditions, it is YOUR responsibility to provide official documentation to SFA's Office of Admissions. Most of the mentioned exemptions require a transcript, while the military exemptions require the form DD214. All exemptions are subject to verification by SFA's Academic Advising Center.

Please note: regardless of exemption, testing is required of students seeking admission into a teacher education program. Contact the College of Education for details.

TSI TESTING

If you are not completely exempt from testing, you must have TSI test scores on file prior to registration. You may take any of the following tests as many times as necessary: THEA, Quick-THEA, THEA-CAT, ACCUPLACER, ASSET, or COMPASS. Only the THEA, Quick-THEA, THEA-CAT and ACCUPLACER tests are given at SFA. Please note that you must wait 30 days between test dates if taking the same test.

When taking any of the THEA tests, you must indicate that you want your scores sent to SFA (SFA's school code is 283); your score is then automatically sent to us. When taking the other tests (ACCUPLACER, ASSET, or COMPASS), YOU will need to provide your official scores to us. You may send us your scores by fax at 936-468-7611 or by mail to Academic Advising Center, PO Box 6154, Nacogdoches, TX 75962; handwritten scores are not acceptable.

Note: Scores from any of the above tests must be verified and on file with the Academic Advising Center prior to enrolling in any collegiate-level coursework.

TEST SCORE REQUIREMENTS

RDG 098
College Reading - The reading process with emphasis on applying efficient, effective reading skills to a variety of college texts and reading tasks.

ENG 099
Developmental English - Critical thinking, reading and writing.

MTH 098
Fundamental mathematices - Applications involving fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportions; real numbers; linear equations; beginning algebra.

MTH 099
Intermediate Algebra - prepares the student for College Algebra.

 

READING
You must earn a "C" or better in RDG 098.

WRITING
You must earn a "C" or better in ENG 099.

MATH
You must earn a "C" or better in MTH 099.

 

TSI Complete will only be determined after grades are posted for the current semester. If you want to pre-register for the upcoming semester, then you will be required to register again for the failed TSI area. Once grades are posted, if you are TSI complete, you will need to contact the Academic Advising Center to have the course dropped from your schedule. Developmental courses will not be dropped automatically.

Students who are not college ready must be enrolled in developmental work immediately and continuously until they demonstrate college readiness with the following exception: developmental work in Math may be delayed until after developmental work in Reading has been completed.

You may not register for any credit-bearing course in English or Math until you have been designated as college ready in the discipline or are exempt from TSI.

Students who have completed 12 or more credit hours at SFA (exclusive of 098, 099) are not required to register for developmental courses during summer. Students with fewer credit hours must register for one developmental course during the first term of summer enrollment.

THEA Test
Go to http://www.thea.nesinc.com/ to obtain information on how to register, available test dates and locations, sample test questions, full-length practice version of the THEA Test and suggestions on testing. You may also order The Official THEA Test Study Guide.

ACCUPLACER Test
AT SFA the ACCUPLACER is administered on a frequent basis. You must reserve your seat at least one day in advance by calling the Testing Center at 936-468-3958.

If you have any questions or concerns about TSI, please do not hesitate to contact the Academic Advising Center at any time.