English Placement Test

All freshman students are required to take six hours of Freshman English. Some of you may have already fulfilled all or part of these requirements. Others of you will either take the Freshman English or Basic Writing. Which of these two courses you take will be based upon your TASP, ACT, and/or SAT tests.

The state sets minimum standards on the TASP for state purposes, but universities are permitted to set their own standards to determine placement of incoming Freshman in English, math, and reading courses. We have learned from many years of experience that passing the TASP does not necessarily mean that you are ready for Freshman courses. Therefore, we use the ACT, SAT, and our own placement test to better place students initially.

If you failed the Writing portion of TASP, you will be enrolled in ENGL 1003.

If you passed the Writing portion of TASP, and scored at least a 500 on the SAT verbal OR at least a 19 on the ACT english, then you will be assigned to ENGL 1113.

Otherwise, you will be required to take the Writing placement test. The placement test involves reading a passage and then writing an essay about that passage. Based upon your placement test results, you will be placed in Freshman English (ENGL 1113) or Basic Writing (ENGL 1003).

During the first 2 days of the fall semester, students in ENGL 1003 will be given another chance to write an essay which will be graded. If you score well enough, you will be allowed to move to ENGL 1113. The point is that you will have two opportunities to achieve placement in ENGL 1113.

One final point: Tarleton's developmental program was recognized by the State Higher Education Coordinating Board as one of the leading such programs in the state. So if you are placed in ENGL 1003, be aware that you will be given top-rated instruction that will strive to prepare you for Freshman English. Of course, only you can do the work.

Algebra Placement Test

All students must satisfy the core curriculum requirement in Mathematics: one course in College Algebra or higher. Freshman are required to take Mathematics upon admission to Tarleton and be continuously enrolled in Mathematics until this core curriculum requirement is satisfied.

Your placement in a Mathematics course will depend on your TASP score. If you failed the math portion of TASP, you MUST be enrolled in a developmental math course.

If you scored below 220 on the Math portion of TASP, you will be placed in MATH 1003.

If you scored between 220 and 269, you will be placed in MATH 1013.

If you scored at least a 270 or are TASP-exempt because of test scores, you will be placed in MATH 1073.

If you are to be placed in MATH 1003, you may take an Algebra placement exam. If you do well enough, you may move into MATH 1013.

If you have passed TASP and are to be placed in MATH 1013, you may take an Algebra placement exam. If you do well enough, you may move into MATH 1073.

A word about General Studies

  1. General Studies advisors advise students that have not decided on a major. A significant number of you fall into that category, so take comfort in the fact that others, like yourself, are unsure of their direction at this point. Nationwide, at least 2/3 of the college students will change their major at least once. So classify yourself not as undecided, but as "exploring".

If you have changed your mind and want to declare a major or think you do, then go to that major department for advising. Most freshmen take the same classes anyway.

2. General studies also advises students who are required to take developmental courses. There is a General Studies advisor in each department, so if you declared a major, go to that department for advising.

Even if you must take developmental courses, do not come to General Studies for advising tomorrow night: go to your major department. Only undeclared, Liberal Arts majors and students on Advised Admission should come to General Studies this evening.

3. A word about developmental courses: A student is assigned to such a course because he/she did not perform well enough on one of the tests. These tests are skills tests. Your enrollment in a developmental course will assist in these areas where further development is needed. As I mentioned before, our developmental program has been recognized by the state for its effectiveness.

  1. Take your developmental courses seriously. They will help you. We do not allow students to drop developmental courses, so get help early if you need it.

PLEASE BE PATIENT. SOME OF YOU ARE GOING INTO AREAS WHERE THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO BE ADVISED. Your peer advisors will deal with you as quickly as they can.

TOMORROW NIGHT, BE PARTICULARLY PATIENT WITH YOUR FACULTY ADVISORS. SOME OF THEM WILL HAVE MANY STUDENTS TO DEAL WITH.

THE UNDECIDED/LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR GROUP WILL BE VERY LARGE. WE WILL GET TO YOU.

Block Courses

Again this fall, Tarleton will offer a program known as Block Registration. Block scheduling is nothing more than taking a group of approximately 25 students and seeing to it that they take at least 3 of the same courses together. A block will be comprised of a combination of the following courses: English, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology, Health, Agriculture, and Computer Information Systems. No matter which block you are assigned to, the teachers do not teach the courses any differently, don't grade any easier, don't assign any less homework. In fact, some teachers won't even know which students are part of the block registration program since, in some classes, along with the students in the block, there may also be a large number of students in attendance who aren't in the block. So what is the advantage of being part of the Block Registration program.

One Word: RETENTION. When students become involved as part of a block, their chances of remaining in school and doing well greatly increases. A major reason for this is the sense of belonging.

Because they see the same students in the same classes every day, they form associations much more quickly. The resulting familiarity opens lines of communication and soon the students are discussing common course problems, sharing notes, and forming study groups. These associations often extend beyond course assignments to social activities. Students who are part of a block tend to break down the barriers more rapidly.

To help assure that the block program facilitates the adjustment to college, part of our block program includes the one-hour credit course, "Succeeding in College". The course provides instruction in study skills, time management, and test taking. It will also serve as a forum where students can discuss common freshman problems.

A sister university adopted this block program and their freshman retention rate rose from 60 to 80 percent. The major complaint the students had about the program was that it did not extend to the second semester. The program works that well. Our local data indicates that students enrolled in block achieve a higher average GPA than those that are not.

So block registration is a program that enhances the freshman academic experience. We have a few slots available in some of our block. SEE ME.