Mar 29, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Texas Success Initiative


Admission Requirements  > General and Freshman Requirements > Texas Success Initiative

 


About the TSI

Section 51.3062 of the Texas Education Code establishes the Success Initiative (SI) program as a requirement at all Texas institutions of higher education. The effective date of the program was September 1, 2003. The purpose of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) program is to ensure that students enrolled in public colleges and universities possess the academic skills needed to perform effectively in college level course work. TSI includes an examination designed to provide diagnostic information about the reading, mathematics, and writing skills of each student.

Once admitted to the University of Houston, students should be TSI complete either through exemptions or exams, or a combination of both (see below).  If a student is not TSI complete, s/he will have a maximum of two consecutive long semesters to become TSI complete (i.e., within the first academic year).

Students who are TSI incomplete have an enrollment hold on their student record that makes them ineligible to enroll in courses at the University of Houston.  To lift the hold, students must be remediated through the academic advising offices of Undergraduate Scholars @ UH. Remediation is an academic advising session in which students are instructed on the steps they need to become TSI complete.  Once remediation is completed, the hold is lifted and the students can enroll in their first semester classes.  If, however, students do not follow the remediation instructions and at the end of their first semester are still TSI incomplete, a new TSI hold is placed on their record which will make them ineligible to enroll in classes for their second semester at UH. 

Students who in their second semester are still TSI incomplete and have a TSI hold, must report to the academic advising offices of Undergraduate Scholars @ UH  for their second and final remediation session. Students will again receive instructions on the steps they need to take to be TSI complete and at that point the TSI hold is lifted and they can enroll in classes.

Those students who had their second and final remediation and are not TSI complete by the end of their second semester, will have a TSI hold placed on their record.  The hold can only be removed once they have completed their TSI requirements as instructed in the two remediation sessions.  Once the students comply with the requirement the hold can be lifted and they can enroll in classes.

The following are the basic provisions of the Success Initiative legislation.

Testing

All entering undergraduate students (unless exempt) are required to take an assessment test prior to enrolling in classes. The approved assessment tests are:

The minimum passing scores for each of these tests are set by the state; each institution may establish its own score requirement at or above these minimums.

The minimum passing scores are:


THEA Score

Reading 230
Mathematics 230
Writing 220

ASSET Score

Reading Skills 41
Elementary Algebra 38
Writing Skills (objective) 40
Essay 6

COMPASS Score

Reading Skills 81
Algebra 39
Writing Skills (objective) 59
Essay 6

ACCUPLACER Score

Reading Comprehension 78
Elementary Algebra 63
Sentence Skills (objective) 80
Essay 6

(The minimum passing standard for the written essay portion of these tests is a score of 6. However, an essay with a score of 5 will pass if the student meets the objective writing test standard.)

Developmental Education

Students who score below the minimum passing level on one or more sections of the initial assessment test are required to enroll in the appropriate developmental education course(s) as assigned by an advisor with the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH unless other placement criteria apply.

Placement Requirements

Students who pass the assessment test may still be required to enroll in a developmental education course if their test scores do not meet the placement requirements established by the University of Houston academic departments. See your academic advisor for detailed information about UH placement requirements.

TSI Exemptions

Students who claim one of the following exemptions are not required to take the Success Initiative assessment test. (Students must still meet specific course placement requirements as established by UH academic departments.)

  • SAT exemption: a combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with at least 500 on both the verbal and the mathematics sections (single test date). Scores may not be more than 5 years old at the time of exemption.
  • ACT exemption: a composite score of 23 with at least 19 on both the English and the mathematics sections (single test date). Scores may not be more than 5 years old at the time of exemption.
  • TAKS exemption: math = 2200; English Language Arts = 2200; writing subscore of at least 3 in the Exit Level Exam.
  • Degree exemption: students who have graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an accredited Texas public institution of higher education. This exemption does not include Associate of Applied Science degrees.
  • Course work exemption (out of state/private school transfer students): transfer students who have satisfactorily completed college level course work as determined by the University of Houston. Contact the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH for details.
  • Nondegree seeking exemption: students who wish to take courses for personal enrichment but are not pursuing an undergraduate degree.
  • Military Service exemption: students serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces and have been serving for at least 3 years preceding enrollment.
  • Prior military service exemption: students who on or after August 1, 1990, were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces, the Texas National Guard, or service as a member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces.

Documentation of exemption is required; students may be asked to provide test scores, transcripts, military documents, etc., in order to claim an exemption. Contact the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH for more information. The Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH  is located in room 56 University Libraries, via the back entrance to M.D. Anderson Library, across from the University Center; telephone 832-842-2100; fax 713-743-8998.

Teacher Certification Students and TSI

TSI scores for admission to teacher education are higher than admission to the university. Check in room 112 Farish Hall for scores required to be admitted to the professional development sequence of the teacher education program.

Test Dates

For information on how to schedule a TSI assessment, contact the University Testing Services at 713-743-5444 or see their Web site at www.las.uh.edu/UTS/.

Students with disabilities who need testing assistance should contact the Center for Students with DisABILITIES, 713-743-5400 or 713-749-1527 (TDD), Justin Dart Center for Students with DisABILITIES.

Additional Information

For information about other TSI policies and the TSI program, contact the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH, 56 University Libraries, via the back entrance to M.D. Anderson Library, across from the University Center, 832-842-2100.

All new undergraduate students are required to meet TSI requirements before enrolling (registering) for classes. Contact the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH, 56 University Libraries, via the back entrance to M.D. Anderson Library, across from the University Center, 832-842-2100.