Policies
Contact person:
Melina Baer, Director of Developmental Studies
(731) 425-2608
mbaer@jscc.edu
Office: Library Building, Writing Center
Philosophy
Proper placement leads to academic success. Academic success leads to continued enrollment and graduation.
Assessment and Placement Procedures
- No student may enroll for a Developmental Studies Program (DSP) course without proper assessment.
- Students must pay a nonrefundable $10 fee in the Business Office before taking the assessment test.
- Degree-seeking students needing DSP courses must enroll in and satisfactorily complete those courses during their initial terms of enrollment.
- Persistence in DSP courses is essential. Most college-level classes have DSP prerequisites so students' goals will be delayed if they withdrew from DSP classes. Students who want to withdraw from DSP courses must have approval from the DSP director and must check financial aid consequences.
- Learning Strategies is required for students who place in two or more subject areas.
Screening by ACT/SAT
- Assessment decisions are based on valid ACT/SAT scores.
- Valid ACT/SAT scores are those earned within three years prior to the first day of a student's entering term.
- No assessment is required of any student with a valid ACT composite score of 26 or higher.
Assessment Criteria
- Degree-seeking students less than 21 years of age:
- Will be assessed for DSP placement according to valid ACT/ SAT scores.
- An ACT score that is less than 19 in the subject areas of reading, writing, or math will require placement in DSP or further assessment.
- Degree-seeking students 21 years old or older:
- May submit valid ACT/SAT scores and will be placed accordingly, or
- Will be required to complete assessment tests in reading, writing and math.
- Transfer students:
- Without college-level English composition credit will be assessed in writing based on a valid ACT score or other appropriate assessment test.
- Without college-level algebra-based mathematics credit will be assessed in mathematics based on a valid ACT score or other appropriate assessment test.
- Non-degree-seeking students:
- Without college-level English composition credit will be assessed in writing prior to enrollment in college level English or any course with English as a prerequisite.
- Without college-level algebra-based mathematics credit will be assessed in mathematics prior to enrollment in college.
- Who change to degree-seeking status will be screened under guidelines for degree-seeking students.
- Students entering with the GED credential must complete assessment tests in reading, writing and math or they may present a valid ACT score.
- Students with High School Deficiencies may remove deficiencies in English or mathematics units by:
- Scoring at college level on placement tests or ACT.
- Completing DSP requirements.
- Scoring 26 or above on the ACT composite.
- International students:
- May submit valid ACT/SAT scores and then follow appropriate guidelines, or
- Complete assessment tests in reading, writing and math.
- Screening adjustments:
- Students who are not required to undergo assessment may request testing.
- Instructors may recommend testing for students who did not undergo assessment but later showed deficiencies.
Attendance
Attendance in DSP classes is mandatory. Instructors may impose grade penalties at their discretion for students' absences. Student absences may be reported to the Director of Academic Preparation for review.
Drops and Withdrawals
Persistence in the program is essential. Since most college-level classes have DSP prerequisites, student goals wil be delayed and there may be financial aid consequences for withdrawing from DSP classes. Students enrolled in DSP classes may not drop theses classes without the approval of the DSP Director.
Students who are withdrawing from college, that is, all their classes, may do so by following the appropriate withdrawal procedures.
Credit Hours
Credit hours earned in DSP classes may not be used to meet any degree requirement. These credits are institutional credit only. The grades made in DSP classes become part of the academic record and will be used to determine semester GPA and cumulative GPA for retention, probation, and suspension purposes, as well as eligibility for financial aid and athletics, but will not be used when determining eligibility for dean's list, honor roll, or graduation honors.
Grade Assignments
Letter grades assigned to DSP classes are A, B, C, F, I (Incomplete), PR (Progress), or W (Withdraw). Students are eligible to earn a PR Progress grade only during their first attempt taking a DSP class. A grade of C or better is necessary for students to complete DSP classes and progress to the next higher class. Students who earn grades lower than C must repeat the course. A grade of "I" is not considered an attempt. Grades of "PR" and "F" and "W" are considered as attempts. Students may not receive a "W," or "I" without permission of the Director of Developmental Studies.
Audit
Students may not audit DSP classes.
Appeal
Students with DSP suspension may appeal in writing to the Admissions and Standards Committee. Appeals, other than suspension, should be made directly to the Director of Academic Preparation.
Financial Aid
Providing students are eligible, federal financial aid programs may pay for up to 30 semester hours of attempted DSP classes.
Transfer
Developmental courses passed at non-TBR institutions do not automatically transfer to Jackson State. ACT or TBR placement testing will be required.
Challenge Testing
Students may challenge their DSP placement on Challenge Day, held before each semester.. Check the college calendar for the date. Students must pay a $20 nonrefundable fee for the Challenge Test in the Business Office and register in the Assessment Center by the established deadline. If students receive a grade for a course or withdraw from a course, they cannot challenge the class. Instead, they must retake the class to replace the grade. ACT study materials are available at area bookstores and libraries.
Tutoring
Free tutoring is available at the Academic Assistance Center (AAC), located on the second floor of the Library. (731) 425-2614.
Free tutoring in any aspect of writing, including developmental studies, is available at the Writing Center, located on the first floor of the Library Building. (731) 425-8848.
Labs
Reading, writing, and mathematics labs are available for students. The Reading Lab is in Nelms Classroom 2E6, and the SMART Math Lab is in Nelms Classroom 101. Hours for open labs will be posted on the lab door because they vary by semester.
College-Level Enrollment
Enrollment in college-level courses will depend on which DSP courses are required.