Learning Support Program

Philosophy

Proper placement leads to academic success. Academic success leads to retention and graduation.

Assessment and Placement Procedures

• Learning Support (LS) Program co-requisite courses are designed to help students succeed.
• To take the TBR placement test, students must get clearance from the Admissions and Records Office and then pay a nonrefundable\nontransferable $20 fee in the Business Office.
• Degree-seeking students needing LS co-requisite courses must enroll in and satisfactorily complete those courses during their initial terms of enrollment.
• Students who test into LS writing must register for ENGL 0010 and ENGL 1010. Students who test into LS reading must register for READ 0010 and COL 1010. Students who test into LS math must register for either MATH 0030 and MATH 1010, MATH 1030, or MATH 1530, depending on the student's program of study.
  LS courses passed at non-TBR institutions do not automatically transfer to JSCC. Placement testing may be required.

Screening by ACT/SAT or Accuplacer

• Assessment decisions are based on valid ACT/SAT or Accuplacer scores.
• Valid ACT/SAT or Accuplacer scores are those earned within five 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, First-time Students

• Entering students under 21 years of age must present ACT/SAT scores.
• Entering students under the age of 21 who have no ACT or SAT scores and who will not have an opportunity to take either test on a national test date before classes begin will be given Accuplacer.
• Entering students 21 years and older who do not have ACT/SAT scores must complete the Accuplacer.
• Scores used for initial assessment must have been earned within 5 years prior to the first day of the student’s entering term.

Degree-Seeking Transfer Students

• Students entering without transferable, college-level English composition credit will be assessed in writing.
• Students entering without transferable, college-level credit from a reading-intensive general education course will be assessed in reading.
• Students entering without transferable, college-level mathematics credit will be assessed in mathematics.

Special Students: Non-Degree-Seeking / Certificate Programs

• Students entering without transferable, college-level English composition credit will be assessed in writing.
• Students entering without transferable, college-level credit from a reading-intensive general education course will be assessed in reading.
• Students entering without transferable, college-level mathematics credit will be assessed in mathematics.
• Students who change to degree-seeking status will be assessed under guidelines for degree-seeking students.

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 is mandatory in both the college level and co-requisite LS course. Instructors may impose grade penalties at their discretion for students’ absences. Student absences may be reported to the appropriate Dean for review.

Drops and Withdrawals

Persistence in Learning Support is essential. Student goals will be delayed, and there may be financial aid consequences for withdrawing from Learning Support. Students who need to drop the LS co-requisite lab must also drop the linked college level course. Students enrolled in Learning Support may not drop these classes without the approval of the appropriate Dean. Students who are withdrawing from college, that is, from all their classes, may do so by following the appropriate withdrawal procedures.

Credit Hours

Credit hours earned in LS classes may not be used to meet any degree requirement. These credits are institutional credit only. The grades made in LS classes become part of the academic record .

Grade Assignments

Letter grades assigned to LS classes are S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), or W (Withdraw). Grades of “U” and “W” are considered as attempts. Students may not receive a “W” without permission of the appropriate Dean. Students receiving Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits cannot receive those benefits for on-line LS classes.

Audit

Students may not audit LS classes.

Appeal

Students with Academic Suspension may appeal in writing to the Admissions and Standards Committee. Appeals, other than suspension, should be made directly to the appropriate Dean.

Financial Aid

Providing students are eligible, federal financial aid programs may pay for up to 30 semester hours of attempted LS co-requisite labs.

Transfer

Learning support courses passed at non-TBR institutions do not automatically transfer to Jackson State. ACT or TBR placement testing will be required.

Confirmation (Challenge) Testing

Students who are placed into Learning Support co-requisite courses by ACT scores are encouraged to confirm placement in Learning Support by taking the Accuplacer, an un-timed, computerized test in math or reading. Accuplacer is offered throughout the registration period; check the college calendar for dates. Students wishing to confirm/challenge their writing score will be required to write a timed essay. Students must register online for the Accuplacer Placement Test and pay a nonrefundable and nontransferable fee of $5 per test area (math, reading, and/or writing) to the Business Office. Because studying for the test can make a difference in placement, students are advised to pick up ACT study materials, available at area bookstores, libraries, and on the web. Confirmation testing is not available to students who have attempted LS courses in the past.

Tutoring

Free tutoring is available to all JSCC students.

• Tutoring in writing is available in the Writing Center (WC), located on the first floor of the Library. (731) 425-8848.
• The Math Lab, located in the Nelms Classroom Building, offers tutoring to students enrolled in learning support for math. The Math Lab offers tutoring in other math courses. No appointment is necessary in either lab.
• Students who need additional support in reading can find help in the Reading Lab in the Nelms Classroom Building.
• Tutoring in nearly all other academic areas is available in the Academic Assistance Center (AAC), located on the second floor of the Library. (731) 425-2614. Students can schedule one-time or on-going tutoring.

Labs

Students have access to all open labs on any Jackson State campus. Open lab hours vary by semester and campus.

Contact: