Frequently-Asked Questions

Q. What is the Texas Success Initiative?

A. The Texas Success Initiative, or TSI, is a program that has been established to insure that students are prepared to be successful in their college level coursework. Each post-secondary institution must assess all students entering their institution to determine college readiness. All students must be assessed in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics.

Q. How does SRSU determine college readiness?

A. There are two common categories that students fall into. These are the first time student and the transfer student. Assessments for first time students are done in one of two ways. If a first time student's SAT, ACT or TAKS are above the standard set by the state, then no further assessment is required and the student may enroll in coursework approved by their advisor.

If the scores are below the standard, then the student must take one of the state approved assessment examinations or present scores from one of the assessments. Transfer students should present evidence of success in college level work for each of the three areas: reading, writing and mathematics. If a student has college level credit (minimum of a C) pertaining to one of these areas then no further assessment is required. Else, each transfer student must take one of the state approved assessment examinations or present scores from one of the assessments.

Q. What are the approved assessment examinations?

A. There are four exams, they are the THEA, the COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, and ASSET. SRSU administers the COMPASS and the THEA. Please consult Career Services and Testing for times and dates.

Q. What are minimum passing scores on the THEA and the COMPASS?

A.

Q. I met or exceeded the minimum scores, now what?

A. You should seek advisement from a professor within the department of your major.

Q. I didn't meet the minimum scores, now what should I do?

A. If you are an initial enrollee, then you should go to Academic Advising and Counseling to establish and Individualized Developmental Education Plan (IDEP). The plan will include appropriate action that a student must take in order to remove the developmental education liability. As a student returns from previous semesters, he or she should continue to follow the plan until it is completed. The IDEP can include coursework in developmental courses and should be placed into courses using the following table.

Q. Is there a time limit to complete my IDEP?

A. There is no chronological time limit; however, there is a credit hour limit. Students should complete all IDEP requirements prior to accumulating 45 credit hours. This is the same number of hours for completing the basic skills component of the core curriculum, see page 86 in the SRSU 2004-2006 Catalog.

Q. What if I have more questions about the Texas Success Initiative?

A. You can visit with an advisor in your major area or you can visit with personnel from Academic Advising and Counseling in Ferguson Hall 112 or ACE in Ferguson Hall 214.