Comp 4.0 combines Writing Skills II, English 1301

A new college policy sets a higher standard for enrollment in English 1301.

Last fall the English department voted unanimously to recommend increasing the minimum Compass essay score required to take freshman level English from a five to a six.

Their recommendation was taken to the Academic and Campus Affairs Council who approved the change over the summer.

The English department's policy sets the requirements for 1301 higher than the state requirements.

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI), a program instituted in 2003 by the state legislature requires students to make a five or better on the essay portion of the placement test, as well as a 59 or better on the objective portion of the writing test.

Failure to meet the TSI required scores will lead to restricted enrollment. This means students cannot enroll in other classes without also being enrolled in developmental writing.

This policy change by the English department creates a group of students who will be TSI compliant (having made a five on their essay) and can register for classes, but who cannot register for English 1301 because they haven't met the English department's new standard on the placement test.

Students who make a five on their essay can take a special course that will help them avoid spending a semester in developmental writing before they can enroll in 1301.

Comp 4.0 is a class where students who have made a five on their placement test essay, or an A or B in Writing Skills 1, can simultaneously enroll in an eight week Writing Skills II class and a sixteen week English 1301.

These classes have a maximum enrollment of 16 students per session, which is smaller than most English classes.

Not all incoming students have to take the placement test. Students with high enough SAT or ACT scores are exempt from TSI mandated developmental classes, and there is an exception for students who are serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, or the Texas National Guard.

"There are a lot of these TSI exemptions that are pretty significant, that a lot of people aren't familiar with, and the advisers sometimes miss them too," said Supervisor of Assessment and testing at the Round Rock campus, Anthony Garza.

The higher standards set by the English department aren't siting well with everyone.

"I think it's not fair…you feel like you're wasting a lot of money and time... If Comp I is difficult, you have a lot of resources to help you out," said Pre-nursing major Shakera Ali.

The Comp 4.0 classes have been offered at Eastview and Rio Grande in the past. Now in order to accommodate the students who will be affected by the stricter requirement, the class will also be offered at Riverside, Cypress and Northridge as well as a second class being offered at Eastview.

Some students think that this change will help prepare students for their college classes.

"The school districts are failing the students," said history major Dale White. "To be competitive you have to set the bar higher once you get into college...ACC seems like they are trying to raise the students back to where they should be."