Montgomery County Community College

Academic Affairs

Board of Trustees Policy

Purpose

In an effort to support student success and to safeguard academic standards, Montgomery County Community College requires that new first time students demonstrate academic readiness upon admission. If academic readiness cannot be demonstrated, then students will need to complete courses and/or services which are intended to prepare them for success.

Policy

New first time students must demonstrate academic readiness as outlined in their respective programs of study through alternative validations and/or standardized diagnostic assessments in the areas of mathematics, reading, and English. Unless they meet one of the exemptions, standardized diagnostic assessment is required for new first time students. It is required that students begin their pre-college (developmental) coursework within completion of the first 15 college-level credits. Students must satisfy course prerequisites or show proof of prerequisite competency for any course in which they intend to enroll.

Procedures

1. Apply for admission to the College and show proof of academic readiness.
2. If proof of academic readiness is not met, College standardized diagnostic assessments must be completed.
   1. Students may prepare for these assessments in two ways: they may visit http://www.mc3.edu/admissions/gettingStarted/placement (Sample Tests) to complete online practice assessments, and/or they may visit Tutorial Services to participate in preparation workshops.
   2. Students with documented disabilities receive testing at the Disability Services Center in a distraction-reduced environment with special accommodations or adaptive technology (as appropriate).
   3. Assessments are valid for placement purposes for five calendar years.
3. Assessment Parameters
   1. Students are eligible for one retest in each subject area, with the higher score prevailing.
   2. Competency-based standardized test scores are valid for five years.
   3. Students who place into two or more pre-college courses must complete SCS 101 prior to completion of 15 credits.
   4. Students who exhibit unsatisfactory academic competency on all of the College’s standardized diagnostic assessments will be required to enroll in a College/community partnership adult basic education program. Upon retesting and prior to starting the adult basic education program, these students must score above set cut-off scores on one or more retests in order to be permitted to enroll in College courses. Continuous enrollment in the adult basic education program will be maintained until students test above the set cut-off scores on at least two tests, after which time these students will be permitted to enroll at the College.