Course Placement Policy

Custodian of Policy: Registrar

Relevant Minnesota State System Policy: Minnesota State System Policy 3.3

Relevant Procedures: Minnesota State System Procedure 3.3.1

Effective Date: Spring 2020

Last Review: Fall 2016

Next Review: Fall 2022

English Placement Policy

English Placement
If these requirements are met:
The student qualifies to begin at the selected, , or preceding ENGLISH course(s).
ENGL 099 ENGL 101 ENGL 201
Any of the following:
ACT English ≤ 17
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing < 480
NGA Reading ≤ 249
Accuplacer Classic Reading Comprehension < 78
ENGL 099
ENGL 101
 
ENGL 201
 
Any of the following:
ACT English ≥ 18
OR
NGA Reading ≥ 250
OR
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing ≥ 480
OR
Accuplacer Classic Reading Comprehension ≥ 78
OR
HS GPA of ≥ 2.6
OR
HS GPA of 2.5 or above
AND one of the following
  • ACT English 16-17
  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 440-479
  • NGA Reading 236-249
ENGL 099
 
ENGL 101
ENGL 201
 
ACT English ≥ 26
OR
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing ≥ 600
ENGL 099
 
ENGL 101
ENGL 201
ESL Accuplacer Scoring: Combined Reading Skills, Language Usage, and Sentence Meaning ≥ 330
ENGL 099
 
ENGL 101
ENGL 201
 
ESL Accuplacer Scoring: Combined Reading Skills, Language Usage, and Sentence Meaning scores < 330
ENGL 099
ENGL 101
 
ENGL 201
 

*All scores are valid for 5 years.

*Two sets of Accuplacer placement scores are available: Classic Reading Comprehension and Next Generation Accuplacer (NGA) Reading.

In order to be considered valid for placement purposes, ACT/SAT scores and ACCUPLACER scores must have been earned within five years from the start of the class. High school GPA must be within the last ten years. The English Placement policy will be reviewed every two years.

English Placement for International Students who do not have English as their first language.

  • Students completing the ESL version of the Accuplacer with a combined Reading Skills, Language Usage, and Sentence Meaning score of 330 or higher will be placed into ENGL 101 small section
  • Students completing the ESL version of the Accuplacer with a combined Reading Skills, Language Usage, and Sentence Meaning score of less than 330 will be placed into TEFL 104

Math Placement Policy

Mathematics Placement
If these requirements are met:
The student qualifies to begin at the selected or preceding MATH course(s).
090A 105 110 134 099 127L 227 142 143 210 229 234
QAS < 250
090A
105
110
134
099
127L
227
 
142
 
143
 
210
 
229
 
234
 
250 ≤ QAS < 255
090A
105
110

With Coreq MATH 110C
134
099
127L
227
 
142
 
143
 
210
 
229
 
234
 
ACT Math ≥ 19
OR
QAS ≥ 255
OR
AAF ≥ 234
OR
SAT Math ≥ 510
OR
MCA ≥ 1146
090A
105
110
134
099
127L
227
 
142
 
143
 
210
 
229
 
234
 
ACT Math ≥ 22
OR
SAT ≥ 530
OR
MCA ≥ 1158
OR
AAF ≥ 250
OR
HS GPA ≥ 2.7
AND one of the following
  • ACT Math 20-21
    or
  • AAF ≥ 236
    or
  • MCA ≥ 1152
    or
  • SAT Math ≥ 520
090A
105
110
134
099
127L
227
 
142
 
143
 
210
 
229
 
234
 
ACT Math ≥ 23
OR
SAT Math ≥ 560
090A
105
110
134
099
127L
227
142
 
143
 
210
 
229
 
234
 
ACT Math ≥ 24
OR
AAF ≥ 255
OR
SAT Math ≥ 580
090A
105
110
134
099
127L
227
142
143
210
229
234

HS GPA Only Placement: Students with a domestic high school GPA ≥ 2.8 are eligible for MATH 127L. If MATH 127L is needed for student's major, it is recommended they first take the developmental math course for which they are eligible.

Next Generation AccuPlacer (NGA): Arithmetic (NAR), Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, Statistics (QAS), Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF)

ACT Math and SAT Math Scores Comparison: ACT 19=SAT 510; ACT 20=SAT 520; ACT 21=SAT 530; ACT 22=SAT 540; ACT 23=SAT 560; ACT 24=SAT 580.

*MCA, Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment, Mathematics score will be used for only MATH105, MATH134, and MATH127 placement.

Rationale

The purpose of this policy is to improve student success in college and university courses through student assessment and course placement that addresses reading comprehension, written English, and mathematics knowledge and skills.