Over the past
several years, Oklahoma's colleges and universities have worked
hard to ensure that every student with the drive to earn a college
degree has the support to achieve that goal. To meet students where
they are, our institutions are reviewing each student's goals and
capabilities individually. While college admission tests like the
ACT and SAT are a valuable tool to see if you're ready for college,
they are one of many ways to determine if you're prepared for
college-level coursework. Colleges and universities now look at a
variety of factors to make decisions about admission and course
placement, such as high school GPA and course rigor. These
measures, as well as those described in detail below, are designed
to evaluate students as individuals, not test scores.
Purpose - Not
Placement
Nationally,
higher education institutions have developed a process to determine
a student's academic goals, career goals and overall college
readiness. Through this process, students can choose a broad area
of study or a more specific area, called a meta-major. Choosing a
meta-major allows a student to enroll in the right courses,
particularly in math, so the student can enter a program of study
in their first academic year.
Multiple
Measures
Standardized
tests like the ACT and SAT are no longer the primary tool colleges
and universities use to determine if a student is ready for
college-level coursework (English and math). Colleges and
universities now consider multiple criteria to make course
placement decisions (math and English). Those criteria may include
high school GPA, high school courses, class ranking and degree of
study.
Remediation
Reform
For students who
may not be completely ready for college-level coursework in math,
English or reading, Oklahoma's higher education institutions offer
additional services, called co-requisite supports, that allow
students to enroll in certain college-level courses while receiving
the support services they need to master the subject, such as
tutoring, online labs, and peer study groups.
For more
information about these college admission measures and co-requisite
support services, contact Dr. Rachel Bates, OSRHE Associate Vice
Chancellor for Educational Partnerships, at
rbates@osrhe.edu.
Students should contact colleges or
universities for specific information about college admission
measures and co-requisite support options.
After you've been accepted to an Oklahoma state college or
university, your academic advisor will help you get a good start by
ensuring you enroll in the right courses for your skill or
knowledge level. Your ACT subject test scores in science,
mathematics, reading and English will be reviewed. If you scored a
19 or better on a subject test, you'll be placed in a
credit-earning course for that subject area.
If you scored below the required cut score for ACT/SAT,
you may undergo additional testing in an area or the college or
university may look at additional factors such as your high school
GPA to determine the appropriate course. If these measures show
you're ready for college-level work, you'll be placed in a
credit-earning course. If the test indicates you're not ready,
you'll be placed in a college course with additional support such
as a corequisite course.
It is important to note that institutions may require
higher ACT subject scores for admission and course placement (for
general education English, mathematics and science courses). As
with other college admission issues, please consult with your
college advisor prior to enrollment at a particular
college.
It is also more important than ever to identify
a program of study, which will determine the appropriate
mathematics course for you. Historically, the algebra-to-calculus
pathway has been the college mathematics requirement for most
students. However, over the last decade, it has become clear that
this pathway doesn't reflect the types of skills many students will
actually need in their lives and careers.
In response, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education implemented a variety of mathematics pathways to help
students enroll in mathematics courses that align with their degree
of study and the needs of their future careers. The four
mathematics options are quantitative reasoning, statistics,
functions and modeling, and pre-calculus. All four courses are
designed for first-time college students.
Oklahoma public community colleges and
universities accept these alternate mathematics courses to fulfill
students' mathematics requirements. Students should contact
colleges or universities for specific information about degree
requirements and course availability.
For more information on college placement, email rbates@osrhe.edu or call the
Student Information Hotline at 800.858.1840.
Independent (Private) Colleges and Universities
Placement policies may differ for independent (private) colleges
and universities (not tax supported, nonprofit). Check with the
institution you wish to attend for additional information.