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From TASP to the Texas Success Initiative

Texas public institutions of higher education are transitioning from TASP to the Texas Success Initiative. The new rules and regulations will be posted on the DCCCD website as soon as details are finalized. Please note that assessment of student academic skills will continue to be required. You may contact an academic advisor or the college's Texas Success Initiative (TSI) office for more information.

The Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) makes every effort to ensure that students have equal opportunity for success in their academic coursework. In order to facilitate their readiness for such coursework, the System assesses students and places them based on their assessment results. The following plan outlines the processes for assessment and placement.

ASSESSMENT

Initial Assessment

1. The DCCCD will assess the academic skills of each entering undergraduate student prior to enrollment of the student. Under exceptional circumstances, the System may permit a student to enroll in freshman-level academic coursework without assessment but shall require the student to be assessed not later than the end of the first semester of enrollment in freshman-level academic coursework. See below for exemptions.
2. The DCCCD will not use the assessment or the results of the assessment as a condition of admission to the institution.

Assessment Instruments

1. The System will use the following TSI approved assessment instruments:
   1. ACCUPLACER offered by the College Board
   2. ASSET offered by ACT
   3. Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) offered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc.
2. The System will also accept scores from COMPASS offered by ACT, another TSI approved assessment instrument. In addition, even though the TASP test is no longer administered, previous TASP scores will continue to be honored as directed by the THECB.
3. The System will also consider acceptance of instruments approved in the future by THECB.
   

Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) Testing

Each educational institution must qualify as an assessment center for Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) Testing, or Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) Testing must be done by a certified third party administrator. The Eastfield College Assessment Center is a qualified Assessment Center for Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) Testing.

The ACCUPLACER Tests are approved for Federal “Ability-to-Benefit” (ATB) Determination. For assessment in verbal area, students must take the Reading Comprehension Test and the Sentence Skills Test. For the mathematics assessment requirement, students must take the Arithmetic Test.

Students needing Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) Testing are required to contact the Financial Aid Department (Room C237), or call 972.860.7188.

College Level Examination Program (CBT-CLEP) Testing

College Level Examination Program (CBT-CLEP) Tests may be taken by students who believe they already meet the requirements of a course by experience or previous training. Students must be currently enrolled at Eastfield College to take and receive credit for CBT-CLEP Tests. Students desiring to take CBT-CLEP Tests must go to the Advisement Office (Room C120) to start the process. The CBT-CLEP Test scores will be transcripted at the end of the semester in which the test is taken. Students will not be given CBT-CLEP Tests in courses for which they are enrolled. Please contact the Advisement Office for more information.

Correspondence Testing

Correspondence Testing is a service provided to the Eastfield College Community, by the Assessment Center, for those students who choose not to enroll in a traditional course of study or who enroll in correspondence courses at other educational institutions. Correspondence Testing is limited to U. S. institutions and institutions with which the DCCCD has a contract. The Assessment Center (Room C114) receives, secures, proctors, and returns these tests according to the sending institution’s guidelines. These tests are administered on specific days and by appointment only, no exceptions. There is an administrative charge, payable in advance, to the Business Office/Accounting (Room C126), for this service.

COSC 1300 Credit by Examination

The student will develop the ability to use computer-based technology in communication, acquiring information, and solving problems. Additionally, the student will evaluate the effects and implications of information technology on various aspects of society. COSC 1300 may not be applied towards a computer science major or minor. Laboratory fee. (2 Lec., 4 Lab)

Course objectives

1. To define computer and communication terminology.
2. To evaluate the effects and implications of computers and communication technology on society (ethics, issues in society, access to information, computer crime, economic issues, public policy, political issues, medicine, biotechnology).
3. To demonstrate knowledge of the impact of technology on the individual’s privacy, security, lifestyle, work environment, standard of living, and health.
4. To participate in global communities making full use of available technology (email, newsgroups and/or Listserv, chat/conferences).
5. To gather information for decision making (database queries, Internet searches).
6. To create quantitative and qualitative data presentations (what if analysis, charting/graphing).

Lecture Component Topics

• Introduction to Using computers
• Application Software and the World Wide Web
• Components in the System Unit
• Input Devices
• Output Devices
• Storage Devices
• The Internet
• Operating Systems and Utility Programs
• Communications and Networks
• Databases and Information Management
• Society, Security, Privacy and Ethics

Lab Component Topics

Credit-by-Exam

Students who believe they already possess the minimum level of computer literacy skills may elect to “test out” by taking the COSC 1300 Credit-by Exam. The exam may only be taken once and it will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis. The COSC 1300 Credit-by-Exam will consist of two parts and the student must pass a minimum of 70% on each part in order to receive credit for COSC 1300.

Part 1: Computerized skills assessment in areas defined under lab component topics. Maximum time allowed is 2 hours (100 tasks to perform).

Part 2: Computerized objective assessment in areas defined under lecture component topics. Maximum time allowed is 1 hour (50 items to answer).

Students will be charged a Credit-by-Examination fee and will also need to purchase a password in the College Bookstore to gain access to the computerized test.

Credit-by-Examination for COSC 1300 will be administered in the Testing Center.

Credit-by-Examination Testing

Credit-by Examination is a test prepared, administered and graded by Eastfield faculty. It should not be confused the College Level Examination Program (CBT-CLEP) Tests, which are nationally prepared and scored tests. Please contact the Advisement Office for more information.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Testing

Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) Tests may be taken by students who believe they already meet the requirements of a course by experience or previous training. Students must be currently enrolled at Eastfield College to take and receive credit for DANTES Tests. DANTES Tests with passing scores will be transcripted at the end of the semester in which the test was taken. Students will not be given DANTES Tests in courses for which they are enrolled.

Distance Education Testing

Distance Education Testing is a service provided to students worldwide. It is a service offered in a variety of formats. Each format requires a unique set of technologies for test security. Students needing to be tested to register for Distance Education Courses, or students needing to take tests for their currently enrolled Distance Education Courses should contact the Assessment Center (Room C114), or call 972.860.7011.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Testing

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Assessment Testing is for those students students whose primary language is not English and who need assistance in understanding spoken or written English and grammatical structures.

The Lindholm Test is used to assess students for placement in Continuing Education Courses. This is a 30 minute test.

Local, State and National Testing

The Assessment Center provides local, state, and national testing for the Eastfield College community, faculty, staff, administration and students. These tests are administered on specific days and by appointment only, no exceptions.

Make-Up Testing

The Assessment Center’s comprehensive testing service provides make-up testing for those students who missed their test when it was given in class. Professors have the option to allow students who missed the administration of testing during class time to complete their tests in the Assessment Center.

Placement Testing

The Assessment Center administers the ACCUPLACER Test for placement testing. The ACCUPLACER Test is a basic skills battery of reading, mathematics, and sentence skills used to advise and place students into courses that correspond to their skill levels. Based on students’ scores, courses are recommended in which students have the best chance for success.

Students needing placement testing must obtain a Referral Form from the Advising Center (Room C120). Placement testing is done on a daily basis, in the Assessment Center (Room C114) as needed. No appointment is necessary. Contact the Assessment Center for times.

Psychometric Testing

These tests are assessments of student’s personal preferences, personality types, study habits, and relationship to others, etc. These tests help students find their path when determining their educational and career goals. These are computerized self-scoring tests.

Scholastic Aptitude (SAT) Testing

The Eastfield College Assessment Center administers the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Students must pick up registration packets at a local high school. SAT scores are used for admission purposes at colleges and universities. SAT scores provide information on skill levels in reading, mathematics, and writing.