James A. Rhodes State College
Assessment and Mandatory Placement
Information from Placement Assessment is never used to deny admission to the College. However, Placement Assessment is mandatory for all students prior to registration in their initial courses with a prerequisite of mathematics, reading and / or writing. Mandatory placement will be guided by the prerequisite identified in the 2003-2004 Rhodes State Catalog.
COMPASS is used for placement into mathematics and reading courses at the College. This Placement Assessment does not function like a typical test because there is no "passing" score. Rather, COMPASS measures your current skill level and identifies the best place for you to start. However, if you believe that you would benefit from enrolling initially in a lower level course than your results suggest, you are free to do so.
Additionally, new degree-seeking students are required to take the ACT-Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) prior to or during SDE-101. CAAP scores provide a valuable pre- and post-program snapshot of student growth in General Education core skills and abilities.
In writing courses at the College, a self-placement assessment instrument enables students to evaluate their current writing abilities against examples of expected performance in various levels of writing courses. Based upon this guided self-reflection, you will select the writing course that aligns best with your current abilities.
Students may be exempt from some or all course Placement Assessment if at least one of the following conditions applies:
- The student is a former Rhodes State College student with placement scores on file.
- The student submitted placement scores from another college or university to the Transfer Office and, based on specific scores, has received approval to waive the placement assessment requirement in one or more areas.
- The student has submitted official college transcripts showing successful completion of appropriate college-level Mathematics and / or Writing courses.
- The student has submitted a copy of SAT/ACT test scores to the Transfer Office and, based on specific sub-scores, has received approval to waive the placement assessment requirement in one or more areas.
- The Dean of the Division in which the course is housed approves your enrollment in one or more courses for personal self-enrichment.