1. Purpose:
As an open admission institution, Honolulu Community College enrolls a significant number of students who have not yet acquired the academic skills needed to successfully progress and graduate from their chosen field of study.
It is the purpose of this policy to identify those incoming students who are required to participate in the college placement testing process and to determine if necessary, their appropriate placement in the established developmental reading, writing, and mathematics curricula.
2. Policy:
a. Placement Testing:
It is required that the following students complete the ACT Compass placement tests for reading, writing, and mathematics, or provide evidence that they have a valid ACT Compass test score that can be provided to HCC by another college:
(1) All new credit students enrolled in a program leading to a degree or certificate;
(2) All other students enrolling in a course that requires English and/or mathematics proficiency as a prerequisite.
(3) Students transferring from another accredited college to Honolulu Community College who have met the English and/or Math requirements for their intended program with a grade of “C” or better in a degree applicable English composition course or mathematics course; or who have completed an English composition course that qualifies them to entry to English 100 or higher with a grade of “C”, or in a mathematics course that qualifies them to entry to Math 100 are exempted from those parts of this policy related to those specific courses.
Students may retake the placement tests at any time. If the student has an active test score in the student information system, they will be charged a $25.00 fee for each retesting session, regardless of how many tests they retake during any one session.
b. Class Assignment:
It is required that all students who complete the Compass test with a score that places them at a developmental education level enroll in an appropriate level class according to the details in Attachment A during their first term and all subsequent terms until they meet the enrollment criteria for the classes that are applicable for their respective degrees or certificates.
3. Related Policies:
(1) University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents Policy, Chapter 5 – Academic Affairs, Section 5-11, Admissions.
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(2) University of Hawai‘i Executive Policy, Chapter 5, Academic Affairs, Section E5.210, Educational Assessment.
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4. Responsibilities:
The implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
