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2018/2019 fcc catalog
Academic Assessment
and Placement Policy
and Procedures
I. Philosophy and Scope
Frederick Community College (“FCC” or the
“College”) is committed to supporting student
success by ensuring appropriate course placement
using a series of computerbased assessment tests
that measure individuals’ reading, writing, and
math skills. Minimum placement scores, known
as cut scores, are established through statewide
agreements. These scores are used to determine
college-readiness and placement into specific
courses, including developmental and college-
level courses. Credit courses have prerequisites
that include expectations of college-readiness as
reflected in the placement scores and/or other
pre-established expectations. This policy and
procedures outlines placement test requirements,
guidelines for placement, and exemptions and
exceptions to required placement testing.
II. Definitions for the Purpose of this Policy
and Procedures
A. “Certificate-Seeking” refers to a category
of individuals who have declared an intent to
follow a sequence of specific credit courses
resulting in a formal award of completion of up
to 36 credits.
B. “Courses of Interest” refers to a category
of individuals who seek to take courses
listed as credit in the FCC Academic Catalog
for personal knowledge or professional
development as opposed to the fulfillment
of FCC program requirements.
C. “Degree-Seeking” refers to a category of
individuals who have declared an intent to
follow a prescribed curriculum in a career or
transfer program that leads to an associate
degree, which is generally sixty (60) credits,
unless otherwise specified.
D. “Developmental Courses” are courses that
prepare students for college-level coursework in
reading, writing, English as a Second Language
(ESL), and math. Developmental education
includes multiple course sequences with
students progressing as skills are developed.
Students are assigned to developmental courses
based on their placement test scores..
E.“Enrollment” is the status achieved when
an individual has registered for classes and has
either paid or made arrangements for payment
of tuition and/or fees.
F. “Full-time Enrollment” refers to a
student enrolled in twelve (12) or more
credits during the fall or spring semesters,
or in a total of twelve (12) credit hours
cumulatively for the summer session.
G. “Readmitted Students” refers to individuals
who have attended FCC but not within the past
two years.
H. “Transfer student”refers to an individual
who has attended another institution
of higher learning after high school
graduation or equivalency, and who seeks
to receive credit for prior coursework
completed at previous institutions.
III. Placement Testing Requirements
A. After applying to the College, placement tests
are required for:
1. Individuals who are first-time college students
who are seeking a degree or certificate
whether they enroll full-time or part-time.
2. Individuals planning to take their first
English or mathematics course.
3. Currently enrolled students seeking a
degree/certificate, whether enrolled
fulltime or part-time, who have not been
tested in the past or whose placement
scores and/or exemptions have expired.
4. Transfer or readmitted individuals
who have not completed a college-
level math and/or English course.
5. Individuals who are designated as
Courses of Interest students and wish
to enroll in courses with prerequisites of
reading, writing, ESL, or mathematics.
6. Individuals who change their
designation from Courses of Interest
to certificate or degree-seeking.
B. Upon completion of all required placement
tests, individuals are required to consult with
an advisor to develop a degree or certificate
plan for completion, including course selection.
Individuals will choose courses based on their
placement scores and their individual career and
college goals.
C. Placement tests are not required for individuals
as noted under Section VI “Exceptions and
Exemptions to Required Placement Testing.”
IV. Placement Guidelines
A. Unless otherwise indicated, placement scores
are determined using Accuplacer academic
assessments.
B. Placement scores will be valid for two years after
the date of taking the placement tests.
C. Minimum placements scores, also known as
cut scores, have been determined for college-
readiness in reading, writing, and mathematics.
D. Non-native English speakers and some world
English speakers will take the Level of English
Proficiency (LOEP) test to determine reading and
writing placement scores.
E. Individuals with documented disabilities as
verified by the Services for Students with
Disabilities Office will receive reasonable
accommodations while completing the required
placement tests.
F. Unless outlined in the exemptions and
exceptions, high school grades alone do not
determine placement.
G. Individuals are permitted to retest only one time
per assessment, no sooner than twenty-four (24)
hours after the initial test.
H. Students who are continuously enrolled will not
be permitted to retest once enrolled in their
developmental course requirements.
I. Readmitted students must either retest or
complete the developmental requirements as
stipulated in the academic catalog.
J. Individuals who demonstrate college-readiness
as stipulated in the exemptions and exceptions
section of this policy and procedure will be
eligible to enroll in the appropriate credit-level
courses according to their specific college-
readiness scores.
V. Prerequisites
The FCC Academic Catalog designates courses
with prerequisites and/or corequisites. Prerequisites
are expectations that must be completed before
enrollment in a course is allowed. Corequisites are
courses that can be taken concurrently.
VI. Exceptions and Exemptions to Required
Placement Testing
A. Individuals who transfer from accredited
institutions of higher education who
present unofficial transcripts indicating
successful completion (2.00 GPA or higher)
of the equivalent of at least twelve (12)
college credits will be exempted from
the reading placement test if six (6)
credits are general education courses.
B. Individuals will be exempted from the reading
and writing placement tests if they provide
evidence of successfully completing:
1. The equivalent of FCC course EN101
at an accredited U.S. institution or
credit through DSST, or CLEP.
2. The Advanced Placement (AP) test
with a score of 3 or higher in English
Language and Composition or English
Literature and Composition. AP test
scores are valid for five years.
3. The International Baccalaureate (IB)
exams with a grade of four (4) or above
in one or more of the following exams:
Language A Literature SL or HL, and/or
Language A: Language & Literature SL or
HL. IB test scores are valid for five years.
4. English 10 or 11 PARCC score of Level 4 or
5. This score is valid for one year after an
individual’s date of high school graduation.
5. The GED English Reasoning Through
Language Arts test with a score of 165 or
higher. GED scores are valid for one year.
C. Individuals will be exempted from the math
placement tests if they provide evidence of
successfully completing: