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2020 - 2021 FCC Academic Catalog
Academic Assessment
and Placement Policy
and Procedures
Check the college website, , for the
most up-to-date student policies 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 computer-based 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”refers to courses
that prepare students for college-level
coursework in reading, writing, English as a
Second Language or Other Language (ESOL),
and math. Developmental education may
include multiple course sequences with
students progressing as skills are developed.
Students are assigned to developmental
courses based on their placement test scores.
E. “Enrollment” refers to 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. “Continuously Enrolled”refers to the
requirement that a student be enrolled
continuously with breaks no longer than four
(4) consecutive full academic semesters (fall
or spring semesters).
H. “Readmitted Students”refers to individuals
who have attended FCC within the past two
years and have reapplied for admission to
the College.
I. “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.
J. “Prerequisites”refers to expectations that
must be met before enrollment in a course
is allowed.
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 full-
time 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.
7. Individuals who are registering for non-
credit courses with prerequisites of reading,
writing, ESL, or mathematics that are
provided through contract training or
offered in the Continuing Education and
Workforce Development (CEWD) course
schedule.
B. Upon completion of all required placement
tests, individuals are required to consult with
an advisor to develop a degree, certificate, or
appropriate 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 V
“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 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 once
per Accuplacer assessment, no sooner
than twenty-four (24) hours after the initial
assessment.
H. Students who are continuously enrolled will
not be permitted to retest once they have
started attending a developmental course(s).
I. Readmitted students must either retest or
complete the developmental requirements
as stipulated in the current FCC Academic
Catalog.
J. Individuals who demonstrate college-
readiness as stipulated in Section V
“Exceptions and Exemptions to Required
Placement Testing” will be eligible to enroll in
the appropriate credit-level courses according
to their specific college-readiness scores.