Faculty Handbook
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Basic Skills Requirement

Administered by the Center for Academic Development and Assessment
Morehead Hall 139
973-655-4476

All students must demonstrate proficiencies in writing, reading and elementary algebra, which are compatible with the successful performance of college-level work. The Montclair State University Placement Requirement provides for the demonstration of such proficiencies through SAT scores, achievement in high school courses, or the assessment of these skills upon entry to the University and, if necessary, enrollment in particular remedial or developmental courses to develop requisite skills. Montclair State University administers the ACCUPLACER for a placement test in reading and mathematics.

Basic Skills Competency Requirement in Math, Reading and Writing

Students are expected to take required developmental courses during their first semester at Montclair State. Full-time students must satisfactorily complete all required courses within the first year of enrollment. Part-time students must enroll in at least one required course during their first semester until all developmental courses are completed; all requirements must be completed within the first two years of enrollment. No student may withdraw from developmental courses, and any student who does not satisfactorily complete required developmental courses will be dismissed from the University.

Basic Skills competency in Mathematics is determined by the following:

  1. All students with SAT MATH scores greater than or equal to 550 are exempt from all remedial coursework in mathematics and do not need to take an algebra placement test. These students should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate 100-level course in MATH.
  2. All students who completed high school Algebra II with a course grade of B- or better are exempt from all remedial coursework in mathematics and do not need to take an algebra placement test. These students should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate 100-level course in MATH.
  3. Students who fail to meet either of the two exemption criteria above are REQUIRED to take an algebra placement test.
    1. Students who achieve a score greater than or equal to 71 on the elementary algebra section of ACCUPLACER are NOT required to enroll in any remedial coursework in elementary algebra and should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate 100-level course in MATH.
    2. Students who score below 71 on the elementary algebra section of ACCUPLACER are REQUIRED to enroll in one of the following elementary algebra courses: MATH 051, “Basic Skills MATH II: Algebra”, or MATH 061, “Basic Skills MATH II: Laboratory – Algebra.” These courses do not count toward the degree.
  1. Transfer students with 24 or more college credits accepted by Montclair are NOT required to enroll in any remedial or developmental coursework in math and should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate 100-level course in MATH.

Basic Skills competency in Reading is determined by the following:

  1. All students with SAT Critical Reading scores greater than or equal to 550 are exempt from all remedial and developmental coursework in reading and do not need to take a reading placement test.  These students should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in appropriate college-level courses.
  2. All students who completed BOTH high school English and History in their junior year with course grades of B or better are exempt from remedial and developmental coursework in reading and do not need to take a reading placement test. These students should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate college-level courses.
  3. Students who fail to meet either of the two exemption criteria above are REQUIRED to take a reading placement test. Students who achieve a score greater than or equal to 72 on the reading section of ACCUPLACER are NOT required to enroll in any remedial or developmental coursework in reading and should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate college-level courses. Students who score below 72 on the reading placement test are REQUIRED to enroll in READ 099,  ” Pre-college Reading Workshop “.
  4. Transfer students with 24 or more college credits accepted by Montclair are NOT required to enroll in any remedial or developmental coursework in reading and should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate college-level courses.

Basic Skills competency in Writing is determined by the following:

  1. All students with SAT Critical Reading scores greater than or equal to 520, or SAT Writing score greater than or equal to 410 are exempt from all remedial and developmental coursework in writing, These students should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in College Writing I. Further assessment to fine-tune placement may be administered by the English Department upon enrollment into Introduction to Writing and College Writing I.
  2. Transfer students with 24 or more college credits accepted by Montclair are NOT required to enroll in any remedial or developmental coursework in writing and should confer with their academic advisors and enroll in the appropriate college-level courses. Further assessment to fine-tune placement may be administered by the English Department upon enrollment into Introduction to Writing and College Writing I.

All questions regarding Montclair State’s remediation and placement testing requirements should be addressed to the Center for Academic Development and Assessment, Student Academic Services, Morehead Hall, Room 139, telephone 973-655-4476.