1. (a) An institution shall assess, by an instrument approved in §4.56 of this title (relating to Assessment Instruments), the academic skills of each entering, non-exempt undergraduate student as defined in §4.53(24) of this title (relating to Definitions) prior to enrollment of the student. Under exceptional circumstances, an institution may permit a student to enroll in freshman-level academic coursework without assessment but shall require the student to be assessed not later than the end of the first semester of enrollment in entry-level freshman coursework.

2. (b) Prior to the administration of an approved instrument in §4.56 of this title (relating to Assessment Instrument), a test administrator shall provide to the student a pre-assessment activity(ies) that addresses at a minimum the following components in an effective and efficient manner, such as through workshops, orientations, and/or online modules:

   1. (1) Importance of assessment in students' academic career;
   2. (2) Assessment process and components, including practice with feedback of sample test questions in all disciplinary areas;
   3. (3) Developmental education options including corequisite, course-pairing, non-course-based, modular, and other non-conventional interventions;
   4. (4) Institutional and/or community student resources (e.g., supplemental instruction, tutoring, transportation, childcare, financial aid).

3. (c) For holistic placement of non-exempt undergraduate students not meeting standards as defined in §4.57(a) of this title (relating to College Ready Standards), institutions shall use for determination of appropriate courses and/or interventions the TSI Assessment results and accompanying Diagnostic Profile, along with consideration of one or more of the following:

   1. (1) High school Grade Point Average/class ranking;
   2. (2) Prior academic coursework and/or workplace experiences;
   3. (3) Non-cognitive factors (e.g., motivation, self-efficacy); and
   4. (4) Family-life issues (e.g., job, childcare, transportation, finances).
4. (d) An institution offering collegiate-level credit to students via a Multi-Institution Teaching Center (MITC) or a university system center, or to in-state students by distance learning delivery systems shall ensure that students are assessed as required by this section.
5. (e) An institution may not use the assessment or the results of the assessment as a condition of admission to the institution or as a condition of admission to a specific program offered by the institution.

Source Note:The provisions of this §4.55 adopted to be effective December 3, 2003, 28 TexReg 10753; amended to be effective November 28, 2012, 37 TexReg 9358; amended to be effective August 15, 2013, 38 TexReg 5063; amended to be effective February 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 1059.