TITLE	NUMBER	APPROVED DATE
ADMISSIONS, "ABILITY-TO-BENEFIT" ENTRANCE TEST CRITERIA	16 - 1 - 8	3-27-01
BASED ON POLICY NUMBER AND TITLE
16-1-0 ADMISSIONS

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PURPOSE: To provide entrance test criteria as required by the U.S. Department of Education for an applicant who does not possess a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) credential but who wishes both to (1) enroll at Trident Technical College, and (2) apply for federal financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education issued "Ability-to-Benefit" (ATB) regulations in the Federal Register, on December 1, 1995, pages 61830-61844, and on October 25, 1996, pages 55542-55543.

PROCEDURE:

1. Upon application for admission under the Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) guidelines, the Director of Admissions verifies that the applicant has applied for financial aid.
   
   
2. Upon verification of financial aid status, the applicant receives an Ability-to-Benefit form from the Director of Admissions authorizing the applicant to take the American College Testing's (ACT) Computer-Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System (COMPASS),  COMPASS/ESL if an ESL applicant, or ASSET if approved by Services for Students with Disabilities.  The College will approve the COMPASS/ESL test only for students whose native language is not English and who are not fluent in English.
   
   
3. The applicant presents the Ability-to-Benefit form to Testing Services staff at the time of testing. Testing Services provides a copy of the tests scores to the applicant as well as the Admissions and Financial Aid offices.  Testing Services staff refers the applicant back to the Director of Admissions for additional score interpretation.
   
   
4. The U.S. Department of Education allows ATB applicants one initial test and one retest attempt.  The Department of Education also requires that an applicant meets or exceed he following minimum scores on each of the three components of the following tests during a single test administration:
              

ACT TEST COMPONENT	COMPASS	COMPASS/ESL (Non-native English)	ASSET (ADA or High School)
Reading	62		35
Writing	32		35
Pre-Algebra/Numerical Skills	25		33
ESL Grammar/Usage		64
ESL Reading		70
ESL Listening		70

 

   

5.  The U.S. Department of Education states that ATB applicants who do not initially meet or
     exceed all the three required minimum scores on the complete test during a single test
     administration may request a retest.  On a retest, the applicant must retake all three components
     during a single test administration and meet or exceed the minimum scores on each component.
     There is a $25 fee for the retest administration.  The applicant does not need retest approval,
     and test scores are not required to be in a retest range.  However, the applicant cannot retest on
     the same day as initial testing.  Testing Services or Admissions discuss the retesting options
     with the applicant and advise the applicant to review English and Math content before retesting.

6.  If an applicant does not achieve the required minimum scores on the first retest attempt, the   
     applicant may petition the Dean of Enrollment Management in writing for a second retest 
     attempt.  At the time of petition, the applicant must submit documentation that suggests possible  
     improvement (e.g., letter signed by an administrator verifying participation in a school-based 
     community-based adult education, literacy, tutoring program, or a monitored academic 
     intervention activity).  If the Dean of Enrollment Management approves a second retest attempt 
     within 90 days of the initial test administration, the applicant pays another $25 fee.  If the Dean 
     of Enrollment Management approves a second retest attempt beyond 90 days of the initial test 
     administration, the College waives the $25 fee.

7.  When the applicant does not meet or exceed the required minimum scores on each of the three
      test component during a single test administration within 90 days of initial testing (initial and
      possibly two retest administrations), additional requirements apply.  Each subsequent approved  
      retest attempt requires payment of the $25 retest fee, a 90-day period between attempts, and
      may require additional counseling and/or intervention.
    

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Updated July 22, 2009