Date: February 28, 1997 The Caifornh State University Offce of the Chanceor 400 Goden Shore Long Beach, Caifornia 90W2-4275 (562) 985-2800 To: From: Presidents Barry Muni Chanceor Subject: I am transmitting to you five copies of Executive Order 665, the Determination of Competence in Engish and Mathematics. The Executive Order is issued pursuant to Tite 5, Caifornia Code of Reguations, Section 40402.1, Board of Trustees Resoution Number REP 01-96-02, and Sections 1 and 2 of Chapter III of the Standing Orders of the Board of Trustees of The Caifornia State University. In accordance with the poicy of The Caifornia State University, the campus President has the responsibiity for impementing Executive Orders where appicabe and for maintaining the campus repository and index for a Executive Orders. BMXp -_-_- ---- - ----------~---------------------------------------------------.---- Distribution: Chanceor s Office Staff
The Caifornia State University Office of the Chanceor 400 Goden Shore Long Beach, Caifornia 90802-4275 (562) 985-2800 Executive Order No.: 665 Tite: Determination of Competence in Engish and Mathematics Effective Date: Fa Term 1998 Supersedes: Executive Order No. 582 and Executive Order 514 This Executive Order is issued pursuant to Tite 5, Caifornia Code of Reguations, Section 40402.1, Board of Trustees Resoution Number REP 01-96-02, and Sections 1 and 2 of Chapter III of the Standing Orders of the Board of Trustees of The Caifornia State University. This executive order appies to a students who enter the Caifornia State University in or after the fa term 1998. I. Assessment of Competence in Mathematics and Pacement in Remedia or Deveopmenta ProgramsActivities A. Poicy Deveopment The Advisory Committee on Entry Leve Mathematics, appointed by the chanceor from among the CSU facuty and administration, sha have primary responsibiity for poicy deveopment and recommendation regarding entry eve mathematics skis testing and instruction. B. Entry Leve Competence 1. Each entering CSU undergraduate student sha be required to take the CSU Entry Leve Mathematics (ELM) examination for pacement in appropriate programs/activities, except those who quaify for the foowing exemptions: a. First-time freshmen can quaify for an exemption on the basis of satisfactory performance on examinations determined to be appropriate by the Entry Leve Mathematics (ELM) Deveopment Committee. These examinations and the required minimum scores are described in Addendum A. b. Transfer students can quaify for an exemption either on the basis of satisfactory performance on an examination isted in Addendum A or by competion and transfer to CSU of a coege course that satisfies the Genera Education-Breadth~or Intersegmenta Genera Education Transfer Curricuum (IGETC) quantitative reasoning requirement, provided such course was competed with a grade of c or better. 2. Satisfying the ELM requirement sha be defined as any one of the foowing: a. Quaifying for exemption from the ELM examination; b. Passing the ELM examination; or c. Taking the ELM examination and, in the event of not passing it, demonstrating competence in intermediate agebra by passing campus-approved mathematics programs/activities or by retaking and passing the ELM examination. (Page 1 of 4)
3. A non-exempt student sha be required to take the ELM examination after admission and before enroment in the CSU. 4. Satisfaction of the ELM requirement sha be a prerequisite to enroment in a CSU course that satisfies the Genera Education-Breadth requirement in quantitative reasoning. Campuses may estabish time imits for the appicabiity of ELM scores and mathematics course grades to eigibiity for enroment in specified coursework as determined ocay. In cases where the time imit is exceeded, each campus may require that a student demonstrate current competence prior to entry into a course which satisfies the Genera Education- Breadth requirement in quantitative reasoning. 5. Campuses sha ensure that students who do not demonstrate the requisite competence in mathematics are paced in appropriate remedia or deveopmenta programs/activities during the first term of enroment and each subsequent term unti such time as they demonstrate competence. 6. Campuses are encouraged to estabish and enforce imits on remedia/deveopmenta activity and to advise students who are not making adequate progress in deveoping foundationa skis to consider enroing in other educationa institutions as appropriate. 7. Campuses may permit students to retake the ELM examination at oca option, particuary after sef-study and/or enroment in sef-contained casses, study, or tutoring. 8. Campuses are free to designate other courses for which satisfaction of the Entry Leve Mathematics (ELM) requirement is prerequisite. 9. The CSU Entry Leve Mathematics Deveopment Committee sha review the ELM examination at east annuay and revise it as necessary. The committee sha determine the passing score denoting entry eve mathematics competence on the ELM examination which sha be appicabe systemwide. 10. Appointed periodicay by the chanceor from among the CSU facuty and administration, an ELM Evauation Committee sha conduct evauation studies of test vaidity, reiabiity, utiity, and other program issues as assigned and recommend appropriate action. II. Assessment of Competence in Writing Skis and Pacement in Remedia or Deveopmenta Programs/Activities A. Poicy Deveopment The Advisory Committee on Student Writing Skis, appointed by the chanceor from among the CSU facuty and administration, sha have primary responsibiity for poicy deveopment and recommendation regarding student writing skis testing and instruction. B. Entry Leve Competence 1. Each entering CSU undergraduate student sha be required to take the CSU Engish Pacement Test for pacement in appropriate Engish programs/activities, except those who quaify for the foowing exemptions: a. First-time freshmen can quaify for an exemption on the basis of satisfactory performance on examinations determined to be appropriate by the CSU Engish Pacement Test Deveopment Committee and the CSU Engish Pacement Test Evauation Committee. These examinations and the required minimum scores are described in Addendum B. (Page 2 of 4)
b. Transfer students can quaify for an exemption either on the basis of satisfactory performance on an examination isted in Addendum B or by competion and transfer to CSU of a coege course that satisfies the Genera Education-Breadth or Intersegmenta Genera Education Transfer Curricuum (IGETC) requirement in wtitten communication, provided such course was competed with a grade of C or better. C. Transfer students not otherwise exempt who enro with 56 or more transferabe semester units must compete the test ony if they are subject to the 1986-87 or ater campus cataog or buetin. 2. Satisfying the EPT requirement sha be defined as any one of the foowing: a. Quaifying for exemption from the EPT examination; b. Passing the EPT examination; or c. Taking the EPT examination and, in the event of not passing it, demonstrating competence by passing campus-approved Engish programs/activities. 3. Non-exempt students sha be required to take the EPT examination after admission and before enroment in the CSU. 4. Satisfaction of the EPT requirement sha be a prerequisite to enroment in a CSU course that satisfies the Genera Education-Breadth requirement in written Engish communication. Campuses sha ensure that students who do not demonstrate requisite competence are required to enro in appropriate remedia or deveopmenta programs/activities during the first term of enroment and each subsequent term unti such time as they demonstrate competence. 5. Campuses are encouraged to estabish and enforce imits on remediideveopmenta activity and to advise students who are not making adequate progress in deveoping foundationa skis to consider enroing in other educationa institutions as appropriate. 6. Campuses sha conduct periodic evauations of their writing skis programs to ensure that deficiencies in student writing skis are corrected as effrciendy and expeditiousy as possibe. I. The CSU Engish Pacement Test Deveopment Committee sha review the EPT at east annuay and revise it as necessary. The committee sha determine the passing score denoting Engish competence on the EPT examination which sha be appicabe systemwide. The committee sha be appointed by the chanceor. 8. Appointed periodicay by the chanceor from among the CSU facuty and administration, an EPT Evauation Committee sha conduct evauation studies of test vaidity, reiabiity, utiity and other program issues as assigned and recommend appropriate action. C. Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): Baccaaureate Leve 1. A students subject to the degree requirements of the 1977-78 or subsequent genera cataogs must demonstrate competence in writing skis at the upper division eve as a requirement for the baccaaureate degree and, if not previousy met in the CSU, for a second baccaaureate degree. (Page 3 of 4)
2. Students sha be matricuated at the CSU campus where they satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement @WAR). 3. As soon as possibe after students are admitted, campuses sha inform them of writing skis proficiency requirements for graduation, as distinct from ower division curricua and tests. Certification of writing competence sha be made avaiabe to students as they enter the junior year. Students shoud compete the requirement before the senior year. 4. Certification of graduation writing proficiency is an a-campus responsibiity. Certification may rey on evidence of writing abiity as demonstrated in written coursework, essay examinations, or other measures of student writing competence. Measures may be deveoped which best fit individua campus needs. However, certification by examination shah incude a common essay written and evauated under controed conditions and scored by at east two facuty readers. 5. Certification of graduation writing competence sha be transferabe from one CSU campus to another. 6. Campuses sha submit annuay to the Chanceor s Offtce as requested a description of any changes in campus provisions for impementation of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). Campus GWAR programs sha be subject to periodic review and evauation at east every five years under the supervision of the Advisory Committee on Student Writing Skis. D. Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement: Graduate Leve 1. Campuses may require demonstration of writing proficiency as a condition for admission to a graduate program. 2. Campuses sha require demonstration of writing proficiency prior to the award of a graduate degree. The eve of proficiency sha be no ess than the eve required for GWAR certification at the baccaaureate eve. 3. Campuses may require additiona demonstration of advanced-eve writing proficiency as a condition for admission to a graduate program and/or award of the graduate degree. Date: February 28, 1997 (Page 4 of 4)
Addendum A Executive Order No. 665 The Entry Leve Mathematics Examination (ELM) The ELM examination tests for entry eve mathematics skis acquired through three years of rigorous coege preparatory mathematics coursework (normay Agebra I, Agebra II, and Geometry). A undergraduate students must take the test or be exempted from it prior to enroment in any course, incuding remedia courses. Specific poicies regarding retesting and pacement wi be determined by the campus. Exemptions from the test are given ony to those students who can present proof of one of the foowing: A score of 3 or above on the Coege Board Advanced Pacement mathematics examination (AB or BC). A score of 560 or above on the mathematics section of the Coege Board SAT taken prior to March 1994. A score of 560 or above on the Coege Board Math Achievement Test* Leve I or Leve II taken prior to March 1994. A score of 560 or above on the mathematics section of the Coege Board SAT I* Reasoning Test or on the Coege Board SAT II* Mathematics Tests Leve I, II, or IIC (Cacuator) taken on or after March 1, - 1994. (See note beow.) A score of 24 or above on the American Coege Testing Mathematics Test taken prior to October 1989. A score of 2.5 or above on the enhanced ACT Mathematics Test taken October 1989 or ater. *Note: The Coege Board SAT and Achievement Tests won repaced by SAT I and SAT II, respectivey, beginning March 1994. Beginning Apri I, 1995, the SAT I and SAT II exams were scored on a new scae: however, the SAT scores quaifying for exemption from the ELM remain the same.
Addendum B Executive Order No. 665 Engish Pacement Test (EPT) The Engish Pacement Test, deveoped cooperativey by the CSU facuty and Educationa Testing Service (ETS), is designed to assess the eve of anaytica reading and writing skis of students entering the Caifornia State University. The test is offered ony to admitted students and has no effect on admission decisions. The CSU Engish Pacement Test must be competed by a non-exempt undergraduates prior to enroment in any course, incuding remedia courses. Exemptions from the EPT are given ony to those who present proof of one of the foowing: A score of 3, 4, or S on either the Language and Composition or the Composition and Literature examination of the Coege Board Schoastic Advanced Pacement program. A score on the CSU Engish Equivaency Examination that quaifies the student for Pass for Credit or Exemption. A score of 470 or above on the Verba section of the Coege Board Schoastic Aptitude Test (SAT) taken prior to March 1994,. A score of 470 or above on the Verba section of the Coege Board SAT I* Reasoning Test taken between March 1994 and March 1995. (If taken after March 1995, see note beow.) A score of 22 or above on the American Coege Testing (ACT) Engish Usage Test taken prior to October 1989.. A score of 25 or above on the enhanced ACT Engish Test taken October 1989 or ater. A score of 600 or above on the Coege Board Achievement Test* in Engish Composition with essay taken prior to January 1994. A score of 600 or above on the Coege Board SAT II* Writing Test taken between January 1994 and March 1995. (If taken after March 1995, see note beow.) A score of 550 or above on the Verba section of the Coege Board SAT I* Reasoning Test taken on or after Apri 1, 1995. (See note beow.). A score of 660 or above on the Coege Board SAT II* Writing Test taken on or after Apri 1,199s. (See note beow.) *Note: The Coege Board SAT and Achievement Tests were repaced by SAT I and SAT II respectivey. beginning March 1994 Beginning Apri 1, 1995, the SAT I and SAT 11 exams were scored on a new scae.