Testing and Assessment Initial Placement
Florida Gateway College wants you to be successful in accomplishing your educational goals. To evaluate your level of preparation, the Department of Education requires that all first-time-in-college students enrolling in degree or college credit programs take an entry level assessment test (such as ACT, SAT, or PERT) prior to your initial placement in reading, English language skills and mathematics courses. Test scores will be accepted provided they are less than two years old at the time of initial placement into subject area courses listed previously.
You may use the highest score from the PERT, ACT or SAT for placement, for example, you may use your PERT score for placement in mathematics and your SAT score for placement in reading and English. If your skills are below the levels defined by the Florida Department of Education as required for successful performance in a college-credit program, you are restricted to college-preparatory courses and any other instruction for which you are adequately prepared.
ACT and SAT
If you have taken the ACT and/or SAT and your scores place you in college-level course work in reading, English language skills, and/or mathematics at Florida Gateway College, you may use these scores. If you have the required SAT-I or Enhanced ACT scores, you must submit an official score report or an official test transcript with the scores to the Admissions Office.
PERT (Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test)
For those with no ACT or SAT test scores, Florida Gateway College offers the PERT (Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test). All students with the exception of dual enrollment students must complete the admission application before taking the test. No appointment is necessary, but you will need to consult the test schedule on the Test Center web page for the test session that will work best for you.
Requirements for Taking the PERT
Whether you are a full-time or a part-time student, if you do not qualify for one of the exceptions that follow, you must complete the PERT prior to registration for any course that has a specific entry test score as a prerequisite.
You will need to bring an official, valid, government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license, passport, or military identification card. You are strongly encouraged to prepare for the PERT through a review session. Information about the review sessions is available in the Test Center and on line at http://www.fgc.edu.
Exceptions to Requirements for Taking the PERT
You will be exempt from taking the PERT, unless needed as a prerequisite for a specific course, if you provide written documentation for one of the following exceptions:
- You have official ACT and/or SAT scores less than two years old that place you in college-level course work at Florida Gateway College.
- You have attended a United States regionally-accredited college or university in which English was the language of instruction and have completed college-level or the highest college-preparatory level coursework, as evaluated by Florida Gateway College, in reading, English language skills and/or mathematics with a grade of C or better
- You hold a college degree from a United States regionally-accredited college or university in which English was the language of instruction and have submitted your official transcript to Florida Gateway College for review.
- Your official Florida Gateway College record indicates that you are a transient student.
How to Prepare for the PERT
It is important that you are well prepared when you take the PERT, To prepare, you may review the resources available on the Test Center web page (http://www.fgc.edu) In addition, workbooks, which are sold in bookstores, include review materials and practice tests for self-directed study. These materials are not designed to teach skills you have not learned previously.
Testing Accommodations
The Test Center will provide appropriate accommodations for all test candidates with documented disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please register with the Office of Disability Services. Upon completion of your registration, the Test Center will be notified of the necessary accommodations for your test administration. You may then contact the Test Center and schedule an appointment.
Advising
Academic advisors assist students with many aspects of their academic career, such as selecting appropriate individual coursework, program planning, and assessing progress toward their educational goals and objectives.
Academic advising is required for each student who enrolls at Florida Gateway College. For assistance, contact the Advising Center at (386) 754-4222.
Preparatory Classes
Each student attempting college level courses at the College must take an approved entry placement exam. The score(s) from this exam will be used in determining the appropriate level course for reading, math, and writing.
A student who scores below the minimum level(s) will be required to complete preparatory (prep) coursework which will not count toward completion of a degree. These courses are designed to assist a student with future college level courses.
A student required to complete one or more prep courses must begin those courses during the first semester if enrolled for 12 or more semester hours. Part-time students must begin prep before completing 12 semester hours. Students must score grades of C or better and pass a coursewide exit exam to progress to the next higher level course, whether that is the next prep level, or college level course. Students must complete the required college preparatory studies by the time they have accumulated 12 hours of college credit or they must maintain continuous enrollment in college preparatory coursework each semester/term until the requirements are completed.
A student required to enroll in a prep course will be academically advised through the Student Development Center during his or her first semester.
Pursuant to state law, students will be allowed only two attempts at a prep course at in-state tuition. The third attempt will be charged at full cost of instruction. Students will be allowed a total of only three attempts at any single prep course. Exceptions to these rules may only be granted for specific, and very limited circumstances. A student wishing to obtain an exemption to the full cost of instruction for the third attempt, should contact the office of the Vice President for Student Services.
Registration
A first semester student must meet with his or her advisor before registration to plan coursework for a particular semester. A student, excluding Dual Enrollment students, who has been enrolled for the prior semester or has met with an advisor, will be allowed to register by Internet.
The College conducts open registration and add/drop periods for each semester. Students may register during any of these periods; however, students are strongly encouraged to register early to avoid closed classes.
The following brief outline will assist students in understanding the formal mechanics of college registration:
- student applies for college admission;
- student completes assessment test (if not already taken within the previous two years);
- student meets with his or her advisor to discuss and complete a program of study and tentative schedule;
- student registers online or through the Registrar’s Office;
- official class schedule may be reviewed and printed via the Internet;
- students who owe obligations to the College or have a registration hold must resolve these prior to registering for classes;
- students must pay fees by the established deadline each semester/term to avoid being dropped from classes.
Auditing Courses
Auditing a course allows the student to attend classes without taking examinations or receiving credit. A symbol of AU is assigned on the student’s transcript. A grade of “AU” (audit) is not computed in the current or cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Auditing a course requires the instructor’s permission and must be done when registering for the course at the beginning of the semester. The audit option is designed to give students an opportunity to take courses to gain perspective, to review subject materials, or for enjoyment, without academic penalty.
A student auditing a course is not allowed to change to credit status. Courses taken for audit do not count as hours enrolled for the following areas: Veteran’s certification, financial aid awards, international student enrollment requirements, early admission program requirements, or dual enrollment.
Acceleration Methods for Students
There are many areas of nontraditional learning which may allow for the awarding of college credit. Below are a few of them. Students should see the academic and admissions sections of this catalog for further information on other areas.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Florida Gateway College allows students with superior academic credentials to receive credit for Advanced Placement work taken in high school. The following conditions apply to Advanced Placement work:
- a student must have passed the Advanced Placement (AP) exam in his or her particular subject area(s) with a score of 3, 4, or 5 and must provide official test scores to the Registrar’s Office;
- advanced placement work will be so identified on the College transcript but will not accrue grade points;
- students are responsible for ensuring that AP credits are noted properly on their academic record.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of examinations developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) that allows students to demonstrate competency in certain subjects and earn college credit for those courses without attending classes. Transfer students must have all transcripts on file from their previous institutions prior to having CLEP credit awarded. There is no charge for posting credits. Semester hours toward graduation are recorded as “credit by examination” with no grades or quality points given. These credits do not affect a student’s grade point average.
The CLEP exams are administered at the Florida Gateway College Test Center or any center authorized by the College Entrance Examination Board. The student is required to provide a copy of their official test scores to the Registrar’s Office in Building 015.
The following conditions apply to the acceptance of CLEP work:
- credit is awarded only when determined to represent student achievement based on the required levels of performance on the examinations and the specific courses for which credit may be granted as determined by the Articulation Coordination Committee (ACC);
- no more than six semester credits shall be transferred in each of the five areas of the general examination on exams administered prior to July 1, 2001;
- no more than 45 CLEP credits may be awarded with no grade points assigned;
- CLEP credits awarded will be recorded on the student’s transcript;
- no credit will be given for courses not offered through the College on exams administered prior to July 1, 2001;
- credit for examinations may be earned in those courses where students have not already earned academic credit; and
- the institution will comply with all applicable state regulations regarding CLEP.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
A list of courses and credits awarded for each examination is available in the Registrar’s Office.
Military Credit
Veterans may be eligible to receive college credit for training and/or other courses completed during their military service. A student may request an evaluation of his or her educational experience while in the military through application to the Registrar’s Office. The College generally follows the American Council of Education evaluation guide when evaluating armed services coursework, but reserves the right to be the sole determinant of courses applicable for college credit. Credit will be accepted when it applies to a student’s program of study and when it is comparable in content, credit, and value to a course offered at Florida Gateway College.
Transient Students
A Florida Gateway College student may wish to take courses at another college or university to complete degree requirements. To do so, a student must:
- complete a transient student form through FLVC.org, or
- complete a transient student request form, which can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office (this certifies good standing to the receiving institution); and
- obtain the necessary signatures required on the transient student form; and
- submit the transient student form to the transient college and request that a final transcript be returned to Florida Gateway College upon completion of the transient work.
To qualify to take a course as a transient student, a student must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA and must have met the prerequisites of the equivalent course offered at FGC. The course being taken at the receiving institution must be certified as equivalent to the FGC course to be transferred by the Registrar’s Office. |
