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Texas Success Initiative

In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062, students who enter public institutions of higher education must take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSI Assessment) prior to enrolling in college-level courses. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-mandated program designed to improve student success in college. There are two components of the program:

  1. An assessment to diagnose students’ basic skills in reading, mathematics, and writing, and
  2. Developmental instruction to strengthen academic skills that need improvement.

All non-exempt students are required by law to take the TSI Assessment. It is the responsibility of the student to see that scores are sent to the university by the testing institution. TSI, in part, requires the following:

  1. Mandatory Testing and Assessment: All students must take the TSI Assessment prior to enrolling in college level courses at a Texas public postsecondary institution.
  2. Mandatory Orientation: All new students to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, must attend an orientation session prior to being allowed to register for classes. TSI information is disseminated at these orientation sessions.
  3. Mandatory Academic Advisement: All students who have not passed all sections of the TSI Assessment must be advised prior to registration each semester.
  4. Mandatory Developmental Education or Interventions (if indicated by the TSI assessment): The TSI Assessment concentrates on three basic skills: reading, mathematics and writing. The standards for passing the test represent the minimum knowledge students entering college in Texas should have in order to succeed academically. Developmental courses or interventions are provided to help students overcome deficiencies identified from the assessment. Students must remain in continuous developmental education or interventions until they pass all sections of TSI.

TSI Assessment Exemption Students

In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062, students in the following categories who enter public institutions of higher education a student may be exempt from TSI requirements.

The law allows for exemptions for the following categories of students:

  1. For a period of five years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards:
    1. ACT: Composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on both the English and mathematics tests (partial exemptions are allowed).
    2. SAT: A combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and the mathematics tests.
  2. For a period of five years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) with a minimum score of 2200 on the English Language Arts with a minimum writing subscore of a 3 and a minimum score of 2200 on the mathematics test (partial exemptions are allowed; students with STAAR EOCs should see an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center (AAC) about TSI exemption).
  3. A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education in the state of Texas.
  4. A student who transfers to an institution from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution.
  5. A student who has previously attended any Texas institution of higher education and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.
  6. A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.
  7. A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States of the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.

Other TSI Rules

  1. Students who fail one or more parts of the TSI Assessment must register for developmental courses or participate in interventions in the deficient area every semester until they meet standards for each part of the test. Standards are set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and are subject to change.
  2. Students who have not passed all parts of the TSI Assessment may not register for any 3000- or 4000-level courses if the number of college hours they already earned plus the number of hours for which they wish to register totals 60 or more hours.
  3. Concurrent Enrollment students and international students seeking a degree are subject to the same TSI requirements as all other students.
  4. Test scores are considered official only if they are sent directly from the testing company to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, or if they appear on an official transcript from another Texas college or university.

Additional TSI information, including the rules adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and information about special provisions related to certain disabilities. Students needing more information on TSI rules or their TSI status can call 956-665-7120 or 956-665-2319.

The TSI Assessment Information is available from the Testing Center, located at in Community Engagement & Student Services (CESS) Bldg., Rm. 1.101, 1407 East Freddy Gonzalez Dr., Edinburg, TX.

For more information, call 956-665-7570 (UTRGV Edinburg Campus) or 956-882-7581 (UTRGV Brownsville Campus).