Axe ’Em, Jacks!
The Texas Success Initiative is a state-mandated program designed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to determine whether you're ready for entry-level college coursework in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics. Students who don't meet one or more of the established benchmarks of the Texas Success Initiative Assessment are required to participate in appropriate foundational/support coursework.
If your TSI Assessment scores result in you being required to take Texas Success Initiative coursework, you'll enroll in the appropriate courses your first term of enrollment and continue the necessary TSI course curriculum until you successfully complete the sequence. TSI registration hold won't be cleared until you're registered into required TSI coursework.
TSI foundational/support courses do not transfer between schools; however, if you took TSI coursework at another institution and didn't finish the college-readiness sequencing, this will be reviewed in determining the next level of TSI coursework you need.
Expand the sections below to understand how you'll achieve a "TSI Complete" status.
English language arts/reading and essay
If your TSI ELAR and essay scores don't meet the benchmark, you'll take:
- ENGL 0199 support course
- paired with ENGL 1301.
You'll earn course credit upon successful completion of ENGL 1301.
Mathematics
If your TSI math score doesn't meet the benchmark, you'll take one or both of the following:
- MATH 0398
- Foundational building-block course prepares you to take the college-level math course needed for your major.
- You will not take the college-level math while you're enrolled in MATH 0398.
- A grade of "C" or better is needed to move to the next course.
- MATH 0199
- Support course paired with a college-level math course applicable toward your major.
- You'll earn course credit upon successful completion of the college-level math course.
Your highest TSI Assessment math score and/or the completion of prior TSI coursework will determine your starting level. The college-level math course is decided by your declared major. If you change your major, contact the Student Success Center to determine if your math course needs to change to meet your new major's degree requirements.
"TSI Complete" and registering for the upcoming term
Completion is determined after final grades are posted for the term.
If you're registering for the upcoming term before final grades are posted to your transcript, your midterm grades will be reviewed to determine TSI coursework preregistration. You may be required to register again for the current TSI coursework.
However, once your final grades are posted you should contact the Student Success Center to have your schedule adjusted appropriately.
Some college-level courses require students to be "TSI Complete" in both math and reading/writing.
Important things to keep in mind
Retaking the TSI Assessment
You may retake the TSI Assessment at any time, but you should retest and submit your scores prior to the first class day to avoid the consequences of changing your schedule during the term.
Course cost
SFA's tuition rates apply to both foundational/support courses and college-level courses. 3-peat tuition applies if a student is repeating a course for the third or more time.
GPA and transcript
MATH 0398, MATH 0199 and ENGL 0199 are foundational/support courses to achieve "TSI Complete" status. They aren't calculated in your GPA, counted in your earned hours or considered substitutes for any course toward your degree.
ENGL 1301 and the college-level math courses do count toward your GPA and are reflected in both your total quality and attempted hours. Visit the Office of the Registrar's Calculating GPA webpage to learn more.