MONTANA BOARD OF REGENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
 Policy and Procedures Manual

 

SUBJECT:  ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

 

Policy� 3xxxx � Writing Proficiency

 

Effective

 

 

I.��� Proposed Board Policy:

 

A.�� Any student seeking admission to a four-year program at Montana State University- Bozeman, Montana State University-Billings, Montana State University-Northern, The University of Montana-Missoula, Montana Tech of The University of Montana, and The University of Montana Western must satisfy a writing proficiency standard. That standard is as follows:

 

For Fall 2009 and the following years, students must earn a minimum score of: 

7���� on the Writing Subscore or an equivalent score on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test of the ACT;

 

7���� on the Essay or an equivalent score on the Writing Section of the SAT;

 

3.5� on the Montana University System Writing Assessment; or

 

3���� or above on the AP English Language or English Literature Examination.

 

B.       The writing proficiency standard will be phased in, beginning in Fall 2007.�

1.       For Fall 2007, students must earn a minimum score of: 

5������� on the Writing Subscore or 16 on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test of the ACT;

5������� on the Essay or 390 on the Writing Section of the SAT;

2.5���� on the Montana University System Writing Assessment, or

3������� or above on the AP English Language or English Literature Examination.

 

2.��� For Fall 2008, students must earn a minimum score of: 

6������� on the Writing Subscore or an equivalent score on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test of the ACT;

6������� on the Essay or an equivalent score on the Writing Section of the SAT;

3������� on the Montana University System Writing Assessment; or  

3������� or above on the AP English Language or English Literature Examination. 

 

C.��� A student who has not yet demonstrated the ability to meet these standards may be admitted to any other program of the Montana University System or be admitted provisionally to a four-year program. Before gaining full admission status to a four-year program, the student may prove that he/she has the appropriate proficiency in the following ways:

1.�� re-take one or more of the listed writing assessments to earn the required score;

2.      earn a grade of C- or better in the composition course that is the prerequisite to the composition course that satisfies the general education program requirements described in Board Policy 301.10;

3.      submit a letter to the admissions office documenting a disability that prevented him/her from adequately demonstrating proficiency in a test setting.

 

D.��� The following categories of students are exempt from the requirements of this policy:

1.��� non-traditional students (those who do not enter college for a period of at least three years from the date of high school graduation or from the date when they would have graduated from high school);

2.         summer-only students; and

3.          part-time students taking seven or fewer college-level semester credits.

 

E.��� In lieu of the indicators set out in paragraphs A and B above, students may offer CLEP Subject Examinations in Composition if their score on the examination meets or exceeds the ACE Recommended Score for Awarding Credit of 50. 

 

F.��� Institutions are authorized to exempt up to 15% of first-time, full-time undergraduates for students with special talents, minorities and others who demonstrate special needs (Policy 301.1 E).