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DMACC Policies and Procedures 
    
DMACC Policies and Procedures
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ES4202 - Mathematics Placement


Procedure

Section: EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROCEDURES

SubSection: STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND TESTING

Master List Section: Student Services

  1. Institutional Regulation

    This procedure outlines the mathematics assessment requirement for students who wish to enroll in a DMACC mathematics course at Des Moines Area Community College. Math placement is intended to help determine which mathematics course students are prepared to begin in order to maximize the success of students in mathematics courses and/or in their chosen programs of study. Additional information may be found at: http://www.dmacc.edu/mathplacement
     
  2. Procedure
    1. Beginning Fall 2014, students who wish to enroll in mathematics courses at DMACC for the first time will be required to take the Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) mathematics placement assessment. Transfer students and current DMACC students, including Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) and Career Advantage students, who have earned a C- in a pre-requisite math course within eighteen months from the date of enrollment, will be exempt. Students who only need to take MAT 772 for their program of study are also exempt.
    2. ALEKS math placement is a web-based assessment and learning system designed to help determine which math course students are prepared to begin.
    3. ALEKS may be taken online at an off-campus location or at a DMACC campus or attendance center. Technical support information is available on the DMACC math placement website.
    4. Admitted DMACC students who have completed any required New Student Orientation sessions and achieve the percentage of mastery on ALEKS required for enrollment in a course may register for the math course.
    5. Students who do not achieve the percentage of mastery needed for the course they wish to enroll may do the following:
      1. Review initial ALEKS assessment result.
      2. Review ALEKS Placement Preparation Guide on the math placement website.
      3. Complete ALEKS Prep and Learning Module for up to six weeks. If students wish to review prerequisites after the initial six-week time period expires, additional online modules can be purchased at www.ALEKS.com.
      4. Retake ALEKS assessment up to four additional times to improve score and/or review for math class. (The highest score will be used for math placement) There is a 48-hour wait time between exam attempts. Students are also required to complete a specific amount of time on the Prep and Learning Modules prior to each assessment.
        1. 2nd attempt-required to complete 3 hours of Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
        2. 3rd attempt-required to complete 3 additional hours of Prep and Learning Module before attempting assessment.
        3. 4th attempt-required to complete 5 additional hours of Prep and Learning Module before attempting assessment.
        4. 5th attempt (final attempt permitted by DMACC)-required to complete 8 additional hours of Prep and Learning Module before attempting assessment.
      5. Enroll in the pre-requisite mathematics course recommended by the percentage of mastery earned on the ALEKS placement assessment.
    6. Students who have taken ALEKS PPL at another institution, may submit their assessment scores to the Registrar’s Office at DMACC and students will be placed into a math course based on DMACC’s placement scores.
    7. ALEKS test scores are valid for a period of 18 months from the date of the last attempted ALEKS assessment for each student.
    8. Students with a documented disability requiring an accommodation for an online assessment should contact the Disability Services Office at www.dmacc.edu/studentservices/disabilityservices.
    9. ACT and COMPASS scores may not be accepted as a substitute for the ALEKS placement exam except in the event of a formal accommodation. General admission requirements are outlined in ES4100 .


Adopted: October 1, 2013
Revised:
May 1, 2014



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