TDCJ Student Services

ASSESSMENT aND PLACEMENT oF STUDENTS

Beginning freshmen may submit official TSI Test scores or provide an approved alternative test. If a student is required to take the TSI Test and does not receive the minimum required scores on the placement test or the TSI, the student will be required to enroll in developmental studies courses and remain in such courses until he/she has satisfied the college’s developmental policy.

Students who are required to enroll in developmental studies courses may be blocked from enrolling in other semester credit hour courses. Students should contact a TVCC enrollment coordinator for information on who must take the TSI Test and determine blocked courses. For more information in this catalog, see the section on TSI Assessments.

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE (TSI)

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) was instituted by the Texas Legislature and is a program of diagnostic testing and developmental instruction designed to improve student success rates of Texas college students. Entering college students are required to meet established minimum standards on assessment tests in reading, writing and math. Those students who do not meet these standards are required to enroll in appropriate developmental corequisite courses designed to improve their academic skills and prepare them for college-level courses.

The TSI Assessment is a program designed to assess students’ readiness for college-level work in reading, writing and math and to provide information used to identify appropriate interventions that will improve the skills of students who are not prepared for college-level course work. These assessments include multiple-choice questions that are aligned to the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards.

Incoming Texas college students are required to take the TSI Assessment (unless they are exempt; see below) to determine their readiness for college-level work. Based on how a student performs, he/she may be enrolled in a college-level course that matches his/her skill level or be placed in an appropriate developmental course or intervention to improve his/her skills in areas of identified weakness.

EXEMPTION

Not all incoming students need to take the TSI Assessment. Students with a TSI Assessment exemption can enroll in any entry-level college course without restrictions. Students may be exempt if they:

  • Have met the minimum college readiness standard on SAT, ACT or a statewide high school test;
  • Have successfully completed college-level English and/or math courses;
  • Graduated from an institution of higher learning with an associate or baccalaureate degree. 
  • Are enrolling in a Level-One certificate program (fewer than 43 semester credit hours);
  • Are not seeking a degree; or
  • Have been, or currently are, in the military.  (Students with this category of exemption must submit DD-214 and meet eligibility requirements)

For more information, visit THECB rules for TSI.

Advising

Trinity Valley Community College provides students with educational, workforce and career advisement services.  A student may make an appointment for advisement by submitting an I-60 to the Trinity Valley Community College enrollment coordinator through the Unit Education Office.

Library Services

Library resources and services are essential to learning.  Students of Trinity Valley Community College have access to the college library resources in support of respective classes.

Access to the materials is made available to the student through his instructor, who will assist with the selection of course-related resources through the intra-library loan. Student loans are for a three-week period.  Materials can be returned through the TVCC faculty. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the materials are returned on time.

Materials to supplement and complement class assignments will be available for students registered in the specific class.

Textbooks

TVCC purchases all textbooks for students enrolled within TDCJ. Textbooks must be returned to the unit education department at the completion, resignation or termination of course work. TDCJ students are responsible for maintaining the quality of all college textbooks.