Mar 28, 2024  
2015 - 2016 Catalog 
    
2015 - 2016 Catalog [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

General Admissions Requirements


In accordance with the requirements of Louisiana R.S. 17:3151 (Acts 1985, No. 185, Section 1, and Acts 1987, No. 214, Section 1), all male students between the ages of 18-25 are required to register for the federal draft under the federal Military Service Act prior to enrollment at this institution. Other requirements vary according to admission status, educational intent, and other established criteria. Students are notified of admission requirements upon receipt of the application by the Office of Admissions. 

Applicants who have not submitted all required documents prior to admission may be admitted provisionally to Delgado. Provisionally admitted students are given 30 days after the start of the semester to submit all required admissions documents. If the student fails to provide requested documents, a registration and transcript hold will be placed on his or her academic records.

English Language Proficiency Test

All applicants whose first language is not English are required to take the Delgado English Language Proficiency Test. The English Language Proficiency Test consists of a written paper-and-pencil portion designed by the English as a Second Language (ESL) department and a three-part, Internet-based Accuplacer computer portion given through the College Board Educational Testing Service. Enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESLN and ESLR prefixes) courses is required if an English language deficiency is determined. Although the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is not required, international students may test out of ESL if they have the following scores in the Internet Based TOEFL (IBT): Reading - 22 or higher, Speaking - 26 or higher, Listening - 22 or higher, and Writing Skills - 25 or higher. All other types of TOEFL scores will be dealt with on an individual basis. A computerized version of the TOEFL will be available in the Office of Advising and Testing.

Proof/Waiver of Immunization

As required by Louisiana R.S. 17:170, Schools of Higher Learning, and as a condition of enrollment, all Delgado Community College students born after 1956 must show poof/waiver of immunization by providing two separate dates of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and, Rubella) vaccination and one date of the tetanus-diphtheria vaccination within the last 10 years. In addition, ALL freshmen must provide proof/waiver of immunization against meningococcal meningitis. Forms to be completed by the student’s physician or other health care provider are available in the Office of Admissions. Some specific programs have additional immunization requirements.

American College Test (ACT)

First-time freshmen entering Delgado Community College must provide American College Test (ACT) scores that are no more than three (3) years old OR must take the Delgado Placement Test. First-time freshmen who have taken the ACT within the past three years should request that their score reports be sent to the Office of Admissions. Delgado’s ACT code number is 1577. Certain scores on the ACT exempt the student from having to take the Delgado Placement Test. Only first-time freshmen may request English and/or math advanced placement in their first semester at Delgado Community College. ACT scores are used for advanced placement when a student obtains an ACT English score of 25 and/or Math score of 22 in the last 3 years. For the Fall 2015 Semester, only one set of scores may be used for placement; however, effective Spring 2016 Semester the student’s highest relevant ACT scores in English, math and reading across multiple ACT tests will be considered for placement purposes. Students should check with the Office of Advising and Testing for more details.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I)

First-time freshmen entering Delgado Community College who have taken the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I) within the past three (3) years should request that their score reports be sent to the Office of Admissions. Delgado’s code number is 6176.

Applicants will not be refused admission to the College based on test scores. Test scores are used for counseling and placement purposes.

Placement Tests/Advising

The Office of Advising and Testing administers a standardized placement exam. The ACT COMPASS assessment is used to properly place Delgado students in their basic courses. The placement test is administered only to students who have already been admitted to the College. Applicants will not be refused admission to the College because of low test scores. Test scores are used for advising and placement only. The placement test is not a pass/fail exam. This placement test is comprised of three exams: English, math, and reading. A student is required to take all three exams, except when adequate ACT scores or prior course credit has been accepted. An optional biology test is also offered for science majors who wish to bypass General Biology I Lecture and/or Lab.

All certificate/degree­-seeking students (first-­time freshmen, transfer, and re­admit) who do not have appropriate ACT scores for placement purposes, or who have not passed college-­level English and math courses, or who have not successfully completed developmental English and math with a grade of “C” or better within the last three (3) years may be required to take the Delgado Placement Test.

There is a non-refundable testing fee for the placement test and for each verification test subject.

The COMPASS exam is computerized. Study guides for the placement exam are available in the Office of Advising and Testing. Students may also refer to www.act.org/compass/sample/index.html for sample study questions.

Reading Placement

Delgado students are tested on reading comprehension and placed into reading courses based on their scores on the Compass Reading Placement Test.  A score of 1-30 requires READ 070; a score of 31-60 requires READ 071; a score of 61-70 requires READ 072. A score of 71-75 paired with a Compass English Placement Test score of 70 or below requires READ 072.  A score of 71-75 paired with a Compass English Placement Test score of 71 or above requires READ 101. With a score of 76-90, READ 101 is recommended. With a score of 91 or above, reading is not required. (Students must successfully complete required developmental course work and pass a reading exit exam before enrolling in most college-­level courses.)

Delgado’s Reading Placement Test may not be retaken during the three (3) years in which the results are valid. If the student does not successfully complete the designated entry-level reading course within three (3) years, the student must retake the Delgado Placement Test. Students may challenge their reading placement results through verification. Students must make an appointment in the Office of Advising and Testing for the reading verification exam.

English Placement

The Compass English Placement Test is an exam designed to determine which level of English would best serve the student’s needs. The final placement score determines which level of English the student requires: a score of 1-10 requires ENGL 060; a score of 11-45 requires ENGL 061; a score of 46-70 requires ENGL 062 (ENGL 060, 061, and 062 are developmental courses and must be successfully completed before a student may enroll in a college-level ENGL), a score of 71 or higher requires ENGL 101 (college-level English). It is important that the student perform to his or her best ability, for Delgado’s English Placement Test may not be retaken during the three (3) years in which the results are valid. If the student does not successfully complete the designated entry-level English course within three (3) years, the student must retake the Delgado Placement Test. Under special circumstances students may challenge their English placement results through verification. Students must make an appointment to take the English Verification Exam in the Office of Advising and Testing. This verification exam is a 60­-minute essay scored by the English faculty.  

Math Placement

Delgado students whose math score is below 18 on the ACT or below 420 on the SAT are placed into their math classes based on their performances on the Compass Math Placement Test. This test is administered by the Office of Advising and Testing and covers the material from MATH 092 – MATH 131. Students may choose to prepare for this exam. Handouts and online resource information indicating what is covered on the placement test are available in the Office of Advising and Testing.

Delgado’s Math Placement Test may not be retaken during the three (3) years in which the results are valid. Students who do not successfully complete the designated entry-level math course within three (3) years must retake the Delgado Placement Test.

Once students have taken the Compass Math Placement Test, retakes are not possible. However, a procedure does exist for these students to challenge their placement. Students attempting to enroll in their FIRST math course at Delgado may challenge their math placement through a process called Placement Verification. This procedure consists of individual tests for the various math levels. Each test contains 16 problems. If students successfully complete the first test, they are offered the opportunity to take sequential tests as long as they continue to pass. Verification tests exist for MATH 092, 093, and 094. It is possible, though not likely, for  students who are placed in MATH 092 to qualify for MATH 128/130 through this process.

Students who were previously enrolled in a Delgado math course, whether they completed the course or not, are not eligible for placement verification.

The Office of Advising and Testing will administer the indicated verification tests in succession until the student reaches a level of math difficulty greater than that individual’s math skills. If a change of math level is indicated, the student will take the completed verification form to the registration area or appropriate division office to have math courses changed. During regular registration, placement verification is administered in the Math Lab.

Students seeking placement verification should make every effort to complete the process before classes begin. No verification tests will be administered after the first week of class during the fall and spring semesters or after the first two days of class during the summer session.

More information about placement and credit 

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