Direct Enrollment
ESCC is currently using a process called Direct Enrollment that places students into college courses, with appropriate pre-requisite or co-requisite academic support, if needed. Direct Enrollment is designed to help students complete their college studies in less time so that they save money and are prepared to transfer or enter the workforce more quickly. Multiple placement measures, such as high school GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and/or GED scores, will determine which English and mathematics courses a student needs to take. Students may be placed directly into the college-level English or mathematics course required in their program of study.
Students who are not fully prepared for direct placement into a college-level English or mathematics course, with or without the co-requisite course requirement, will be placed into a developmental course designed to elevate the student’s preparedness for the college-level English or mathematics course required in the student’s chosen program of study.
Students Who Completed High School Less Than Six Years Ago
Students who completed high school within less than six years ago shall be placed into college level English and math courses using the following means and measures:
- Student-reported high school GPA and the highest level of high school mathematics successfully completed as shown in the table below. High School seniors who have not yet graduated may be evaluated as of the completion of the first semester of their senior year to determine readiness.
- Official SAT, ACT, or GED scores may be used to determine readiness as shown in the table below.
- Any student who has earned an associate degree or higher or who has earned a C or better in college-level courses in Math/English at a VCCS college or another institution will be considered ready for college-level English/math courses provided they meet the prerequisites for the course.
- Any student who has successfully completed all required developmental courses at a VCCS institution will be considered ready for college-level English and math courses.
- Any student who placed into or attempted a college-level math course, regardless of the grade earned at another college, may be placed in the equivalent VCCS math course.
- The Virginia Placement Test (VPT) may be used only where external documentation of prerequisite or co-requisite developmental courses is required or where otherwise stipulated in policy for a specific group.
Students Who Completed High School More Than Six Years Ago
Students who completed high school more than six years ago are encouraged to discuss their education, work experience, and educational goals with an advisor to make an informed decision about placement. The Direct Enrollment Survey will provide English and mathematics review sheets for each student. The student will be shown examples of English and math problems. Students will not be asked to do any writing or solve any math problems. Rather, students will be asked whether the questions look familiar, whether they are able to complete certain types of reading and writing assignments, and whether they have learned to solve certain types of math problems before. Based on a student’s answers, they will receive a placement recommendation. The decision about whether to enroll in college-level courses, with or without a developmental pre-requisite course or co-requisite academic support course, is up to the student.
Current Students Who Have Taken Developmental Courses
Current students who have previously taken developmental English or Mathematics courses at ESCC will be advised into college courses based on a Direct Enrollment crosswalk available from their advisor.
Measures for College-Level Math Readiness
Student readiness for college level math courses will be determined using one of the following measures.
| Math Measures | Standard | Math Course Options |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation from high school or an equivalent homeschool six or more years before applying to a VCCS college | Completed VCCS Enrollment Survey | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154 MTH 155 MTH 161, or MTH 167 |
| HSGPA and Algebra II | 3.0 or higher | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154 MTH 155 MTH 161 or MTH 167 |
| 2.0-2.99 | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133 MTH 154 + MDE 54, MTH 155 + MDE or MTH 161 + MDE 61 | |
| Less than 2.0 | MDE 10 | |
| HSGPA and NO Algebra II | 3.0 or higher | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154, MTH 155, or MDE 60 |
| 2.0-2.99 | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154 + MDE 54, MTH 155 + MDE55 , or MDE 60 | |
| Less than 2.0 | MDE 10 | |
| SAT – Math | 500 or above | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154, MTH 155, MTH 161 or 167 |
| 470-490 range | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154, MTH 155, or MTH 161 + MDE 61 | |
| ACT – Subject Area Test Math | 18 or above | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154, MTH 155, MTH 161, or MTH 167 |
| 17 | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154, MTH 161 + MDE 61 | |
| GED – Mathematical Reasoning | 165 or above | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTE 154, MTH 155, or MTH 161 + MDE 61 |
| 155-164 range | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133, MTH 154 + MDE 54, MTH 155 + MDE 55, or MDE 60 | |
| 154 or below | MDE 10 | |
| VPT – Virginia Placement Test | Eight or more MTT/MTE competencies satisfied | Student may enroll in: MTH 161 MTH 167 |
| Six or more MTT/MTE competencies satisfied | Student may enroll in: MTH 161 + MDE 61 | |
| Four or more MTT/MTE competencies satisfied | Student may enroll in: MTH 154 MTH 155 | |
| Three or more MTT/MTE competencies satisfied | Student may enroll in: MTH 154 + MDE 54 MTH 155 + MDE 55 MDE 60 | |
| Two or more MTT/MTE competencies satisfied | Student may enroll in: MTH 101-133 | |
| One or fewer MTT/MTE competencies satisfied | MDE 10 |
Measures for College-Level English Placement
Student readiness for college-level English courses will be determined using one of the following measures.
| English Measures | Standard | English Course Options |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation from high school or an equivalent homeschool six or more years before applying to a VCCS college | Competed VCCS Enrollment Survey | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 ENG 115 ENG 131 |
| HSGPA | 3.0 or higher | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 ENG 115 ENG 131 |
| 2.0-2.9 | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 + EDE 11 ENG 115 ENG 131 | |
| Less than 2.0 | Student must enroll in: EDE 10 | |
| SAT-ERW | 480 or above | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 ENG 115 ENG 131 |
| 400-470 range | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 + EDE 11 ENG 115 ENG 131 | |
| Below 400 | Student must enroll in: EDE 10 | |
| ACT – Subject Area Tests English and Reading | 18 or above | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 ENG 115 ENG 131 |
| 15-17 range | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 + EDE 11 ENG 115 ENG 131 | |
| 14 and below | Student must enroll in: EDE 10 | |
| GED – Reasoning Through Language Arts | 165 or above | Student must enroll in: ENG 111 ENG 115 ENG 131 |
| Below 165 | Student must enroll in: EDE 10 | |
| VPT – Virginia Placement Test | Placed in ENG 111 | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 ENG 115 ENG 131 |
| Placed in ENF 2 or ENF 3 | Student may enroll in: ENG 111 + EDE 11E NG 115 ENG 131 | |
| Placed in ENF 1 or lower | Student must enroll in: EDE 10 |
Workforce Programs
Placement testing is normally not required for most Workforce Development programs; however, some are integrated with the Adult Education program, and may include pre- and post-class assessments for reading and/or math. For additional information, contact Dawn McElwain, FastForward Career Coach (757-789-1787) or Scott Hall, Workforce & Business Solutions Officer (757-789-1752).