History

In 2003 the Texas Legislature replaced the Texas Academic Skills Test (TASP) with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) coordinates the implementation of TSI across the state. The TSI assessment requires all Texas public institutions of higher education to determine college readiness for success in college-level academic courses. The TSI Assessment is now known as the TSIA 2.0 or TSIA2. All students entering Texas public colleges, technical schools, and universities undergo assessment using the TSIA2, unless exempt. The TSIA2 consists of three examinations – Mathematics, English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), and Essay. Students are placed into appropriate coursework based on their results from the TSIA2.

UTEP is committed to meeting students where they are academically. The Developmental English Program has created several options to help accelerate a student’s progress through developmental education. Co-requisites allow students to co-enroll in developmental education college-level courses simultaneously. Non-course-based options (NCBOs) are bridge programs to help students refresh their skills. Integrated reading and writing courses were established to help students learn reading and writing simultaneously. These varying options save students time, effort, and money.

2017 Co-Requisites (Co-enrollment in Developmental Education and College Credit courses)
Texas House Bill 2223 requires institutions to enroll students who are required to take developmental education in a college-level reading/writing course simultaneously. At UTEP, students enroll in ENGL 0312, Integrated Reading and Writing, a three-hour developmental reading and writing course, and RWS 1301, Rhetoric and Composition I. Successful completion of the co-requisite courses will meet TSI Reading and Writing requirements.

2013 Integrated Reading and Writing Courses
In response to Texas House Bill 1, the Texas Higher Education Coordinated Board began requiring that Developmental English programs no longer offer separate Reading and Writing courses and that the two courses be integrated into one course. UTEP developed ENGL 0312, Integrated Reading and Writing. This course is designed to prepare students for participation in college-level reading and writing courses across the college curriculum. This option is for students who place into developmental education in English.

2013 Non-course Competency-Based Options (NCBEs)
Texas House Bill 1 in 2013 required that Developmental Education programs offer non-course-based options (NCBOs) to help underprepared students accelerate their progress through developmental education.

UTEP developed the first NCBE, Developmental English Workshop, a free 20-hour workshop designed for students who are within a few points of passing the TSIA. The Developmental English Program also created NCBE E021, a four-week bridge program designed to improve students' reading and writing skills. Successful completion of this four-week NCBE allows admission into a 12-week English 0312 course. The last UTEP NCBE is the English Language Arts Workshop (ELA), a twelve-hour integrated reading and writing workshop; students who successfully complete ELA are eligible to take ENGL 0312. Read More