University of Southern Indiana >> Academic Skills

Placement Testing - Reading

The University has mandatory reading placement beginning fall 2009. The placement for reading is determined by a student’s SAT Critical Reading (SATR) or ACT Reading (ACTR) score and/or transfer credit. Transfer students with 10 or more transfer hours will be exempt. Students without information will need to take a reading placement test in Academic Skills. Placement results determine the entry-level reading course students will need to take.

Reading Exemptions

Student will be exempt from a reading course based on the following:

SAT Critical Reading score of at least 420
ACT Reading score of at least 17
10+ hours of transfer credit

Reading Placement

There are three possible reading recommendations:

University Level indicates that the student is capable of reading independently and ready to enroll in reading-intense college courses.

GENS 151 (Academic Reading Strategies)
In order to be successful in college, students must be able to read, comprehend, synthesize, and process large amounts of information. This course emphasizes the before, during, and after active reading strategies necessary for learning information across the academic disciplines. In addition, students will be encouraged to become self-regulated learners and will demonstrate their understanding of the strategies through practice and application on college-level textbook reading. Students should enroll in a reading intensive course (i.e. history, sociology, political science) as a companion for applying the reading strategies. This three-credit hour course counts as elective credit toward graduation. Prereq: Successful completion of GENS 099 or appropriate placement based on SAT Critical Reading or ACT Reading scores

GENS 099 (Skills For College Reading)
This non-credit course introduces students to specific reading skills for improving literal and critical reading comprehension in preparation for the demands of college-level reading. In addition, an emphasis will be placed on vocabulary development through knowledge and skill of context clues, word awareness strategies and through various readings. Credit in this course will not apply to a degree. Students whose SAT Critical Reading or ACT Reading scores meet the University’s established level of readiness for GENS 099 may enroll in this course. Students should not enroll in a reading-intensive class while taking this course. Students who begin their reading placement in GENS 099 will be required to enroll in the subsequent reading course, GENS 151, in order to be prepared for academic textbook reading.

Reading Sequence

Students who begin their reading placement in GENS 099 will also need to enroll in the subsequent reading course, GENS 151, in order to be prepared for college level reading. It is recommended that students enrolled in a full semester GENS 151 course also enroll in one of the following courses concurrently: History 101, 102, 111, 112/Economics 175/Psychology 201/Sociology 121/Biology 105.

More Information

For more information about Reading Placement, contact Lori Saxby, Reading Specialist, in Academic Skills at 812 464-1743 or lsaxby@usi.edu

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600