ACT Center

Testing and Assessment Office

COMPASS Placement Tests

Jefferson State Community College requires a comprehensive assessment of students in math and English prior to enrollment in classes unless appropriate exemptions are on file with Enrollment Services (see below): Failure to take the placement tests, failure to make satisfactory scores on the placement tests (as defined by college policy), or failure to have appropriate exemptions on file with Enrollment Services will result in students being placed into developmental English, reading, and/or math courses.

The COMPASS placement tests for English and math are administered each Thursday at the Jefferson Campus (2601 Carson Road) and each Thursday at the Shelby campus (4600 Valleydale Road) between the hours of 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. The test is free but, there is an $8.00 administrations fee that must be paid at the cashier office before a re-test. Students may arrive anytime between these hours.

Testing at the Jefferson Campus is held in Lurleen Wallace Hall, Room 322 (2601 Carson Road). Testing at the Shelby-Hoover Campus is held in the Learning Resources Center of General Studies Building, Shelby-Hoover Campus (4600 Valleydale Road). Students must bring a photo id, their Social Security Number or Jeff State ID number to the test. Students also need an application on file with the school.

There is no fee for placement tests and no appointment is required. However, students must present photo identification and have submitted an application for enrollment to Enrollment Services at the time of testing. Pursuant to college policy, placement tests may be taken only once within a one-year period.

CLEP Examinations

The Testing and Assessment Office administers CLEP examinations by appointment. Interested individuals should contact (205) 853-1200 extension 7896 to schedule an appointment or for additional information.

Placement Test Exemptions

Exemptions from placement tests are granted for students that register for RDG 085 and ENG 093 or for MTH 090S. Course placement may also be assigned based on English and math subtest scores as reported by ACT and SAT Assessments, if the student is enrolling within the three years of graduation from high school. Placement may also be assigned based on college level math and English courses completed at other institutions. Students enrolled in courses for which they are ineligible will be administratively withdrawn.

WorkKeys

The effective performance of any job requires certain skill levels. Individuals who are already in the workforce often need additional training to keep pace with the ever-changing workplace requirements. Many prospective employees have inadequate skills, while employers are facing an aging and shrinking workforce pool.

Jefferson State's Center for Workforce Development combines its rich tradition of quality instruction with the ACT Work Keys program to help employers bridge the gap between the skills required by the job and the skills possessed by the workforce. Jefferson State and Work Keys can assist companies with selecting the most qualified applicants, help keep hiring and training costs as low as possible, and improve worker productivity which results in a better bottom line.

The Work Keys assessment component, used in tandem with innovative classroom curricula, can provide a powerful one-two punch of analysis and prescriptive instructional intervention to develop workplace skills in students. Secondary schools and post-secondary institutions can use the Work Keys Targets for Instruction to supplement or reinforce existing curriculum, connecting that curriculum more directly to the demands of the workplace.

• Work Keys Process
• Work Keys for Educational Institutions
• PLATO
• Work Keys for Business and Industry
• Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) Clients