MONTANA BOARD OF REGENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
 Policy and Procedures Manual

SUBJECT:  ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Policy 3xxxx Writing Proficiency
Effective

 I. Proposed Board Policy:

A. Any student seeking admission to a four-year program at Montana State University- Bozeman, Montana State University-Billings, Montana State University-Northern, The University of Montana-Missoula, Montana Tech of The University of Montana, and The University of Montana Western must satisfy a writing proficiency standard. That standard is as follows:

For Fall 2009 and the following years, students must earn a minimum score of: 

7 on the Writing Subscore or an equivalent score on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test of the ACT;

7 on the Essay or an equivalent score on the Writing Section of the SAT;

3.5 on the Montana University System Writing Assessment; or

3 or above on the AP English Language or English Literature Examination.

B.       The writing proficiency standard will be phased in, beginning in Fall 2007.

1.       For Fall 2007, students must earn a minimum score of: 

5 on the Writing Subscore or 16 on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test of the ACT;

5 on the Essay or 390 on the Writing Section of the SAT;

2.5 on the Montana University System Writing Assessment, or

3 or above on the AP English Language or English Literature Examination.

2. For Fall 2008, students must earn a minimum score of: 

6 on the Writing Subscore or an equivalent score on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test of the ACT;

6 on the Essay or an equivalent score on the Writing Section of the SAT;

3 on the Montana University System Writing Assessment; or  

3 or above on the AP English Language or English Literature Examination. 

C. A student who has not yet demonstrated the ability to meet these standards may be admitted to any other program of the Montana University System or be admitted provisionally to a four-year program. Before gaining full admission status to a four-year program, the student may prove that he/she has the appropriate proficiency in the following ways:

1. re-take one or more of the listed writing assessments to earn the required score;

2.      earn a grade of C- or better in the composition course that is the prerequisite to the composition course that satisfies the general education program requirements described in Board Policy 301.10;

3.      submit a letter to the admissions office documenting a disability that prevented him/her from adequately demonstrating proficiency in a test setting.

D. The following categories of students are exempt from the requirements of this policy:

1. non-traditional students (those who do not enter college for a period of at least three years from the date of high school graduation or from the date when they would have graduated from high school);

2.         summer-only students; and

3.          part-time students taking seven or fewer college-level semester credits.

E. In lieu of the indicators set out in paragraphs A and B above, students may offer CLEP Subject Examinations in Composition if their score on the examination meets or exceeds the ACE Recommended Score for Awarding Credit of 50. 

F. Institutions are authorized to exempt up to 15% of first-time, full-time undergraduates for students with special talents, minorities and others who demonstrate special needs (Policy 301.1 E).