ADDENDUM JULY 1, 2009 [pg. 33]
COLLEGE LEVEL ACADEMIC SKILLS TEST (CLAST)
The College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is designed to test the communication and computation skills that are judged by state university and community college faculty to be generally associated with successful performance and progression through the baccalaureate level. The test is required by Florida statutes and the State Board of Education.
The CLAST is offered in the following formats:
- The paper-and-pencil version is offered three times per year. This version contains all four sections: essay, English language skills, reading, and computation. It is administered at the Lake Worth and Belle Glade locations only. For more information, please visit www.pbcc.edu/CLAST.xml .
- The CAT-CLAST is a computerized version of the CLAST test that is given only at the Lake Worth campus Testing Center. The CAT-CLAST version contains only three sections: English language skills, reading, and computation. The essay section is not offered in this format. For more information, please visit www.pbcc.edu/CLASTCAT.xml .
Exemptions
Based on established academic achievements after Jan. 1, 1996, students may be exempt from taking the CLAST. Students should consult an academic advisor regarding exemption status. A complete list of CLAST exemptions can be found at www.pbcc.edu/CLASTexemptions.xml .
• Students who have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in ENC 1101 and ENC 1102 or equivalent shall be exempt from the Essay, English Language Skills, and Reading sections of the CLAST.
• Students who have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in two Gordon Rule general education mathematics courses shall be exempt from the Computation section of the CLAST.
• A score of 500 or higher in the Verbal section of the SAT1 earns an exemption in the Essay, English Language Skills and Reading sections of the CLAST
• A score of 500 or higher in the Math section of the SAT1 earns an exemption in the Computation section of the CLAST.
• A score of 21 or higher in the English section of the ACT-E earns an exemption in the Essay and English Language Skills sections of the CLAST.
• A score of 22 or higher in the Reading section of the ACT-E earns an exemption in the Reading section of the test.
• A score of 21 or higher in the Math section of the ACT-E earns an exemption in the Computation section of the CLAST.
• Candidates should check with an advisor concerning any possible exemptions related to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses taken in high school.
Eligibility
Students seeking Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degrees are eligible to register for the CLAST or CATCLAST provided the following criteria have been met:
1. Satisfactory completion of at least 18 semester hours of college-level course work and
2. Completion of the A.A. General Education requirements in Gordon Rule English composition (6 credit hours) and
3. Completion of the A.A. General Education requirements in Gordon Rule mathematics (6 credit hours).
Note: Transient students must apply to take the CLAST or CATCLAST at their home institution.
Application Process
Students should first consult with their academic advisor before submitting an application to take the CLAST or CAT-CLAST. Students wanting to sit for the CLAST paper-and-pencil administration must apply to take the test by the registration deadline. Late applications will not be processed. Applicants who miss the deadline will need to reapply to take the next pencil-and-paper administration. For more information about the CLAST or CAT-CLAST application process, please visit the following page www.pbcc.edu/CLASTapply.xml .
Retakes
Students may not retake any subtest of the CLAST for which they already have a passing score. Students must wait 30 days between retakes. CLAST review courses and tutoring services are available. Contact the Student Learning Center/Vocational Preparatory Instruction Lab for more information or visit www.pbcc.edu/CLASTprep.xml .
Waivers
Students may apply for a waiver of one or more sections of the CLAST based on one of the following two criteria:
- Specific Learning Disabilities: Any student who has a documented specific learning disability such that the student cannot demonstrate successful completion of one or more subtests of the CLAST and is achieving at the college level in every area except that of the disability, and whose diagnosis indicates that further remediation will not succeed in overcoming the disability, may apply for a waiver of one or more subtests of the CLAST. Contact the campus Disability Support Services coordinator as early as possible in your college program for further information.
- Repeated Failures: Any student who has taken any of the four subtests of the CLAST at least four times and has not earned a passing score on the subtest but has otherwise earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all college courses in that same subject area and has met the requirements defined in State Rule for that area may apply for a waiver of that subtest.
Request for Waiver
All students who request a waiver of one or more subtests must make the request in writing to the vice president of academic affairs of Palm Beach Community College. All requests must document that the student has met the eligibility criteria specified above.
Appeal Process
Students whose requests for waiver have been denied may appeal directly to the president in writing. The president shall forward the appeal to the chair of the Board of Trustees of Palm Beach Community College who may name a panel of five members of the College faculty and administrative staff to review the appeal. That panel will submit its findings and recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Final action of the appeal shall rest with the Board.
For additional information on the waiver process, please visit www.pbcc.edu/CLASTappeal.xml .
Note: Students who took the CLAST before Oct. 1, 1992, should contact their advisor or review the Degree Audit information on www.FACTS.org to determine successful completion or exemption.
The 2009 Florida Legislature eliminated the administration of the CLAST test. However, the requirement for an AA or Baccalaureate student to show proficiency in College Level Academic Skills (CLAS) to graduate remains.
After July 1, 2009, in order to be granted an Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree, a student must meet certain criteria to satisfy the skills areas of Mathematics, Essay, English, Language Skills and Reading.
1. Achieve a score as follows on the FCELPT (CPT), ACT or SAT:
EXEMPTIONS SUMMARY TABLE
|
TEST
|
Mathematics
|
Essay
|
English/
Language Skills
|
Reading
|
|
FCELPT (CPT)
|
91
|
105
|
105
|
93
|
|
SAT1
|
500
|
500
|
500
|
500
|
|
ACT-E
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
2. Grades in Specific Courses
• Students who have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in ENC 1101 and ENC 1102, ENC 1141 or courses with the prefixes CRW, AML, ENL and LIT shall be exempt from the Reading, English Language Skills, and Essay requirements.
• Students who have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in two (2) Gordon Rule general education Mathematics courses shall be exempt from the Mathematics requirement.
These degree requirements are for A.A. and BAS degree candidates only. A.S. and A.A.S. students are not required to meet these requirements unless they are planning to transfer to a university and the university requires meeting these standards.
3. Applying for a Waiver of CLAS requirements
In accordance with Florida Administrative Code (6A-10.0311), students receiving an Associate in Arts or Bachelor degree must show attainment of college-level academic skills. For students unable to show attainment through course grades or through an attempt(s) at the College Level Academic Skills Test prior to July 1, 2009, or test scores as listed in the exemptions summary table, the student may apply for a waiver.
In order for the request to be considered for a waiver, the student must:
A. Not be eligible for a waiver through course grades
B. Have scores lower on the test than the scores noted above.
C. Have a complete set of scores on one of the tests listed above to assess each CLAS area.
D. Met all other requirements for the Associate in Arts or Bachelor of Applied Science degree
Please see the web page at http://www.pbcc.edu/CLAS-waiver.xml for the form and process for applying for a CLAS waiver.
4. Waiver of the Degree Requirements for Specific Learning Disabilities
Please see the website at http://www.pbcc.edu/disabilities.xml for information on applying for a waiver of the skill area requirements due to specific learning disabilities.
For future reference, this information is also available at www.pbcc.edu/CLASDegree.xml
End of Addendum
ADDENDUM DECEMBER 9, 2009 [pg. 14]
SENIOR CITIZEN REDUCED TUITION
Senior citizens 60 years of age or older may register each fall 16-week, spring 16-week or summer 12-week term for a maximum of two credit courses per term, only on the day designated, on a space-available basis (student may not take the last open seat) if all prerequisites have been met. There is a fee payment of $10 per credit hour, regardless of Florida residency status. The student activity fee, financial aid fee, and capital outlay fees will not be charged.
SENIOR CITIZEN FEE WAIVER
After completing an Application for Admission, senior citizens 60 years of age or older may register each fall, spring, or summer term, for up to two courses per term (maximum 8 credits) and receive a 75 percent discount on the cost of tuition and fees (senior citizens pay the remaining 25 percent). Senior citizens will also be expected to pay the one-time, non-refundable $20.00 application fee. Registration of classes is limited to "space availability and must occur only on the designated day for senior citizen registration. Go to www.pbcc.edu/AcademicCalendar.xml and click on the appropriate term registration calendar for registration dates.
Senior citizens must enroll in courses as Audit students and the courses must be full-term credit courses. No academic credit shall be awarded in classes for which the fees are waived. Courses that are part of Limited Access programs or the Baccalaureate level (3000/4000) courses are not eligible for the senior citizens fee waiver. Any specified prerequisites and/or corequisites of courses must be satisfied.
Copies of the forms to be completed for audit and the senior citizen waiver may be obtained from any campus Admissions Office at the time of registration.
End of Addendum
Accreditation [pg. 4]
ADDENDUM JANUARY 28, 2010
Palm Beach Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Bachelor of Applied Science, Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Palm Beach Community College.
Palm Beach State College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Palm Beach State College.
End of Addendum
Accreditation [pg. 4]
ADDENDUM MARCH 2, 2010
Palm Beach State College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Palm Beach State College. The Commission should be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution's non-compliance with an accreditation requirement or standard.
End of Addendum
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