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Penn College evaluates students’ skills to ensure each student has the entry-level skills necessary to be successful in his/her college-level course work. The goal of the placement process is to identify the correct initial placement in mathematics, English, and reading. An applicant may also satisfy the placement requirements through transfer courses or certain SAT scores.

When placement test results signal a level of academic deficiency that the College is unable to address, enrollment may be denied. Some majors are subject to special remediation requirements and are noted in the Curriculum pages.

Developmental Education Courses

Since developmental courses provide the foundation for subsequent courses, including those in the student’s major, it is particularly important for students to successfully complete those courses early in their college careers.

• A student whose placement results indicate deficiencies in English, mathematics and/or reading must take as many developmental courses as can be scheduled during his/her first semester.
• If multiple developmental courses are required within the same discipline, they must be scheduled in consecutive semesters until all are complete, unless the school dean approves a delay.
• Students enrolled in developmental courses do not have the option of dropping/withdrawing from these courses.

The College awards institutional credit for developmental courses (courses numbered 001-009). The developmental reading course RDG 111 (College Reading, Reasoning, and Study Skills) may be used as an open or general elective. No other developmental course with institutional credit may satisfy a course requirement or elective. However, the grades earned in all developmental courses will be included in the student's grade-point average and contribute to "satisfactory academic progress" for financial aid purposes.

Developmental Semester

An applicant whose placement results indicate deficiencies in all three areas: English, mathematics, and reading (triple deficient) will not be permitted to enroll in his/her major until the deficiencies have been addressed in one of the following ways:

• Full-time enrollment in a 12-credit Developmental Semester intended to improve the student's academic skills and understanding of career majors offered by Penn College. The Developmental Semester includes appropriate developmental courses in math, English, and reading as well as ORN 001 (Orientation to College). After successfully completing this semester, the student may apply for the major. Note: A Developmental Semester enrollee must complete the 12 credits with a 2.0 GPA to remain enrolled.
• Successful completion of alternative plans, which may include enrolling part-time until completing most required developmental course work; enrolling in and completing summer courses, remedial programs, or courses at another institution (must satisfy developmental requirements); or working with a tutor and retesting without deficiencies. All alternative plans must be approved, in advance, by the student’s school dean.