Office of Origin: Academic Affairs
Responsibility: Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Original Date Adopted: 06-23-87
Dates Reviewed: 12-12-2017, 1-30-2018, 3-17-21(C), 10-9-24
Last Date Board Approved: 04-24-2007, 5-30-2018, 12-10-24

Guided Self-placement (GSP) is a tool used to assist new applicants in choosing the appropriate entry-level math and English courses that support students’ best chance of academic success. Upon applying to the college, students will be asked to complete a GSP Survey. The results of that survey will provide a recommendation for whether the student may benefit from add corequisite support. Students wanting to place above the entry-level course in Math may do so
based on Standardized Test Scores (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer) or by permission of the Math Department Chair. Early College students, including Direct Credit, Dual Enrollment, and Middle College may be required to prove college readiness with ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, GPA, or other standardized test scores.

Recommendations for placement are set by the Math and English Faculty. A placement guide with those standards will be created by the appropriate Math and English Chair or Faculty representative(s) and made available to admissions, and advisors, and published on the college website.

Any standardized test scores that students have on file with a recognized testing provider (e.g., College Board, ETS, Cambridge Assessment) must be submitted to the College directly from the testing provider. In most cases, test scores are valid for five years; however, expiration dates of some scores may vary by test type or by department (e.g. Nursing).

Placement Test Administration

Placement tests offered at Lake Michigan College or proxy sites must be administered by trained and qualified individuals approved by the Manager of Testing Services.

Placement Test Retesting

Students desiring to take Accuplacer or the appropriate assessment to improve their math placement may retest once per LMC term until they begin the math sequence.

International Students

International students whose first language is not English are required to take a standardized English for academic purposes language proficiency test as part of their I-20 application for an F-1 visa status. These tests include TOEFL iBT, IELTS, MET, and Pearson PTE. Scores from these tests must be submitted to the College directly from the testing provider.

Scores from English for academic purposes tests are not adequate for making placement decisions. Therefore, international students who are eligible for enrollment at the College must take placement testing at LMC and/or submit college readiness standardized test scores as indicated herein prior to the beginning of the term in which they wish to begin studies.

Placement Testing Accommodations

Students seeking accommodations for placement testing should contact Student Wellbeing &Accessibility. The Student Wellbeing & Accessibility office determines reasonable accommodations through student engagement in the interactive process. Testing with accommodations requires at least three days prior notice and must be scheduled by calling Testing Services.

References:    Placement Guide: The Essentials of E, M, and R

Formerly Titled:    Placement Testing