The Texas Success Initiative
The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-mandated program designed to improve student success in college. There are two components of the program: (1) an assessment to diagnose students’ basic skills in reading, mathematics, and writing; and (2) developmental instruction to strengthen academic skills that need improvement.
All students are required by law to take an assessment approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The University requires students who are not exempt to take the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA), offered by National Evaluation Systems. It is the responsibility of the student to see that scores are sent to the University by the testing institution. Students may register for the THEA online through the Center for Teaching and Learning web site by clicking on “Test Schedules and Registration” and logging in using their UT EID to register for the Internet based THEA exam. UT Austin’s minimum passing standards for the THEA are posted on the TSI web page.
A student is exempt from all TSI requirements under any one of the following conditions:
- The student has earned a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree.
- The student is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.
- The student was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or served as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States on or after August 1, 1990.
- The student is a non–degree-seeking or a non–certificate-seeking student.
- The student has attended another Texas public institution of higher education and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.
- The student has transferred to the University from a private or independent institution of higher education, an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education, or an international institution of higher education and has completed college-level coursework.
A student is exempt from one or more TSI requirements under the following conditions. SAT and ACT scores used to support an exemption must be less than five years old; TAKS scores must be less than three years old.
- A student with a combined math and critical reading SAT score of at least 1070 and a math score of at least 500 is exempt from the math requirement.
- A student with a combined math and critical reading SAT score of at least 1070 and a critical reading score of at least 500 is exempt from the reading and writing requirements.
- A student with an ACT composite score of at least 23 and a math score of at least 19 is exempt from the math requirement.
- A student with an ACT composite score of at least 23 and an English score of at least 19 is exempt from the reading and writing requirements.
- A student with a TAKS math score of at least 2200 is exempt from the math requirement.
- A student with a TAKS English/language arts score of at least 2200 and an essay score of at least 3 is exempt from the reading and writing requirements.
Students who fail to meet the minimum passing standards of an approved test are required to enroll in a developmental education course designed to strengthen skills in reading, writing, or mathematics. Students will meet individually with a TSI advisor to decide which course is best suited to their individual needs. For further information, students may visit the Texas Success Initiative Office web site .