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Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program (SPFYP)

Placement Measures for First Year GE Written Communication and Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning Courses

Freshman skills assessment and placement for general education written communication and mathematics/quantitative reasoning shall be based on systemwide skills assessment standards that include the Early Assessment Program/ Smarter Balanced Achievement Levels, ACT scores and/or SAT scores, high school coursework, high school GPA and math GPA. 

Skills assessments are not a condition for admission to the CSU; they are a condition of enrollment. 

These skills assessments are designed to inform entering freshmen of placement in appropriate baccalaureate-level courses based on their skills and needs. 

First-time freshmen in need of support as determined by the skills assessment will be placed in supported instruction. Supported instruction is designed to assist students in credit bearing courses. Students may also be required to participate in the Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program. 

The Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Programs offers pathways and academic and social support that align with each incoming student's needs.  The programs' goal is to ensure that first time students successfully complete the General Education (GE) written communication (A2) and math/quantitative reasoning (B4) requirements within their first year. 

Assessments and Placement for GE Written Communications Has Fulfilled the GE Subarea A2 English Requirement.

The student has met the requirement via completion of one of the following:

Advanced Placement (AP) Test

  • 3 or above: AP Language and Composition
  • 3 or above: AP Composition and Literature

College Transfer Coursework

  • Completed approved college course that satisfies CSU GE Area A2 (written communication) with a grade of C- or better

Placement in a GE Subarea A2 English Course

The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures-informed standards via one of the criteria below:

English CAASPP/EAP Test:

  • Standard Exceeded
  • Standard Met and completed 12th grade approved year-long English course (CSU ERWC, AP, Weighted Honors English) with grade of C- or better

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test:

  • 550 or above
  • 510 – 540 and completed 12th grade approved year-long English course (CSU ERWC, AP, Weighted Honors English) with grade of C- or better English

ACT Test:

  • 22 or higher
  • 19-21 and completed 12th grade approved year-long English course (CSU ERWC, AP, Weighted Honors English) with grade of C- or better

High School Courses and GPA:

  • Weighted GPA 3.3 or above
  • GPA 3.0 or above and completed approved 12 grade year-long English course (AP, CSU ERWC, Weighted Honors English)
  • GPA 3.0 or above and completed Honors English
  • GPA 3.0 or above and 5 or more years of high school English

Placement in a Supported GE Subarea A2 English Course

The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures-informed standards via one of the criteria below:

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test:

  • 510 – 540 and 4 or more years of high school English

ACT Test:

  • 19-21 and 4 or more years of high school English

High School Courses and GPA:

  • Weighted GPA 3.0 or above and 4 or more years of high school English

Placement in a Supported GE Subarea A2 English Course and Participation in the Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program

Based on multiple measures evaluation, student needs additional academic support including participation in the Supportive Pathways for First Year Students Program. Visit csustudentsuccess.org to learn about this program. 

Assessments and Placement for GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning: Non-Math Intensive Majors (Algebra and Statistics Disciplines, Non-STEM and Undecided Majors) Has Fulfilled the GE Subarea B4 Math/Quantitative Reasoning Requirement 

The student has met the requirement via completion of one of the following: 

Advanced Placement (AP) Test: 

  • 3 or above: Calculus AB  

  • 3 or above on AP Calculus BC  

  • 3 or above on AP Statistics  

  • 3 or above on AP Computer Science Principles  

International Baccalaureate (IB) Test: 

  • 4 or above on Math Higher Level (HL)  

College Level Examination Program (CLEP): 

  • 50 or above on: Calculus, College Algebra, College Algebra-Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry  

College Transfer Coursework: 

  • Completed math/quantitative reasoning college course with a C- or better that satisfies CSU GE Area B4  

Placement in a GE Subarea B4 Math/Quantitative Reasoning Requirement 

The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures-informed standards via one of the following criteria: 

CAASPP/EAP Math Exam: 

  • Standard Exceeded  

  • Standard Met and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better  

  • Standard Met and 4 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning  

SAT Math Test: 

  • 570 or above  

  • 520 – 560 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better  

ACT Math Test: 

  • 23 or above  

  • 20-22 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better  

High School Courses and GPA: 

  • Weighted math GPA 3.0 or above and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better  

  • Weighted math GPA 3.0 or above and 5 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning  

  • Weighted high school GPA 3.7 or above  

  • Weighted high school GPA 3.5 or above and 4 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning  

Placement in a Supported GE Sub-area B4 Math/Quantitative Reasoning Requirement 

The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures- informed standards via one of the criteria below: 

High School GPA:  

  • Weighted math GPA 3.3 or above  

  • Weighted high school GPA 3.0 or above  

Placement in a Supported GE Sub-area B4 Math/ Quantitative Reasoning Requirement and Participation in the Supportive Pathways for Frist-Year Students Program Required 

Based on multiple measures evaluation, student needs additional academic support including participation in the Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program. Visit csustudentsuccess.org to learn about this program. 

Assessments and Placement for GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning: Pre- STEM/STEM and Other Math-Intensive Majors 

Has Fulfilled the GE Sub-area B4 Math/Quantitative Reasoning Requirement 

The student has met the requirement via completion of one of the following: 

Advanced Placement (AP) Test: 

  • 3 or above on AP Calculus AB  

  • 3 or above on AP Calculus BC  

  • 3 or above on AP Statistics  

  • 3 or above on AP Computer Science Principles  

International Baccalaureate (IB) Test: 

  • 4 or above on Math Higher Level (HL)  

College Level Examination Program (CLEP): 

  • 50 or above on: Calculus, College Algebra, College Algebra-Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry  

College Transfer Coursework: 

  • Completed math/quantitative reasoning college course with a C- or better that satisfies CSU GE Area B4  

Placement in a GE Subarea B4 Math/Quantitative Reasoning Requirement 

The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures- informed standards via one of the criteria below: 

CAASPP/EAP Math Exam: 

  • Standard Exceeded  

  • Standard Met and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better  

SAT Math Test: 

  • 570 or above  

  • 520 – 560 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better  

ACT Math Test: 

  • 23 or above  

  • 20-22 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better  

High School Courses and GPA: 

  • Weighted math GPA 3.5 or above and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better  

  • Weighted math GPA 3.5 or above and 5 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning  

  • Weighted high school GPA 3.7 or above  
      

Placement in a Supported GE Subarea B4 Math/ Quantitative Reasoning Requirement 

The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures- informed standards via the criteria below: 

High School Math GPA: 

  • Weighted math GPA 3.3 or above  

Placement in a Supported GE Subarea B4 Math/ Quantitative Reasoning Requirement and Participation in the Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program Required 

Based on multiple measures evaluation, student needs additional academic support including participation in the Supportive Pathways for First Year Students Program. Visit csustudentsuccess.org to learn about this program. 

  • Better prepare students in written composition and mathematics/quantitative reasoning before the fall term of freshman year, improving students' chances of successful completion of a baccalaureate degree.  

  • For general information about Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program (SPFYP), visit csustudentsuccess.org/supportive-pathways. Students are encouraged to visit the university website for SPFYP information once admitted.  

  • Eligible financial aid applicants with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $6,000 or less will be eligible for waiver of the per unit SPFY fee. For more information on assessments, placements and the Supportive Pathways for First Year Students Program, please visit www.csustudentsuccess.org.  

Please visit the Cal Poly Mathematics Department for Mathematics Placement Exam (MAPE) Information.

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