Policies & Regulations
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICY
Mandatory Assessment and Planned Course Placement
Academic Assessment Policies
Academic Assessment at NECC is defined as a test of a student’s abilities in reading, writing, math, and English as a Second Language (ESL).
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education mandates that all students entering state colleges must complete an assessment in order to determine basic skills levels for course placement. Based on assessment results, a student may be required to initially enroll in one or more developmental or ESL courses in order to prepare for college level course work.
Assessment and planned course placement are required for students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Students enrolling in a degree or certificate program (matriculated students).
- Students enrolling in the following courses: English Composition I; college level math; developmental reading, writing, and math; ESL; all courses with numbers beginning with zero; and all other courses with entrance level skills requirements. Please refer to the course description to determine if an assessment is required for a particular course.
- Non matriculated students will be allowed to register for up to two courses**, prior to assessment (with the exception of those courses listed above.)
** Courses are limited and must be selected from an approved list. The list is updated on a regular basis and is available in the Career Planning and Advising Center at this link: http://facstaff.necc.mass.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aa-dsr.pdf.
Assessment Methods:
Reading, math, writing and sentence skills assessments are administered with the state-mandated Accuplacer test, a web-based assessment system. Students who apply for enrollment in English Language courses will be assessed with the Accuplacer LOEP reading test and specialized grammar, writing and communication assessments.
Special Accommodations for Assessments:
Students with documented disabilities should contact the Learning Accommodations Center to arrange for special accommodations well in advance of their assessment date.
Fax/Email Information:
There is a $25.00 ACCUPLACER Fax/Email Fee for anyone who has taken the ACCUPLACER at NECC and is requesting that scores be faxed, emailed or mailed to another institution. To have your ACCUPLACER scores released to another institution click: Request to have ACCUPLACER Scores Released. Please bring your completed form and $25.00 fee, made payable to NECC, by money order only to the Academic Placement & Testing Center in Haverhill, Technology Center, Room TC-128 or Lawrence, Dimitry Building, Room L-200 or mail to:
Northern Essex Community College
Attn: Donna Felisberto, Coordinator of Student Assessment
100 Elliott Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
To have another institution fax your scores to NECC, please have the institution fax your ACCUPLACER scores to: Northern Essex Community College, Academic Placement & Testing Center, Fax number 978-556-3169. Click here for the NECC ACCUPLACER Fax Policy (PDF).
Expiration of Assessment results:
All math, developmental reading and writing, and ESL course placements are valid for one year from the date of assessment.
College level placements in reading and writing are valid for three years from the date of assessment.
Assessment Waivers:
Students with prior college credits or SAT scores may be eligible for a partial or full waiver of the Assessment. Waivers are granted based on review of transcripts, CLEP and Advanced Placement Transcripts. Contact Enrollment Services at 978-556-3700 or stop in one of the Career Planning and Advising Centers to inquire about the waiver process.
For more information on policies and regulations, please contact Donna Bertolino, Assistant Dean of Academic Placement, Testing Services, Prior Learning Assessments, TRiO at 978-556-3431 or at dbertolino@necc.mass.edu.
