Academic Center For Excellence

SRSU Honors Program, Academic Learning Center, Developmental Courses

Jimmy D. Case College of Literature, Arts, and Social Sciences
Office: Ferguson Hall 214
Phone: (432) 837-8408
E-mail: kstein@sulross.edu
Director of the Academic Center for Excellence and Professor of English:
Kathy K. Stein, Ed.D.
Lecturers: Cynthia McAlister, M.S., Julie Vega, M.A.
SRSU Honors Program: Kathy K. Stein, Ed.D.

Program Description

The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) provides a myriad of multifaceted services intended to support all students and academic programs at Sul Ross State University. In support of this endeavor, ACE offers course work for students needing to satisfy the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). ACE also provides facilities, organization, and coordination for the SRSU Honors Program. The SRSU Honors Program challenges students to conceptualize, analyze, and learn subject material in a different way. By incorporating and bringing together these disparate student bodies, an environment of understanding, camaraderie, and cooperation is created. ACE works closely to help students adjust and adapt to college life and to succeed in their life-long learning experience.

Academic Enhancement Seminars ACE also makes Academic Enhancement Seminars available to students. Each semester, a series of seminars is conducted to give students the opportunity to gain and hone their academic skills and address such topics as developing and recognizing effective academic practices.

Developmental Education

The developmental education courses are designed to target deficiencies as identified by the criteria established in the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Students initially enrolling into Sul Ross State University who do not meet the College Readiness Standards must take a state approved assessment (the Texas Success Initiative Assessment) meant to identify needs in reading, writing, and mathematics. Students must pass all developmental courses for which they have shown a need prior to attempting any college-level courses related to one of the three areas.

College Readiness Exemptions

ACT - Composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test shall be exempt for both the reading and writing sections of the TSIA, and/or 19 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSIA.

SAT - A minimum score of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) test shall be exempt for both reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment; a minimum score of 530 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no combined score.

High School Options - Score of at least 4000 on the English III and/or Algebra II STAAR end-of-course (EOC) exams OR successful completion of a College Preparatory Course (and your high school district has an MOU with SRSU)

SRSU Honors Program

The Sul Ross State University Honors Program is a challenging and an integrative program of academic experiences with a high degree of student and faculty interchange designed to stimulate the more motivated student. This program offers the outstanding student an opportunity to engage in intellectually motivating course projects. It is not an accelerated program but an in-depth approach to the understanding of ideas and relationships. The program offers students a chance to go beyond the norms of the traditional classroom experience and explore with a greater intensity more challenging concepts and issues while applying critical thinking to the learning experience.

A student who completes a minimum of 24 credit hours in honors coursework with a GPA of 3.50 or higher and a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher will earn the designation Graduate in Honors Studies. This designation will be imprinted on each student’s transcript. Students are encouraged to apply to the SRSU Honors Program by completing an application. Contact the Academic Center for Excellence for more information on applying to the SRSU Honors Program.