Firefighters Enrolled in Fire Science Courses. A student must be employed as a full-time firefighter by any political subdivision of the state. A letter verifying employment and an authorization from the Fire Protection Technology Office at the Rio Grande campus listing approved courses must be surrendered at registration. (Exemption is for tuition and related lab fees only.)

Highest Ranking High School Graduates (Valedictorians). Exemptions for tuition only are granted to those students who surrender a copy of their valedictorian certificate at registration. This exemption is only good for the first two consecutive long semesters after graduation from high school.

Senior Citizens. Students 65 years of age or older qualify for exemption of tuition for up to six (6) credit hours per semester on a space available basis. This exemption applies only when the student registers during the add/drop period for the course. Students must pay for any hours in excess of the six allowed.

Students on AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) During Senior Year of High School. Exemption from payment of tuition and fees for one year. Student must provide proof of having received or been on AFDC for at least six months of the year of high school graduation. Student must enroll in college within 12 months of high school graduation and must be younger than 22.

Students in Foster or Other Residential Care. Exemption from payment of tuition and fees other than building use fees. Student must provide proof of having been in foster care or other residential care under the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services on or after the day preceding the students 18th birthday. Student must enroll within 3 years of the date the student was discharged from foster or other residential care.

Tuition exemptions are not retroactive to a paid enrollment. To receive information or to update files, contact Student Accounting in the Business Office at the ACC Highland Business Center at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road. The curriculum of the college has been approved for veterans’ educational benefits by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Assessment Requirements

The College has an assessment policy requiring all ACC college credit students to complete an ACC basic skills assessment unless the student:

1. Has accumulated nine (9) or more college-level credit hours elsewhere during or after Fall 1989, or
   
   
2. Has accumulated three (3) or more college-level credit hours prior to start of the Fall 1989 semester, or
   
   
3. Has passed the ACT, SAT or TAAS test at the required cut off.

Students enrolling only in pre-college level courses or in courses for the Certificate Level 1 programs having no skill prerequisites are encouraged, but not required, to be assessed before their first enrollment.

Students interested in ESL (English as a Second Language) courses may need additional assessment to determine the appropriate level of ACC classes to enter. Students whose first language is not English should take the ESL Assessment test and consult an adviser or ESL faculty member.

Texas Academic Skills
Program (TASP)

The Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) is an instructional program with a testing component designed to ensure that all students attending public college or universities in Texas have the reading, writing, and mathematics skills necessary to perform effectively in college-level courses. Texas law requires students to take the TASP test or a TASP alternative test before attending college-credit classes, or to demonstrate that they are TASP exempt or TASP waived.

TASP Exempt Students

• Students with three or more semester hours of college-level credit from an accredited institution of higher education prior to fall 1989.
  
  
• Students with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
  
  
• Students with qualifying scores on the ACT or SAT (Within five years) or TASS (within three years).
  
  
• Students with military service (DD 214 required) that began prior to July 1, 1989. This date allows for sufficient time to complete basic training (basis for HKN credit) prior to September 1, 1989 in compliance with TEC51.306.