Kennesaw State University policies on the Regents' Testing Program are based on the policies of the Board of Regents. These are reproduced here.

An examination to assess the competency level in reading and writing of all students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in University System institutions shall be administered. The following statement shall be the policy of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on this examination:

"Each institution of the University System of Georgia shall assure the other institutions, and the system as a whole, that students obtaining a degree from that institution possess literacy competence, that is, certain minimum skills of reading and writing."

"The Regents' Testing Program has been developed to help in the attainment of this goal. The objectives of the Testing program are: (1) to provide system-wide information on the status of student competence in the areas of reading and writing; and (2) to provide a uniform means of identifying those students who fail to attain the minimum levels of competence in the areas of reading and writing."

"Passing the Regents' Test is defined as having passed all components of the test by scoring above the cutoff score specified for each component. The test may be administered either in its entirety or as one or more components depending on the needs of the students. If one component of the test is passed, that component need not be retaken; this provision is retroactive to all students who have taken the test in any form since the inception of the program."

"The intent of this policy is that passing the Regents' Test occur before the end of the student's sophomore year, that is, before the completion of 105 hours of degree credit. Students who fail the test must retake and pass the test. Each institution shall provide an appropriate program of remediation and shall require deficient students to participate in that program prior to retaking the test."

"A student holding a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education will not be required to complete the Regents' Test in order to receive a degree from a University System Institution."

"In order to implement effectively the goals of the Testing Program:

1. Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs shall pass the Regents' Test as a requirement for graduation. Students, including transfer students and/or readmitted students, may take the test after they have completed the required basic core English courses. They may be required to take the test in the quarter after they have earned 45 hours of degree credit if the test has not been passed previously. Institutions, however, may not delay initial testing beyond the student's having earned the 60th hour of degree credit.
2. All students who have taken and have not passed the Regents' Test during the quarter in which they will have earned 75 hours of degree credit shall take the appropriate non-degree credit course or courses in remedial reading and/or remedial writing in each quarter of attendance until they have passed all components of the test.
3. Having passed the Regents' Test shall not be a condition of transfer into an institution. All transferring students from within the system shall be subject to all provisions of this policy. Students from institutions outside the system who transfer into a system institution with 60 or more degree credit hours shall take the test during the initial quarter of enrollment and in subsequent quarters shall be subject to all provisions of this policy.
4. Students whose mother tongue is other than English must first attempt the regular Regents' Test. If unsuccessful in passing the Regents' Test, students may then take the Regents' Test designed for international students. After attempting the International Regents' Test, students must follow all policies and procedures regarding Regents' for remediation and testing.
5. For extraordinary situations, each institution shall develop special procedures for certifying the literacy competence of students. A written description of those procedures shall be submitted to the chancellor for approval. A record of the action shall be reported by the chancellor to the Education Committee of the Board of Regents. Such procedures shall include provision for remediation of needed and formal examination prior to certifying competency. Such examination shall equal or exceed the standards of the Regents' Testing Program.
6. Certain students with learning disabilities or severe test anxiety may receive special administration of the Regents' Test. For further information, contact the Counseling and Advisement Program Services (CAPS) Center or Office of the Registrar.
7. A student may request a formal review of his/her failure on the essay component of the Regents' Test if that student's essay received at least one passing score among the three scores awarded, and if the student has successfully completed the courses in English composition required by the local institution. This review will be conducted in accordance with board approved procedures.
8. These revised procedures shall be followed by all students effective January 1, 1980.
9. Remedial work as required under the above policy shall be in keeping with regulations in satisfaction of federal and state student financial assistance and such other eligibility programs.
10. These regulations shall not prohibit institutions from increasing requirements affecting the Regents' Testing Program, provided such increased requirements are authorized by the chancellor, and provided further that such requirements are published in the official catalog of the institution prior to implementation. Such additional requirements shall in no way affect the transfer students from one institution to another or the readmission of students to University System institutions (minutes, April 1972, pp. 554- 55; November, 1972, p. 166; June, 1973, pp. 481-55; November, 1978, pp.88-9)."

Taking the Regent's
Test Students who have earned more than 45 hours but fewer than 60 hours of degree credit should attempt both sections of the Regents' Test. Upon completing 60 hours, however, students MUST attempt both sections of the test as soon as it is offered. Upon completing 75 hours, students who have not passed either or both sections are required to schedule remediation each quarter until the test is passed. Once either the essay or reading section is passed, the students' records are updated accordingly and they do not attempt that section again.

Students with 60 or more college-level credit hours transferring from system programs that do not require the Regents' Test or from institutions outside the System shall take the test no later than the second quarter of enrollment in the program leading to the baccalaureate degree and in subsequent quarters shall be subject to all provisions of this policy.

1. Students are encouraged to schedule English 101 and 102 early in their college work and may take the Regents' Test prior to the 60-hour limit if these courses have been completed.
2. Students who reach 60 hours of degree credit MUST take the Regents' Test even if they have not completed English 101 and 102.
3. Students who have not taken the Regents Test by their 60th hour of degree credit will be subject to the following regulations:
   (a) 60 to 74 hours.
   A hold will he placed on the student's registration and the student will not be allowed to register until he/she signs up to take the Regents' Exam.
   (b) 75 to 104 hours
   Enrollment in English 020 and Reading 020 is required. In addition, the student may still register for credit courses as long as total quarter hours do not exceed 17.
   (c) 105 + hours
   Registration will he restricted to noncredit remedial courses.
4. Students with 60 hours or more who sign up for but do not take the Regents' Test will be subject to paragraphs 3b or 3c above.
5. For those students who have completed 75 hours and have attempted the Regents' Test and failed a component the following conditions exist:
   The student must maintain continuous enrollment in the remedial classes until the Regents' Testing Program is successfully completed. Students who fail the essay component of the test are required to take English 020 and the essay portion of the Regents' Test the next quarter they are enrolled until that component is passed. Students who fail the reading component of the test are required to take Reading 020 and the reading portion of the Regents' Test the next quarter they are enrolled until that component is passed.
6. In order to take the Regents' Test, a student must be currently enrolled for the quarter (with the exception of summer); however, if the student has completed 75 hours and has failed a portion of the Regents' Test, the student must also be enrolled in the appropriate remediation course to retake the Regents' Test.
7. Students eligible or required to take the test should register in the Office of the Registrar at the designated time prior to the administration of the test.
8. A picture identification card is required at the time of admission to the Regents' Test. NO ONE WILL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT A PICTURE ID.
9. Students will be permitted to use dictionaries or a Thesaurus during the final 15 minutes of the administration of the essay portion of the Regents' Test.
10. Guidelines and regularly scheduled practice sessions for the essay portion are available through the Department of English.
11. Noncompliance with the above policies will result in exclusion from registration.

Regents' Test Appeals
"The Board of Regents approved the following procedures relating to a student's formal request for review of his/her failure on the essay component of the Regents' Test.

1. The review will be initiated at the campus level, with procedural matters to be determined by the institution. The on-campus review, however, will be conducted by the three (3) faculty members designated by the institution as a review panel.
2. The on-campus review panel may (1) sustain, by majority opinion, the essay's failing score, thus terminating the review process, or (2) recommended, by majority opinion, the re-scoring of the essay by the Regents' Testing Program central office. The student will be notified concerning the results of the on-campus review.
3. If the on-campus panel recommends re-scoring of the essay, that recommendation will be transmitted in writing, along with a copy of the essay, to the office of the system's director of the Regents' Testing Program. The director will utilize the services of three (3) experienced Regents' essay scorers other than those involved in the original scoring of the essay to review the essay, following normal scoring procedures for the essay component of the Regents' Test. The decision of this panel on the merits of the essay will be final, thus terminating the review process. The student will be notified, through the institution, concerning the results of the review."