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VILLA MARIA COLLEGE ASSESSMENT AND ADVISEMENT PROGRAM
(VMCAAP)


Arlene Sullivan, Ph.D.
Director, Learning Strategies Center
Phone: (716) 961-1860
Email: asulli@villa.edu

Shakora Banks, M.S.
Coordinator for Students with Disabilities
Services for Students with Disabilities
Phone: (716) 961-1854
Email: sbanks@villa.edu

Office of Enrollment Management (716) 961-1805

What is the VMCAAP?

To help insure that students are academically successful, entering students are required to participate in the Villa Maria College Assessment and Advisement Program. For new students, the VMCAAP includes assessment in reading, writing, mathematics, and music theory for placement into college or pre-college level reading, writing, mathematics, and music theory courses. The Director of the Learning Strategies Center (LSC) and the Office of Enrollment Management coordinate the scheduling of students for the VMCAAP.


Who is required to participate in the VMCAAP?

All first-time first-year students are required to participate in the VMCAAP with the following exceptions for all or some of the VMCAAP assessments:
  • Students possessing an associate, bachelor, or master's degree need not take the VMCAAP
  • Students with transfer credit for:
    • Pre-college mathematics, college algebra, advanced algebra, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics, or business mathematics will need to take an appropriate mathematics assessment.
    • ENG 101 will not need to take the writing sample.

Ability-to-benefit: Applicants who are at least 18 years of age and are a member of a high school senior class that has graduated may apply to the 24-credit hour program. Twenty-four credit hour applicants do not participate in the VMCAAP assessments already described, but are required to take the ACT Asset for numerical, writing, and reading skills. As required by the Federal Register, twenty-four credit hour applicants are not admitted to Villa Maria College unless minimum scores are achieved. The ACT Asset is a timed, paper-pencil assessment of three areas: writing, reading, and numerical skills. The assessment takes approximately 1-1/2 hours.


Of what is the VMCAAP comprised?

The VMCAAP is designed to assess reading, writing, and mathematics skills. There is also a music component for students applying for music performance, music jazz, or music business programs.

ENGLISH

  • The writing sample is based on one essay and scored by three English faculty members following a writing rubric. Scoring includes punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, concrete examples, and organization of thoughts.
  • Paper and pencil will be provided.

MATHEMATICS

  • There are 35 multiple-choice questions that assess arithmetic computation, word problems, and pre-algebra skills.
  • Paper and pencil will be provided.
  • Students reaching the cutoff score for an individual assessment may be required to take an advanced mathematics assessment in accordance with program requirements.
  • Study guides may be obtained through the Enrollment Office or the Learning Strategies Center.

READING

  • The Nelson-Denny reading assessment is comprised of vocabulary and
    comprehension questions in multiple-choice format.
  • The Vocabulary assessment is timed separately from the comprehension section.

MUSIC

  • A college-developed music theory assessment is used to evaluate music fundamentals including pitch notation, rhythm and meter, scales, etc.
  • An aural skills assessment evaluates a student's ability to identify intervals and measures while listening to a piece of music.

How long does the VMCAAP take?

Most students complete the VMCAAP in approximately three hours.


What do I do to arrange for accommodations for the VMCAAP?

Students with documented physical or learning disabilities who require accommodations should telephone the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities at (716) 961-1854 A date and time is arranged for the VMCAAP to be administered in compliance with the student's IEP.


Where do I take the VMCAAP?

The VMCAAP is usually administered in a classroom. Directions to the classroom are posted outside and inside the main building. Dates for the VMCAAP are obtained from the Office of Enrollment Management (961-1805) or the Learning Strategies Center (961-1861).


How may I find out about the results of my VMCAAP?

To protect the confidentiality of each student, VMCAAP scores are not given over the telephone. Placement results are discussed at the pre-registration workshop or the student may make an appointment with the Director of the Learning Strategies Center five working days from the date of the assessment.


More questions???

If you have more questions, please telephone during working hours Monday through Friday..

Learning Strategies Center (716) 961-1860

Enrollment Management Office (716) 961-1805


Villa Maria College uses a holistic approach to student placement in courses. Processes take into account the student's academic history as well as student scores on the VMCAAP.