Frequently Asked Questions by Topic

SUS Students Subject to the Requirement

1.How does the course and exam requirement apply to students who transfer to an SUS institution?

Out-of-state students transferring to an SUS institution during the 2021-22 academic year or thereafter, who have never previously enrolled in a public Florida institution (SUS or FCS), must meet the new civic literacy requirement, which includes both a course and an  exam.

For in-state students or students that have been previously enrolled in a Florida public institution and are transferring back to a System institution, the institution should refer to Table 1 in this document to determine their cohort and civic literacy requirements.

2. If a student received an associate degree from an FCS institution prior to fall 2018 and is enrolled in a baccalaureate program beginning fall 2018 or after, does this requirement apply?

No, because the initial enrollment in a Florida public institution (SUS or FCS) was prior to fall 2018.

3.How does this requirement apply to dual enrollment students?

Enrollment in a Florida public institution (SUS or FCS) prior to graduating from high school does not exempt a student from having to meet the civic literacy requirement. These students would still be considered FTIC upon their enrollment  in a Florida public institution.

4. How will universities know if a student transferring between public institutions within the State of Florida has met the civic literacy requirement?

Board of Governors office staff worked with the Department of Education, Office of Articulation, and the Florida College System to ensure that the FASTER system has a common notation. Transcripts will have Yes/No/Exempt indicators to show whether the civic literacy requirement has been satisfied.
During the 2021-22 academic year, Board of Governors office staff will continue to work with the Department of Education, Office of Articulation, and the Florida College System to discuss potential changes. Additional information may be forthcoming.

5.Does the civic literacy requirement apply to students seeking a second baccalaureate?

If  a student has never enrolled  in an SUS or FCS institution  prior to fall 2018,  yes. For students who enroll for the first time in fall 2018 and thereafter, refer to Table 1 in this document to determine their cohort and civic literacy   requirements.

6.Beginning in fall 2021, Florida high school students who take the United States Government course must take the civic literacy assessment. If they pass, these students are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement. How will postsecondary institutions be made aware of students’ performance on this exam?

The secondary FASTER transcripts will be updated to reflect if the student passed the civic literacy assessment.

Civic Literacy Options

1.What qualifies as synchronous debate?

All sections of eligible courses (POSX041 and AMHX020), regardless of mode of delivery, must provide opportunities for synchronous discussions at least every other week when offered during the fall and spring terms. Courses offered during the summer should provide the equivalent  minimum number of  opportunities.

2.What if my institution’s course-level outcomes for POSX041 or AMHX020 do not align with the competencies in statute?

According to section 1007.25 (4)(b), Florida Statutes, courses identified as satisfying the civic literacy requirement, in this case POSX041 and AMHX020, must align with the competencies listed in the subsection beginning in fall 2018. Institutions should follow internal procedures to modify course outcomes to align with the competencies and work with the Office of Articulation to update the course profile(s) in the Statewide Course Numbering  System (SCNS) database

3.What if my institution’s POSX041 or AMHX020 course did not provide students with opportunities to engage synchronously in political discussions and civil debates with multiple points of view and to master the ability to synthesize information that informs civic decision-making?

According to section 1007.25 (4)(b)(1), Florida Statutes, courses must include such opportunities in order to be eligible for meeting the civic literacy requirement beginning  with courses offered during summer B 2021.

4.What if POSX041 or AMHX020 do not align with a student's approved program of study?

If POSX041 or AMHX020 do not align with a student’s program of study, the options available  will  depend on the student’s first entry into a Florida public    institution:

 

• Cohort 2: The institution should encourage the student to consider demonstrating competency through one of the approved assessments to avoid possible excess  credit

 

• Cohort 3: Academic advisors should inform students of the graduation requirement to complete both a civics literacy course and civics literacy assessment and work to include POSX041 and AMHX020 as part of the general education requirements to avoid excess  

5.What if an institution does not offer POSX041 or AMHX020?

Students in Cohort 2 may take an approved exam in lieu of these courses or they have the option to take POS X041  and AMH  X020  at a Florida college or  university outside their home institution through the Transient Student Admission Application on Florida Shines (located at: https://www.floridashines.org/take-a-course-at-another-school). Students should contact their  SUS institution for more  information.

 

Students in Cohort 3 have the option to take POS X041 and AMH X020 at a Florida college or university outside their home institution through the Transient Student Admission Application on Florida Shines (located at: https://www.floridashines.org/take-a-course-at-another-school).  Students  should contact their SUS institution for more  information.

6.What are the costs associated with the CLEP and AP exams?

The costs of exams are subject to change and costs may vary by testing center. Consult the AP or CLEP websites or the institution’s testing center for up-to-date information.

 

Some school districts may offset the cost of AP exams to students, so individual prices may vary. AP exams are only offered to high school students. Students should contact their high school for more information.

7.If a student took an exam other than AP or CLEP, such as AICE or IB, and received credit from the exam for AMH X020 or POS X041, have they satisfied the civic literacy requirement?

The 2021 Legislature amended section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, allowing all accelerated mechanism to count towards meeting civic literacy course requirements. Since the content covered in AICE and IB examinations currently does not contain the competencies required in section 1007.25 (4)(b), Florida Statutes, a passing score on these exams will only satisfy the course competency requirement.

8.Why doesn’t AMH 2010 meet the course requirements?

AMH 2010 has been added by the Board of Governors to count towards the Civic Literacy Course requirement for students that start college after High School in Fall of 2024 or later. It was not an approved option for students that started prior to 2024.

Additional Assessments

1.Which additional assessments are currently available?

Only the Naturalization Test - Civics (U.S. History and Government)  is available  for use for students enrolled in an SUS institution. The Florida Civics Literacy Exam is still in development by the Florida Department of Education and has not yet been  approved for use by SUS institutions.

2.How can the institution access the Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government)?

An authorized SUS institution representative may obtain an approved  version of the assessment from Florida Virtual  Campus, at no cost to the institution.

3.How many questions from the test bank of the Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government) should be given to students?

Institutions must administer all 100 questions of the Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government), which includes supplemental questions developed collaboratively by the SUS Board of Governors office staff, the FCS office staff and the Lou Frey Institute, and incorporated into the test. An  authorized SUS institution representative may obtain an approved version from the Florida Virtual  Campus.

4.What format will universities and colleges use to administer the Naturalization/Citizenship Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government)?

Institutions may choose to administer the approved version of the Naturalization/Citizenship Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government) in any format. Test administration can be given in, but not limited to, a learning management  system (LMS),  a paper-based examination,  or another  format that is designed to meet the needs of students with special needs. Institutions should ensure that the test is administered in a manner that maintains the integrity of the test and its content.

5.What is the cost of the U.S. Naturalization/Citizenship Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government)?

There should be no cost to students for the test itself. The approved version of  the U.S. Naturalization/Citizenship  Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government)  is available from the Florida Virtual Campus without cost to institutions. There is  no cost to the institution for the exam itself, however, beyond any institution- specific fees associated with administration  of the exam.

6.Will institutions be required to keep a record of each student’s score on the U.S. Naturalization/Citizenship Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government)?

Yes. Institutions are required to maintain records of each student’s final passing score on the test.  The scores, however, will not be noted on the  transcript.

7.What happens if a student fails the Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government)?

Institutions will develop and implement their own internal policies regarding test administration, including the number of attempts available to students. Students should contact their SUS institution  directly for more  information.

8.How many attempts does a student have to successfully pass the Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. History and Government)?

Institutions will develop and implement their own policies related to test administration, including the number of attempts available to students. Students should contact their SUS institution  directly for more  information.

9.Will students who previously took the U.S. Naturalization/Citizenship Test to become a U.S. citizen be considered to have satisfied the Civic Literacy requirement?

No. Students who took the U.S. Naturalization/Citizenship  Test to become a

U.S. citizen will not have met the Civic Literacy requirement, as that test does not include the competencies as required  by section 1007.25(4)(b)(2).