Students who are not academically integrated into their English courses are more likely to depart from college. Academic integration begins with placement testing, and many institutions rely on a single-score standardized placement exam to determine a student's English level. The exam is an inaccurate measurement of a student's skill level and underplaces up to one-third of students. The exam creates a barrier to student academic integration. This qualitative, descriptive case study examined the student impact of an alternative English placement method. A focus group of six faculty members described their rationale for implementing the method and their perceptions of the impact on student success. Eleven students recalled their experiences with the placement process and their perceptions of the method's impact on their success. Descriptively analyzed archival data determined the effect on retention and persistence rates. Research findings discovered the faculty participants' passion for placing developmental English students increased retention. Student interviews revealed anxiety during the standardized exam and negative self-reflection with placement into developmental English. Students viewed the alternative method as a second chance to prove their skill level. Students re-placed by the alternative method had increased self-esteem. Those students remaining in developmental English praised the faculty and curriculum for their increased skills and college success. Descriptive archival data analysis indicated similar retention rates for students placed before and after implementing the alternative placement method. However, students who moved into the co-requisite English course using the alternative placement method showed increased retention rates each year. It is recommended to compare placement processes' impact on student success and add to qualitative research by focusing on students' reasons for departure from developmental courses. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]