Contact Us

10915 Hardin Valley Road
P.O. Box 22990
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990
Main: 865/694-6400

Degree Admission

Applicants seeking admission to Pellissippi State to enroll in regular credit courses for a degree must comply with the following procedures:

• Submit a completed application for admission along with a nonrefundable application fee.
• Provide official academic transcripts and test results as applicable.
• Submit immunization documents:
  1. Certificate of Immunization or proof of two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines
  2. Hepatitis B health history form

ADMISSION OF FIRST—TIME FRESHMEN

Graduation from high school. Except as provided for below in the section on General Educational Development certificate (GED), applicants for degree admission as first—time freshmen must provide an official transcript showing graduation from high school. The high school transcript must be a regular or honors diploma. A special education diploma or certificate does not meet this requirement. The transcript of graduates of Tennessee public high schools must include a notation that the student passed the required proficiency examination.

GED (General Educational Development) certificate. Applicants for degree admission as first—time freshmen may present a GED certificate in lieu of a high school diploma provided that their composite GED score is at least 450, with no individual score below 410.

Standardized Examination Scores. Applicants for admission as first—time freshmen who are under 21 years of age must present valid ACT or SAT scores. Applicants for admission as first—time freshmen must complete a placement test if they will be 21 years or older on the first day of class. Students with valid ACT or SAT scores on the first day of class may elect to submit their scores as a basis for placement decisions. Valid ACT/SAT scores are those earned within three years prior to the first day of the first term of enrollment. Pellissippi State will not use the scores for admission purposes but will use them for advisement purposes and as a component in placement decisions.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS

Any degree—seeking applicant who has attended another college or university shall be considered a transfer student. Admission of transfer students shall be consistent with the following criteria:

• Official transcripts from each school previously attended must be submitted to Enrollment Services. A student cannot register for a second semester without having submitted all previous college transcripts.
• The applicant’s grade—point average on transferable courses must be at least equal to that which Pellissippi State requires for the readmission of its own students. Applicants who do not meet the College’s standards will be admitted on scholastic probation.
• Applicants with college credit earned prior to fall 1989 are admitted without regard to the minimum high school unit requirements.
• Applicants with 60 or more transferable semester hours are eligible for degree admission without regard to the minimum high school unit requirements.
• Applicants with an associate’s degree (A.A., A.S.) designed for transfer to baccalaureate institutions are eligible for degree admission without regard to the minimum high school unit requirements.

AWARDING OF TRANSFER CREDIT

Upon completion of a student’s file and the receipt of all college transcripts, Enrollment Services and the respective academic departments will evaluate courses taken. No transfer credit will be processed until all official transcripts from each school attended by the student are received by Enrollment Services. Transfer credit will not be computed in a student’s grade—point average at Pellissippi State. Provided a grade of C or better was made in each course, transfer credit is awarded for individual courses that parallel Pellissippi State requirements for course content, level of instruction and preparation of faculty teaching courses for which transfer credit in requested. The following information may be required to evaluated the comparability of courses for the purpose of awarding transfer credit:

1. Course syllabus—photocopy of the syllabus used at the time the course was taken. A determination of the comparability of course content and level of instruction is made through a comparison of the following syllabus elements: course prefix, number and title; lecture/lab contact hours and credit hours; course description; prerequisite/corequisite courses; course objectives/ course goals; grading scale; required textbook and other instructional materials; and methods of evaluation. If the syllabus does not contain the information specified above, supplemental documentation (e.g., assignment schedules, grading policy statements) should be submitted along with the course syllabus.
2. Faculty credentials—verification that faculty teaching the course(s) for which credit is requested meet the following academic and/or professional experience qualifications:
   • Courses designed for transfer to four—year colleges and universities—master’s degree and at least 18 graduate hours in the discipline.
   • Courses not designed for transfer to four—year colleges and universities—master’s degree and at least 18 graduate hours in the discipline or bachelor’s degree and work experience in a related field.
3. If applicable, the name of relevant specialized or program agencies/boards may be submitted along with the above information.

The transfer credit appeal process may be used by students to request reconsideration of transfer credit decisions. Steps in the appeal process are as follows:

1. The student contacts Enrollment Services, (865) 694—6400, and requests a reevaluation of transfer credit. The student may ask that particular courses be reconsidered for approval.
2. Course descriptions, course syllabi and other documentation as described above must be provided by the student or by the institution where the courses were taken.
3. Copies of college transcripts and supporting documentation are sent to the appropriate academic dean for review.
4. The dean informs Enrollment Services of the transfer credit decision. Dean decisions regarding the awarding of transfer credit are final.
5. The Enrollment Services Office notifies the student of the transfer credit decision.

The appeals process is the same for students transferring from regionally and non—regionally accredited colleges and universities. Students transferring from international colleges and universities follow the same steps, with the additional requirement that supporting documents, e.g., course syllabi, must be provided with English translations.

READMISSION TO PELLISSIPPI STATE

A student who has not attended Pellissippi State for six consecutive terms must complete a new admissions application, with no application fee. If the student has attended any other college(s) since leaving Pellissippi State the student must submit complete transcript(s) from the college(s) in addition to the application.

ACADEMIC FRESH START: CRITERIA

Academic Fresh Start is a plan of academic forgiveness provided for students who have demonstrated academic responsibility following their return to college. The Academic Fresh Start allows the calculation of the grade—point average (GPA) and credit hours toward graduation to be based only on work done after returning to college. Students who were formerly enrolled at Pellissippi State and who have been separated from Pellissippi State and all other institutions of higher education for a minimum of four calendar years from last date of attendance are eligible for the program. A transfer applicant’s GPA on transferable courses must be at least equal to that which Pellissippi State requires for the readmission of its own students. Applicants who do not meet the Pellissippi State standards may be admitted on academic probation or other appropriate status.

Student Requirements

1. Separation from Pellissippi State and all other collegiate institutions for at least four calendar years
2. Formal application to Enrollment Services requesting Fresh Start and describing an academic plan at the time of readmission or admission as a degree student or after the time of readmission but prior to completion of 15 hours of degree coursework
3. Completion of at least 15 semester hours of earned degree coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all work attempted

Terms of Academic Fresh Start

1. Once the student has satisfied the above requirements, Pellissippi State may grant Academic Fresh Start status. The student may be granted a Fresh Start only once.
2. The student’s permanent record will remain a record of all work; however, for degree or certification purposes, the student will forfeit the use of all college or university degree credit earned prior to the four—year separation upon the granting of Fresh Start status. Previously satisfied placement test requirements will not be forfeited.
3. Upon degree admission, Fresh Start applicants who did not satisfy placement test requirements at the time of previous enrollment and whose academic plan includes completion of a college—level English or mathematics course must meet current placement test requirements regarding enrollment in college—level English and mathematics courses.
4. The student’s transcript will note that the Fresh Start was made and the date of the Fresh Start. The record will also carry the notation "QPA and credit totals are based only on the work beginning with the date of the Fresh Start."
5. The student will apply for the Fresh Start with the understanding that all Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institutions will honor a Fresh Start provision granted at another TBR institution.

The student should also signify understanding that non—TBR institutions may not accept the GPA as it is calculated with the Fresh Start.

MANDATORY PLACEMENT OF DEGREE ADMISSION STUDENTS

For regular admission to a degree program, an applicant must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• If the applicant is under 21 years of age on the planned first day of class, the applicant must submit valid ACT or SAT scores. Placement in appropriate academic courses is based on ACT test scores and high school transcripts. If a student’s high school transcript has not been received in Enrollment Services, the student will be advised based on ACT test scores.
• Applicants for admission as first—time freshmen must complete a placement test if they will be 21 years or older on the first day of class. Students with valid ACT or SAT scores that are less than three years old on the first day of class may elect to submit their scores as the basis for placement decisions.
• Based on test scores, student applicants who do not show proficiency in basic academic competencies in mathematics, English and/or reading are required to take appropriate Developmental Studies Program (DSP) coursework. Such students may not be enrolled in a regular college—level course that requires that competency as a prerequisite until they have satisfactorily met the exit criteria of the appropriate developmental studies course(s).
• Transfer students whose previous academic records from a college or university indicate appropriate English and/or mathematics proficiency will be considered for regular admission. Students whose records do not include such transfer credit in English and mathematics must establish proficiency in the basic academic competencies by test scores according to conditions explained above.

Students admitted to degree programs may later prove deficient in a basic academic competency. Faculty should refer such students to the Learning and Testing Center. Upon verification of the deficiency through placement testing, such students will be withdrawn from the related course(s) with a grade of W and may not re—enroll until they have met all exit criteria of the appropriate developmental course(s).