Admission to the College

Applicants seeking admission to a degree program at VSCC must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

To be admitted to a degree or certificate program, applicants must graduate high school with a regular diploma or higher. High school certificates of attendance, special diplomas or the like are not sufficient for admission to a degree or certificate program. Applicants falling into this category may substitute acceptable scores on the General Educational Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) examination or apply as a non-degree student. See the Admission of Non-Degree Students section for admission requirements for applicants not seeking a degree.

Public Tennessee High Schools - In addition to the above requirements, the transcript of graduates of Tennessee public high schools beginning with the 1983 graduating class must include a notation indicating that the applicant passed the required proficiency exam.

Non-Public Schools - Applicants who graduated from non-public high schools (including private schools, home schools, and church-related schools) must submit an official transcript showing credits earned and date of graduation. The transcript of a home school applicant must be an official copy from an affiliated organization as defined by state law (T. C. A. 49- 50-801) or be accompanied by a certification of registration with the superintendent of the local education agency which the applicant would otherwise attend. Applicants who cannot provide a satisfactory secondary school credential may substitute acceptable scores on the GED or HiSET examination.

High School Equivalency Diploma - Applicants 18 years of age or over may be admitted with a passing score on the GED or HiSET. Official scores on the GED or HiSET should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency.

Transfer applicants, who have not been assessed at a TBR institution or completed any college-level courses in English Composition and/or college-level math with a grade of C or higher, will be assessed according to the College’s assessment and placement procedures. Transfer applicants with valid (less than five years old) ACT scores may be placed using those scores.

Admission of New & Transfer Technical Certificate Students

Prospective students seeking admission to a technical certificate program at VSCC must meet the following requirements:

    Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.

To be admitted to a technical certificate program, applicants must graduate high school with a regular diploma or higher. High school certificates of attendance, special diplomas or the like are not sufficient for admission to a technical certificate program. Applicants falling into this category may substitute acceptable scores on the GED or HiSET examination or apply as a non-degree student. See the Admission of Non-Degree Students section for admission requirements for applicants not seeking a technical certificate.

Public Tennessee High Schools. In addition to the above requirements, the transcript of graduates of Tennessee public high schools beginning with the 1983 graduating class must include a notation indicating that the applicant passed the required proficiency exam.

Non-Public Schools. Applicants who graduated from non-public high schools (including private schools, home schools, and church-related schools) must submit an official transcript showing credits earned and date of graduation. The transcript of a home school applicant must be an official copy from an affiliated organization as defined by state law (T.C.A. 49-50-801) or be accompanied by a certification of registration with the superintendent of the local education agency which the applicant would otherwise attend. Applicants who cannot provide a satisfactory secondary school credential may substitute acceptable scores on the GED or HiSET examination.

High School Equivalency Diploma. Applicants 18 years of age or over may be admitted with a passing score on the GED or HiSET. Official scores on the GED or HiSET should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency.

Admission of Transient Students

A regularly enrolled student of another institution who desires to take only a limited number of hours during a term and who is not presently working toward a degree at VSCC may be admitted as a transient student.

Transient applicants may choose to apply to be admitted to a degree or certificate program. At that time, the applicant must meet the appropriate admission requirements for that status. Coursework completed as a transient student may be applied to a degree or certificate if said coursework is applicable.

An Applicant seeking admission as a transient student at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

Early Admission of a Student

VSCC invites high school principals to occasionally nominate gifted students for admission at the end of their junior year in high school.

Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied. Prospective students seeking early admission at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

Admission of Dual Enrollment Students

College level courses, for which credit may be granted, are offered to qualified high school students and may be conducted on the high school campus. Successful completion of these courses will allow the award of both college credit and high school credit. Appropriate policies must be in place at the local board of education for the College to enter into an agreement with the area high school to offer dual enrollment courses.

Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied. Admission as a dual enrollment student will be made on a term-by-term basis dependant on continued permission to enroll from the applicant’s high school.

Prospective students seeking admission as dual enrollment students at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States. Dual Enrollment applicants who will not be 18 years old before the first day of their first term of enrollment are exempt from the EVEA requirement.

Admission of Joint Enrollment Students

A high school senior with a load of two high school academic courses and written approval of the principal may be permitted to enroll jointly at VSCC and take up to 12 hours per semester. Under special circumstances, a high school senior enrolled full-time, and with written approval of the principal, may be permitted to register for one course per semester.

Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied. Admission as a joint enrollment student will be made on a term-by-term basis dependent on continued permission to enroll from the applicant’s high school.

Applicants seeking admission as joint enrollment students at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States. Joint Enrollment applicants who will not be 18 years old before the first day of their first term of enrollment are exempt from the EVEA requirement.

Admission of Middle College Students

A Middle College Student is one that has been identified as qualified by their school district to enroll in college credit courses, which may be conducted on the college campus in lieu of attending their high school. Successful completion of these courses will allow the award of both college credit and high school credit. Appropriate policies must be in place at the local board of education for the College to admit Middle College students from that county.

Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied. Prospective students seeking admission as Middle College Students must meet the following requirements.

  1. Approval: Applicants must receive approval from their participating school district to be admitted as a Middle College Student at VSCC.
  2. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required. The Middle College application can be found online at volstate.edu/admissions.
  3. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States. Middle College applicants who will not be 18 years old before the first day of their first term of enrollment are exempt from the EVEA requirement.

Admission of Academically Talented and Gifted Students

Academically talented and gifted applicants enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 in public or private high schools in Tennessee may, with the recommendation and approval of the high school principal and the Director of Admissions, enroll in college courses and receive college credit. The applicant must have a 3.2 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and the college placement recommendations must be a part of the applicant’s planned Individual Education Program that has been established by the multi-disciplinary team process.

Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied.

Prospective applicants seeking admission as academically talented and gifted students at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States. Academically Talented and Gifted applicants who will not be 18 years old before the first day of their first term of enrollment are exempt from the EVEA requirement.

Admission to the Advanced Studies Program

The Advanced Studies Program is designed for applicants who have completed the junior year in high school and who qualify to enroll in selected courses at VSCC during the summer term prior to completing the senior year in high school. Courses taken at the College in the summer term (not to exceed 12 semester hours of academic work) must be chosen by the applicant in consultation with his/her high school counselor in order to supplement, and not overlap, the applicant’s total high school program and to ensure academic success. Courses taken in the summer between the junior and senior year will, after high school graduation, count as regular college credit.

Applicants seeking admission to the advanced studies program at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States. Advanced Studies applicants who will not be 18 years old before the first day of their first term of enrollment are exempt from the EVEA requirement.

Information about this examination may be obtained from high school counselors or from the Testing Center at VSCC. An ACT code number of 4037 has been assigned to VSCC. Official scores on the ACT should be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from ACT.

Admission of International Students

VSCC welcomes applications from individuals living outside the United States. There are several admissions classifications for these applicants.

International Applicants Holding or Applying for F-1 or M-1 Visas

Applicants must complete ALL requirements by October 1 for spring term, March 1 for summer term, or June 1 for fall term. Applicants holding or applying for F-1 or M-1 visas MUST apply as either degree seeking students or English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program students. Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied. International applicants will be required to pay out-of-state tuition.

Applicants seeking admission as degree-seeking international students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. English Placement: Applicants whose native language is not English and who are not permanent residents of the United States will be required to take the TOEFL, PTE Academic, IELTS, or other approved comparable standardized examinations prior to admission to VSCC. If Applying As Degree Seeking: The minimum required TOEFL scores are 500 on the pen-and-paper test or 60 on the internet-based test. The minimum required score for the IELTS is 5.5. The minimum test score requirement does not apply to applicants who have already successfully completed all required ESOL courses at VSCC. Applicants who are already in the United States can take the VSCC Michigan Test at either the Gallatin or Livingston campuses only. Exceptions may be made for transfer applicants who have satisfied all freshman English Composition requirements with a grade of C or higher at another institution of higher learning. A similar exception may be made for applicants who completed high school in the United States. Language testing is not required for applicants whose native language is English. If Applying for ESOL Program on F-1 Visa: The minimum required TOEFL score is 425 on the pen-and-paper test or 38 on the internet-based test. The minimum required score on the PTE Academic is 29 and the minimum required score for the IELTS is 3.5. Applicants who are already in the United States can take the VSCC Michigan Test at either the Gallatin or Livingston campuses only.
  3. Academic Credentials: In addition to submitting official transcripts from United States institutions, applicants must submit official copies of academic records from secondary schools and higher education institutions, showing graduation or completion dates if applicable. Transcripts or records which are not in English should be accompanied by notarized or certified translations. In addition, applicants wishing to receive transfer credit for courses taken outside the United States may be required to submit course descriptions and have their educational credentials assessed by an evaluation service.
  4. Affidavit of Support: Applicants must submit an Affidavit of Support form, available from the Office of Admissions. The form must be completed by the applicant and/or his/her sponsor, and signed or notarized by the applicant’s and/or sponsor’s bank. The first year fees and expenses total $35,567. This figure is an estimate and is subject to change. The affidavit should indicate that the student and/or sponsor has at least this amount available. Additional funds are required if the applicant plans to bring a spouse or dependent into the country.
  5. International/Immigration Documents: Applicants must submit a copy of their I-94 form, visa, and passport. If the applicant is currently enrolled in another United States higher education institution, the applicant must also submit a copy of their I-20.
  6. Testing Requirement: All degree-seeking applicants who are 20 years of age or younger as of the first day of class for their term of initial enrollment must submit scores from the American College Testing program (ACT). Information about this examination may be obtained from high school counselors or from the Testing Center at VSCC.

An ACT code number of 4037 has been assigned to VSCC. Official scores on the ACT should be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from ACT. ACT scores included on an official high school transcript are sufficient to meet this requirement. A transfer applicant need not retake the ACT, but should have his or her ACT scores on file with the College.

Transfer applicants who have not been assessed at a TBR institution or completed any college-level courses in English Composition and/or college-level math with a grade of C or higher will be assessed according to the College’s assessment and placement procedures. Transfer applicants with valid (less than five years old) ACT scores may be placed using those scores.

Hepatitis B - All applicants must complete and submit to the Office of Admissions the Hepatitis B Immunization Health History form. Although applicants are not required to complete the shot series, they must acknowledge that they have been informed of the dangers of Hepatitis B. For those applicants who have reached the age of 18, this form can be completed online at the time of registration. Applicants under the age of 18 must submit the form to the Office of Admissions with a parent or legal guardian’s signature prior to registering for classes.

MMR - All applicants who wish to enroll as full-time students and who were born in 1957 or later must provide proof of immunization with two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines administered on or after their first birthday, unless they graduated from a Tennessee public high school in 1999 or later. If at any time an applicant becomes a full-time student at VSCC, this requirement will go into effect.

Other Degree-Seeking International Applicants

International applicants not holding F-1 or M-1 visas must meet all admission requirements appropriate for the classification under which they are applying as listed in the College Catalog. In addition to those requirements applicants must also meet the following requirements prior to being allowed to register:

  1. English Placement: Applicants whose native language is not English and who are not permanent residents of the United States will be required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or other approved comparable standardized examinations prior to admission to VSCC, unless enrolling in English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes only. The minimum required TOEFL scores are 500 on the pen-and-paper test or 60 on the internet-based test. The minimum required score for the IELTS is 5.5. The minimum test score requirement does not apply to applicants who have already successfully completed all required ESOL courses at VSCC. Applicants who are already in the United States can take the VSCC Michigan Test at either the Gallatin or Livingston campuses only. Exceptions may be made for transfer applicants who have satisfied all freshman English Composition requirements with a grade of C or higher at another institution of higher learning. A similar exception may be made for applicants who completed high school in the United States. Language testing is not required for applicants whose native language is English.
  2. Academic Credentials: In addition to submitting official transcripts from United States institutions as appropriate to their admission classification, applicants must submit official copies of academic records from secondary schools and higher education institutions, showing graduation or completion dates if applicable. Transcripts or records which are not in English should be accompanied by notarized or certified translations. In addition, applicants wishing to receive transfer credit for courses taken outside the United States may be required to submit course descriptions and have their educational credentials assessed by an evaluation service.

Non-Degree Seeking International Applicants

SOME international applicants living in the United States are eligible to enroll in classes other than ESOL without pursuing a degree. Please note that applicants holding or applying for F-1 or M-1 visas are not eligible for the non-degree status unless they are applying as full-time ESOL students. Contact the Assistant Director of Admissions if you are unsure of your eligibility for non-degree status. Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied.

Non-degree applicants may choose to apply to be admitted to a degree or technical certificate program. At that time, the applicant must meet the appropriate admission requirements for that status. Coursework completed as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree or certificate if said coursework is applicable.

Applicants seeking admission as non-degree international students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. English Placement: Applicants whose native language is not English and who are not permanent residents of the United States will be required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or other approved comparable standardized examinations prior to admission to VSCC, unless enrolling in English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes only. The minimum required TOEFL scores are 500 on the pen-and-paper test or 60 on the internet-based test. The minimum required score for the IELTS is 5.5. The minimum test score requirement does not apply to applicants who have already successfully completed all required ESOL courses at VSCC. Applicants who are already in the United States can take the VSCC Michigan Test at either the Gallatin or Livingston campuses only. Exceptions may be made for transfer applicants who have satisfied all freshman English Composition requirements with a grade of C or higher at another institution of higher learning. A similar exception may be made for applicants who completed high school in the United States. Language testing is not required for applicants whose native language is English.
  3. Placement Testing: Unless otherwise exempt by ACT scores, transfer credit, etc., all non-degree-seeking applicants will be subject to placement testing for courses having placement prerequisites. The placement test is designed to measure skills in reading, writing, and math.

Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to complete a specialized placement test. Applicants with transfer credit who have not been assessed at a Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institution or completed any college-level courses in English Composition and/or college-level math with a grade of C or higher will be assessed according to the College’s assessment and placement procedures.

Tuberculosis - Applicants must submit a tuberculosis immunization certificate from a licensed physician or other qualified medical authority.

Hepatitis B - All applicants must complete and submit to the Office of Admissions the Hepatitis B Immunization Health History form. Although applicants are not required to complete the shot series, they must acknowledge that they have been informed of the dangers of Hepatitis B. For those applicants who have reached the age of 18, this form can be completed online at the time of registration. Applicants who are under the age of 18 must submit the form to the Office of Admissions with a parent or legal guardian’s signature prior to registering for classes.

MMR - All applicants who wish to enroll as full-time students and who were born in 1957 or later must provide proof of immunization with two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines administered on or after their first birthday, unless they graduated from a Tennessee public high school in 1999 or later. If at any time an applicant becomes a full-time student at VSCC, this requirement will go into effect.

Admission of Non-Degree Students

A non-degree applicant is one who is not seeking a degree but wishes to take courses for personal enrichment or professional growth. Non-degree students are not eligible for Financial Aid programs.

Students who wish to take courses for personal enrichment or professional growth may continue to accumulate credit in the non-degree category for up to forty-eight semester hours. Exceptions to this maximum may be granted by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Non-degree applicants may choose to apply to be admitted to a degree or technical certificate program. At that time, the applicant must meet the appropriate admission requirements for that status. Coursework completed as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree or certificate if said coursework is applicable.

Applicants seeking admission as a non-degree student at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to complete a specialized placement test. Applicants with transfer credit who have not been assessed at a Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institution or completed any college-level courses in English Composition and/or college-level math with a grade of C or higher will be assessed according to the College’s assessment and placement procedures.

Admission of Special Undergraduate Students

A special student is one who has not met the credential requirements for admission as a regular degree student and is not officially working toward a degree.

A graduate of an accredited college or university (or one who has more than 60 semester hours from another institution) who desires to take only a limited number of courses and who indicates that he/she is not presently working toward a degree at VSCC may be admitted as a special undergraduate.

Special Undergraduate applicants may choose to apply to be admitted to a degree or technical certificate program. At that time, the applicant must meet the appropriate admission requirements for that status. Coursework completed as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree or certificate if said coursework is applicable.

Applicants seeking admission as special undergraduate applicants must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

Admission of Auditing Students

Applicants who are not enrolled for credit courses may register to audit courses with the approval of the College Registrar upon the recommendation of the division dean.

Fees for audits will be assessed on the same basis as fees for credit courses. Auditors are not required to prepare lessons or papers or take examinations. They do not receive a grade. They are not required to take part in class discussions or laboratory or field work.

Note: Pursuant to TCA 49-7-113, exceptions exist for certain disabled and elderly students, as well as state service retirees. For audit courses, no fee is required for persons with a permanent, total disability, persons 60 years of age or older and domiciled in Tennessee, and persons who have retired from state service with 30 or more years of service, regardless of age. For credit, a fee of $70 per semester or $60 per trimester may be charged to persons with a permanent, total disability and persons who will become 65 years of age or older during the academic semester in which they begin classes and who are domiciled in Tennessee. (Note: This fee includes all mandatory fees; it does not include course-specific fees such as all miscellaneous course fees, materials fees, online course fees and parking fees.) This only applies to enrollment on a space-available basis, which permits registration no earlier than four (4) weeks prior to the first day of classes. Senior Citizens must verify their birth date either with their State ID, driver’s license, or birth certificate.

Applicants seeking admission to audit a course, unless otherwise stated in the catalog, must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

Admission of Senior Citizen Students

Pursuant to TCA 49-7-113, exceptions exist for certain disabled and elderly students, as well as state service retirees. For audit courses, no fee is required for persons with a permanent, total disability, persons 60 years of age or older and domiciled in Tennessee, and persons who have retired from state service with 30 or more years of service, regardless of age. For credit, a fee of $70 per semester or $60 per trimester may be charged to persons with a permanent, total disability and persons who will become 65 years of age or older during the academic semester in which they begin classes and who are domiciled in Tennessee. (Note: This fee includes all mandatory fees; it does not include course-specific fees such as all miscellaneous course fees, materials fees, online course fees and parking fees.) This only applies to enrollment on a space-available basis, which permits registration no earlier than four (4) weeks prior to the first day of classes. Senior Citizens must verify their birth date either with their drivers license or birth certificate. All admissions requirements must be met.

Applicants seeking admission as senior citizen students at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

Admission of Students Who Wish to Enroll in ESOL Classes Only

Applicants living in the United States who wish to enroll ONLY in ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) classes may do so by following the steps below. Please note that applicants holding or applying for F-1 and M-1 visas are not eligible for this status. Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied.

Applicants to VSCC seeking admission to enroll in ESOL classes only must meet the following requirements:

  1. Application: A completed application for admission to VSCC is required with ESOL Only marked as the applicant’s program of study.
  2. Citizenship: Effective October 1, 2012, the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires public colleges and universities to verify that any student seeking a state public benefit (in-state tuition and fees) is either a “United States citizen” or “lawfully present” in the United States.

Applicants in ESOL status who enroll in non-ESOL classes will be subject to any and all unmet admission requirements for regular non-degree seeking status.

Readmission of Students

Any former student not enrolled at VSCC the previous semester (excluding the summer) who wishes to return to the College must file an application for readmission. A student who is readmitted after completing a one-semester suspension will be readmitted as having Academic Probation Status. This status can be removed by maintaining a 2.00 Grade Point Average (GPA) or by meeting the cumulative standard for Quality Point Average (QPA) for that semester.

Former students seeking readmission to the College will be subject to all admission requirements as stated in other admission categories outlined in the College Catalog depending on the admission status a prospective student is seeking. All admission requirements for a prospective student’s prior status must be completely fulfilled prior to that student being readmitted to VSCC.

Former students seeking readmission to a degree or certificate program at the College must meet the following requirements:

  1. Readmit Application: A completed readmit application for admission to VSCC is required.
  2. Transfer Credentials: Applicants for readmission seeking a degree or certificate from VSCC who have enrolled for any credit classes at another institution of higher education since last attending VSCC, regardless of whether they wish to receive credit for it must submit a complete official transcript to the Office of Admissions from each institution attended. Faxed or student-issued copies of transcripts are not considered official. In every case credentials must include a complete record of credits earned in all previous secondary schools attended and a complete record of grades from all collegiate institutions attended. Failure to indicate previous college attendance on the application for admission may subject a student to dismissal from the College.

Readmit applicants who have not been assessed at a Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institution or completed any college-level courses in English Composition and/or college-level math with a grade of C or higher will be assessed according to the College’s assessment and placement procedures. Transfer applicants with valid (less than five years old) ACT scores may be placed using those scores.

Admission to Special Programs

Certain instructional programs of the College are subject to special admission requirements which are in addition to the general admission requirements. These programs, which are shown below, necessitate special admissions requirements and are subject to change due to the availability of institutional resources. Students wishing to enter one of these programs of study should check with the appropriate division offering the program in order to become familiar with these requirements.

Tennessee law requires that students enrolling in any of the following academic program areas are required to submit proof of compliance with the recommended immunization schedule:

  1. Programs that involve interaction with children, such as a teacher education or early childhood education training
  2. Programs in the school of nursing, laboratory technology, or any other allied health professions

For all other academic areas of study, students who provide proof of one of the following are considered to be compliant with the recommended immunization schedule:

  1. Prior or current military service
  2. Graduation from a Tennessee high school after 2014

Students enrolling in all other academic program areas who fail to provide health information that establishes the applicant’s compliance with the recommended immunization schedule for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella for adults, issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) shall be presumed to be un-immunized and subject to immunization, quarantine or isolation recommendations for the purposes of public health disease control.

Hepatitis B - All applicants must complete and submit to the Office of Admissions the Hepatitis B Immunization Health History form. Although applicants are not required to complete the shot series, they must acknowledge that they have been informed of the dangers of Hepatitis B. For those applicants who have reached the age of 18, this form can be completed online at the time of registration. Applicants under the age of 18 must submit the form to the Office of Admissions with a parent or legal guardian’s signature prior to registering for classes.

A student may be exempted from immunization requirements if vaccination conflicts with the religious tenets and practices of the student or if a licensed physician determines that the risk of harm from the vaccine outweighs the potential benefit.

Residency Requirements for Tuition Purposes

To prove Tennessee domicile, you/your spouse or your parent/guardian may select one of the following three options:

  1. Provide at least one item from list A or
  2. Provide at least two items from list B or
  3. Provide at least one item from list B and two from list C

Admission to the Honors Program

Incoming freshmen who meet the following criteria are strongly urged to apply to the Honors Program: an ACT composite score of 24 or higher; a high school GPA of 3.5 or a ranking in the top ten percent of the graduating class; and two letters of recommendation, one from a high school official. Applications are available online at http://www.volstate.edu/Honors/. Students already enrolled in VSCC are also strongly encouraged to apply. They need a GPA of 3.5 or above and recommendations from two faculty members. Interested students should contact the Coordinator of the Honors Program.

Admission of CEU, Non-Credit Students

A student interested in enrolling in non-credit instructional activities is not required to apply for formal admission to the College. Adult students, 18 years of age and older, must complete a CEU Non-Credit application. A student 17 years of age or younger, or his parent or guardian, must complete a Pre-College CEU Non-Credit application. The parent or guardian must sign a waiver of liability.

Required High School Courses

Admission will be granted to freshmen applicants who hold a recognized high school diploma that includes a distribution of college preparatory courses, such as those required in the core elements of the Tennessee High School Diploma. These courses include the following:

4 Units of English

2 Units of Algebra (Algebra I and II)

1 Unit of Geometry or Higher

1 Additional Unit of Math

3 Units of Natural Science

1 Unit of United States History

1 Unit of European History, World History, or World Geography

2 Units of a single Foreign Language

1 Unit of Visual or Performing Arts

*Required by T.C.A. §49-7-110. Students deficient in the completion of United States History are required to complete six semester hours of United States History or three semester hours of United States History and three semester hours of Tennessee History.

Exceptions to the above:

Graduated from high school prior to 1989.

Passed the GED test prior to 1989.

Enrolled as a Special Student not pursuing a degree.

Enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Program

Enrolled in a Technical Certificate Program.

ACT scores of 26 or higher. Applicants who graduated from high school and have an Enhanced ACT composite of 26 or higher are considered to have met all high school unit requirements except those in foreign language and visual or performing arts. Foreign language and visual or performing arts requirements cannot be waived even with an ACT composite score of 26 or higher. Deficiencies in those units should be removed within the first 30 hours after initial enrollment.

Applicants who received a high school equivalency diploma or the American Council on Education (ACE) external diploma in 1989 and thereafter are considered to have met all high school unit requirements except those in foreign language and visual or performing arts. Deficiencies in foreign language and visual or performing arts should be removed within the first 30 hours after enrollment.

Applicants with a disability who volunteer information about their disability will be assessed on an individual basis.