completion of degree requirements may earn these additional credits by acceptable correspondence or extension work, or by residence at another approved institution.

Maximum External Credit Allowed From Various Sources

Not more than a total of 36 semester hours of credit can be granted by Vol State through any combination of external sources: credit granted for service in the Armed Forces (including physical education credit and credit for courses offered through the United States Armed Forces Institute or other service schools), advanced placement credit (the Advanced Placement Program and College-Level Examination Program of the College Entrance Examination Board, credit by examination, or previous training or work experience qualifying for degree credit.)

Should a student be granted the maximum total of 36 semester hours of credit through external sources, he/she must still complete all specific degree requirements as given in an outlined Program of Study in order to receive an associate degree at Vol State. Students must meet the 24 semester hour residence requirement and a minimum of 20 of the final 26 hours must be completed at Volunteer State.

Developmental Studies

The Tennessee Board of Regents, which governs all the State’s community colleges and its universities except the UT system, requires that students who enroll in college-level courses first show that they have high school level skills to succeed in those courses. First-time freshmen and Transfer students are classified as "Degree- Seeking" students. Any "Adult Special" or "Transient" student who wishes to take a college-level course which has a Developmental Studies prerequisite must also demonstrate the required level of skills.

Students ages 20 and under who possess valid ACT scores will be screened for placement into college-level courses or Developmental courses according to their ACT sub-scores in English, Reading, and Mathematics. Students whose ACT sub-scores in English, Reading, and Mathematics are 19 or higher will have open access to collegelevel courses provided they have met the high school unit requirements for college admission. Students whose ACT subscores are 18 or lower in English, Reading and/or Mathematics will be placed in developmental courses according to the following chart.

If a student has more than one set of ACT scores, they will be allowed to mix and match sub-scores to obtain the best placement.SAT scores will be converted to ACT equivalent scores, and then the above chart will be used for placement.

Students will have the opportunity to challenge their initial placement by ACT scores. Students have the option to retest using the college's primary assessment test or other instruments determined by the NewSkills program.

Students age 21 or over who do not possess valid ACT scores, will be given an assessment test and placed accordingly. Students will have the opportunity to challenge the placement through various instruments. The Developmental Studies courses which must be completed by the student will be determined on the basis of this assessment. These courses cover the basic skills through high school level required of all entering students. The courses are entrance requirements and must be completed as the student first begins college. Any student who is placed beyond Reading I may take college-level courses along with developmental courses. All students are re-assessed and placements adjusted the first day of class in reading and writing. Any student who wishes to challenge his or her placement in math should contact the NewSkillsoffice before enrolling in math courses to discuss options.

Once enrolled, the student must complete any Developmental Studies course with a grade of "C" or better. The progress grade (YC) may be earned in a course in which the student achieves mastery of at least half of the content. Other policies and procedures specific to the different areas of study are presented in the course syllabi for those areas.