04:04:00 Admissions

Purpose

To define requirements for acceptance to the institution.

Policy

I. Introduction

Walters State Community College subscribes to an open admissions policy and encourages those who desire to attend the college for the purpose of learning to apply for admission in accordance with provisions stated below.

Walters State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status in the admission of students. Interested individuals must:
 

1. Submit an application for admission.
2. Be a high school graduate with an approved regular high school diploma, or possess a general high school equivalency credential. High school graduates must provide an official transcript showing a graduation date and designation of earning a regular high school diploma, or a copy of the official high school equivalency passing exam scores.
3. The transcript of a non-public high school (including home schools, private schools, and church-related schools) should be an official copy from an affiliated organization as defined by state law (T.C.A. § 49-6-3050). Transcripts from independent home-school students must be accompanied by certification of registration with the superintendent of the local education agency (LEA) That the student would have otherwise attended. Aside from dual enrollment students, applicants will be conditionally admitted until proper documentation of a regular high school diploma or high school equivalency is submitted.
4. A person who is under 21 years of age and has not earned an approved regular high school diploma or has not received a high school equivalency will not be admitted. A student will be immediately withdrawn and refunded 100% or his/her tuition/fees upon notification that an approved regular high school diploma or high school equivalency has not been awarded.
5. 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 is either a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States. In order to receive a state benefit, applicants must provide proof of citizenship or lawful presence.
6. Applicants must submit the Immunization Health History form for Hepatitis B, Chicken Pox/Varicella, and Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccinations. Proof of actual vaccinations are only required if an outbreak were to occur. Forms may be obtained from Student Enrollment Services or on the Walters State website.
7. Students may be required to submit other documentation based on their specific student classification.
8. A student who has been suspended from another institution because of disciplinary action must be eligible to return to that institution before being admitted to Walters State Community College.
9. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to a specific program of study. To be admitted to some programs of study, a student must meet certain standards or be approved by the dean/director of the program (i.e., Nursing).

When all of the above requirements have been completed, the applicant is considered a regular student and may be admitted to the college as a candidate for a degree or certificate and receive college credit for courses completed.

Additional Requirements for Specific Classifications

Appropriate assessment is required for enrollment in Learning Support (LS) or College-Level courses.

Assessment decisions are based on valid ACT/SAT, Accuplacer, or SAILS scores. Valid scores are those earned within five years prior to the first day of class of a student’s entering term. No program assessment is required of any student with a valid ACT composite score of 26 or higher.

        1. Degree-seeking students will be assessed for LS placement according to ACT/SAT, Accuplacer, or SAILS scores.

        2. Transfer students:

                   a. will provide an official transcript from each college previously attended.

                   b. without college-level English composition, mathematics and/or reading intensive course credit will be assessed in writing, mathematics, and/or reading based on a valid ACT score or other appropriate assessment test.

                  c.  who are not eligible for readmission due to academic retention standards at the last institution attended will be admitted on probation at Walters State Community College. Students will then be held to Walters  State academic retention standards as outlined in the college catalog.    

        3. Transient students will provide an official college transcript from their home institution.     

        4. Non degree-seeking, special students

                  a.  without college-level English composition credit will be assessed in writing prior to enrollment in college-level English or any course with English as a prerequisite.

                  b.  without college-level mathematics credit will be assessed in mathematics prior to enrollment in college-level mathematics or any course with mathematics as a prerequisite.

                  c.  without college-level reading intensive credit will be assessed in reading prior to enrollment in a college-level reading intensive course or any course with reading as a prerequisite.

                  d.  who change to degree-seeking status will be assessed and other screening may be applicable under guidelines for degree-seeking students.

        5.  Dual Enrollment students must:

                 a.   be a junior or senior in high school.

                 b.   have a 3.0 high school GPA or 21 ACT/SAT composite score to be admitted. Exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the Dean of Student Records and Enrollment Processing.

                 c.   provide a completed Enrollment Permission Form every semester enrolled as a Dual Enrollment student and provide placement documentation where required.

        6.  Academically Talented/Gifted students:

                 a.   must be enrolled in grades nine or ten in public or private high schools in Tennessee and may, with the recommendation and approval of the high school principal, guidance counselor, and the WSCC department of Student Enrollment Services, enroll in and receive regular college degree credit from Walters State.

                 b.   must have an unweighted high school GPA of at least 3.2.

                 c.    must complete a WSCC application.

                 d.    submit an I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan)(when available) and appropriate documentation of being certified academically gifted.

                 e.    Must submit all required forms prior to admission and registration.

        7.  International students on F-1 (student) visas are classified as international students, whether they are applying to Walters State as freshmen or transfer students. In making application for admissions to Walters    State, each international student must have items 1-5 listed below on file in the department of Student Enrollment Services no later than 60 days prior to the beginning date of the term the applicant wishes to enroll:

             1.  A completed application for admission.

             2.  Official copies of all transcripts, test scores, and other credentials. These documents must be accompanied by an official English translation which shows the following:

                  a.   Courses of instruction in terms of years spent in school.

                  b.   Types of subject matter covered with grades earned in each subject.

             3.  A completed Immunization Health History Form.

             4.  Evidence of proficiency in the English language according to the following: A first-time student must present a minimum TOEFL score of 500 on the paper exam or 173 on the computer-based exam (earned within  the last two years)  prior to application. The TOEFL score will not be considered until the score has been verified by the department of Student Enrollment Services. Verification can only be done if the student has requested the testing agency to release their score to WSCC. WSCC’s institution code is 1893.

                  Exception: TOEFL is not required if:

                  a.   English is the official language of the country of citizenship.

                  b.   A bachelor’s or master’s degree is conferred on an official transcript from a United States accredited four-year college or university.

                  c.   A student can show evidence to satisfy all requirements for freshman composition with a grade of “C” or better at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States of America.

             5.  Evidence of financial resources adequate for one year of tuition and related expenses from a bank within the student’s country of current residence.

Walters State Community College chose to early implement full rescission of the gainful employment disclosure requirements. The decision was based on guidance included in the U.S. Department of Education’s Gainful Employment Electronic Announcement #122. The rescission applies to the NSLDS reporting requirement, 34 CFR 668.412, and 34 CFR 668.414.

05/16; 04/20; 4/22