Enrollment Services

Enrollment Services

The mission of the Enrollment Services Center is to admit, register and graduate students in an efficient fashion in accordance with guidelines and procedures, to maintain accurate student records, to provide information and statistics to numerous constituencies and to foster a positive working environment by providing quality service to campus and external communities.

Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) subscribes to the open-door policy for admission and welcomes applications from all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability. The following information will explain procedures for admission to CSCC. When an admissions application has been submitted, the applicant will be sent a letter or email indicating acceptance to the college and will be advised if further action is necessary to complete their admission’s file.

It is a Class A misdemeanor to misrepresent academic credentials. A person commits the offense of misrepresentation of academic credentials who, knowing that the statement is false and with the intent to secure employment at or admission to an institution of higher education in Tennessee, represents, orally or in writing, that such person: 1) Has successfully completed the required coursework for and has been awarded one or more degrees or diplomas from an accredited institution of higher education; 2) Has successfully completed the required coursework for and has been awarded one or more degrees or diplomas from a particular institution of higher education; or 3) Has successfully completed the required coursework for and has been awarded one or more degrees or diplomas in a particular field or specialty from an accredited institution of higher education.

Upon admission to the college, students are classified as in-state or out-of-state residents for fee payment purposes. Cleveland State adheres to the policies and regulations set forth by the Tennessee Board of Regents concerning residency classification for fee payment purposes. Proof of relevant information may be required as a part of the classification review. Applicants will be advised regarding testing, counseling and registration. If you have questions, you may contact the Enrollment Services Center at (423) 473-2310 or (800) 604-2722, ext. 310.

Degree/Certificate Admission Requirements

Students who intend to pursue a degree or certificate at Cleveland State Community College or earn credits toward a degree at another institution should comply with the following requirements:

1. Complete and submit an application for admission.
2. Provide official transcripts.
3. Males, between ages 18 and 26, must be registered with the selective service.
4. If a resident alien, submit a copy of the front and back of the Permanent Resident Card. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may be required for students with a native language other than English.
5. Provide proof of eligibility for state benefits as applicable.  Tennessee Public Chapter 1061, “Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act”, effective October 1, 2012, provides that state governmental entities, including public higher education, must verify that applicants for “state public benefits” are either a United States citizen or are “lawfully present” in the United States.  As such, applicants for admission who are applying for state benefits must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or lawful presence. International students are not required to submit additional documentation since their lawful presence will be verified through SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Details on acceptable forms of identification which may be provided are available from the Enrollment Services Office.

Additional Requirements by Category

1. First-Time Freshmen
   A first-time college student will qualify for degree admission provided he/she meets the following requirements:
   1. Graduation from High School or High School Equivalency
      a.  Graduation from High School - Provide an official transcript showing graduation from high school. Students from a church-related school or home school will submit a transcript or high school diploma as defined by T.C.A. § 49-50-801 and T.C.A. § 49-6-3050. Transcripts from states other than Tennessee will be evaluated on an individual basis.
      b.  High School Equivalency - Applicants may present passing HSE scores in lieu of a high school diploma. HSE graduates from states other than Tennessee may be required to provide further documentation, if graduation is not clearly indicated on the HSE score sheet.
   2. Standardized Examination Scores are not required for admission purposes but may be used for advisement purposes as well as a component in the placement decision in accordance with TBR Learning Support Policy No. 2:03:00:02.  Valid ACT/SAT scores are those earned within five years prior to the first day of the first term of enrollment. 
   3. Placement Testing
      Students may be subject to placement testing based on their desired coursework.
   4. High School Course Requirements for University Parallel Programs
      Applicants for admission 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.  Applicants who graduated prior to the adoption of the Tennessee Diploma Project curriculum who hold a high school diploma are exempt from the diploma requirements with the exception of those in T.C.A. § 49-7-110 will be granted admission.

2. Transfer Student
   A student who has completed college coursework at another institution of higher learning will qualify for degree admission and must meet the following requirements:
   1. Provide official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning previously attended.
   2. Have a grade-point average on all transferred courses that is at least equal to the progression standards of Cleveland State. Transfer students not meeting this criterion may be admitted on scholastic probation or other appropriate condition.
   3. Students who have earned an associate degree or higher from a postsecondary institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are not required to provide a high school transcript or a HiSET/GED certificate showing proof of a passing score.
   4. Students with less tan 60 hours of transferable credit must provide an official high school transcript.
3. International Student
   A student whose citizenship is retained in a country other than the United States and Puerto Rico and who has not attained resident status in the United States will be classified as an International Student. This student must meet the requirements for degree admission, along with the following additional requirements, before admission and enrollment:
   1. Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and attain a minimum score of 500 on the paper exam, 173 on the computer-based exam or 61 on the internet-based exam. (Not required if native language is English.)
   2. Provide official copies of academic records from secondary schools, colleges or universities accompanied by English translations of all credentials.
   3. Be certified by a medical authority to be free of tuberculosis.
   4. For students planning to enroll on F-1 visas, provide official evidence of financial resources adequate for all expenses for at least one year of enrollment.
   5. Provide all transfer forms and other government documents required by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement including copies of passport, I-94 forms and any form I-20s from previous schools attended in the United States.
   6. Provide evidence of medical insurance or enrollment in the student insurance program.

Non-Degree Admission

This classification includes any student who wishes to take credit courses on a limited basis (explained below), for credit and/or audit, but is not seeking a degree or certificate.  Non-Degree Admission students are not permitted to enroll in any college-level English or mathematics course or in a college-level course which has a reading, English or mathematics prerequisite until the student has satisfied the prerequisites or has provided evidence that the appropriate college-level math or English prerequisite has been completed at another institution.  Students may also provide valid ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer Scores in lieu of providing prerequisite completion.

General Requirements for Non-Degree Admission

1. Complete and submit an application for admission.
2. If Resident Alien, submit a copy of the front and back of the Permanent Resident Card. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may be required for students with a native language other than English.

Additional Requirements for Non-Degree Admission by Category

A.  High School or HSE Graduate
Students taking courses for credit who are classified as non-degree must meet all general requirements for admission before applying for a certificate or degree program. 

B.  Non-High School Graduate, Non-Degree Student
This classification includes any student who wishes to take approved college courses but does not qualify for degree admission because he/she fails to present a high school diploma or a HSE. The student may earn college credit subject to the following conditions:

1. The student must be 21 years of age or older and not currently enrolled in high school.
2. Enroll in no more than 15 credit hours per semester.
3. Meet all prerequisites for college level courses attempted.
4. Upon completion of 15 credit hours, the student must meet the requirements for degree admission.
5. Applicants 18 years of age or older who have not earned a high school diploma, and are not currently enrolled in high school, may enroll in learning support courses to prepare for HSE testing.

C.  Transient Student
This classification includes any student who is regularly attending another college or university and is taking courses at Cleveland State Community College that will transfer towards his/her degree at the other institution.  The student must:

1. Provide official transcripts or submit a completed transient approval form from the institution of regular attendance.
2. Students will be allowed to take classes for which prerequisites have been met.
3. Students must reapply each term in order to continue attending Cleveland State for any future term.

D. Audit Student
This student attends classes without being required to take examinations and does not receive either a grade or credit. The student may register to audit courses on a space-available basis beginning with the first day of classes for the semester.

E.  Personal or Professional Enrichment Students
This category includes applicants who wish to enroll as a non-degree student for personal or professional reasons. If the student decides to work toward a degree or certificate, transcripts must be furnished.

Pre-College Programs

A. Freshman Early Admission (High School Senior)

A student who has completed the 11th grade in high school may apply for early degree admission and must meet the following requirements:

1. Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.2 based on a 4.0 point scale or the equivalent.
2. Have an Enhanced ACT composite score of at least 22.
3. Provide a statement signed by his/her high school principal that recommends the student’s enrollment and a suggested college course load. This report must identify any college courses that will be substituted for any or all of the remaining high school courses that are needed for high school graduation.
4. Provide written endorsement from his/her high school counselors and from his/her parents or guardian.
5. Provide an official high school transcript showing all high school units completed at the time of enrollment.

B. Special Non-Degree Admission

High school students may apply for special non-degree early admission for college credit in the following programs:

1.  Academically Talented/Gifted Student
An academically talented/gifted student enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 in a public or private high school in Tennessee may, with the recommendation and approval of his/her high school principal and appropriate higher education institution personnel, enroll in and receive regular college degree credit from a Tennessee post-secondary institution. The student must:

1. Have a quality point average equivalent to or greater than a 3.2 on a 4.0 maximum scale.
2. Demonstrate that enrollment for college credit at Cleveland State Community College is a part of the student’s planned Individual Education Program (IEP) as established by the multidisciplinary team process.

2.  Dual/Joint Enrollment
In cooperation with local boards of education throughout the college’s service area, dual/joint enrollment gives students an opportunity to earn college credit before graduating from high school. In dual enrollment the student will earn college and high school credit for a specified college course. In joint enrollment only college credit is earned for a specific college course. Students may enroll in the General Education and/or Non-General Education courses. The General Education program allows you to take a variety of courses to meet your future college curriculum needs, such as Composition, Mathematics, History, Speech and Psychology. Students taking Non-General Education courses can begin earning credit toward a technical certificate or applied associate program.  Students must provide the Cleveland State High School Programs Office permission/approval to enroll.  For students under 18, the approval of a parent or guardian is also required to register for courses.

To participate in the dual/joint enrollment programs, students must have a recommendation from a principal or counselor and the approval of a parent or guardian.

a. Criteria for General Education Dual Enrollment

• Cumulative 3.0 high school GPA (based on a 4.0 point scale).
• Meet the appropriate prerequisite assessment standards as outlined in Exhibit 2 of TBR policy 2.03.00.02.

b. Criteria for Non-General Education Dual/Joint Enrollment

• Students who meet criteria for General Education dual/joint enrollment or
• Have a cumulative 2.5 high school GPA (based on a 4.0 point scale).

c. Criteria for Learning Support Courses

• Cumulative 2.5 high school GPA (based on a 4.0 point scale).

3.  Dual Credit

The Dual Credit program is a cooperative effort between Cleveland State Community College and each of the eleven high schools in our service area that offers students the opportunity to receive credit for skills and competencies mastered in high school upon enrollment at CSCC. 

CSCC’s Dual Credit program seeks to: 

• Encourage secondary career and technical education students to pursue a postsecondary education at CSCC.
• Reduce student costs and the overall time for degree completion.
• Meet the needs of local industries by preparing more students to enter the workplace with a certificate or associate in applied science. 
• Reduce repetition of mastered competencies between secondary career and technical education and CSCC. 
• Provide a smooth transition from secondary career and technical education to CSCC.
• Prepare students for the future workforce and to compete in the global market.

Articulated major areas at Cleveland State Community College in which credit may be earned include, but are not limited to:

• Administrative Professional Technology
• Business and Management
• Computer Information Systems
• Criminal Justice
• Early Childhood Education
• General and Advanced Technologies

There will be no charge to the student for the Dual Credit if granted. This process is subject to all current requirements at Cleveland State. Dual Credit courses are accepted at CSCC up to two (2) years post high school graduation. Transfer of this Dual Credit to other institutions is at the discretion of the receiving institution. 

For further information about CSCC’s Dual Credit program, contact your high school career and technical education director, your high school guidance counselor, or CSCC’s Dual Credit Coordinator at dualcredit@clevelandstatecc.edu.

Readmission to the College

A student previously enrolled at Cleveland State Community College, but not during three consecutive terms (including summer) must submit a new application for admission. Degree-seeking students must also submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning since leaving Cleveland State Community College. If files from previous attendance are no longer retained by the college, transcripts and additional information may be requested.

Admission and Progression for Specific Programs

General admission to Cleveland State Community College does not guarantee admission or continuance for specialized programs of study. The following programs have special admissions requirements: Nursing, Law Enforcement Training, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic. Admission and progression requirements are outlined with the individual program curriculum guides. Please refer to individual program listings.

Registration

The college follows a mandatory advising policy for all degree and certificate-seeking students. These students are assigned an academic advisor or success coach who will assist with developing career/educational goals, preparing a class schedule and providing the necessary alternate pin to permit the registration of classes. The assistance of the academic advisor or success coach does not, however, relieve the student of the responsibility of studying the catalog and fulfilling all of the requirements of his/her goal.

Students who wish to enroll in credit courses are expected to complete registration during the announced registration period. Announcements are made through public media, published in the school catalog and are posted on the Cleveland State website along with instructions for online registration. Students must observe registration procedures and are not officially enrolled until all requirements for registration are completed, including full payment of fees. Students may register, pay fees and speak with personnel that can offer guidance and other services at designated off-campus centers, as well as the main campus.

Students with an incomplete admission status must obtain special permission from the Director of Admissions and Records before being allowed to register for credit courses.

Students with registration holds due to financial obligations will not be allowed to register for credit courses until holds are resolved.

Schedule Adjustment Period

Students may adjust their schedules during the Schedule Adjustment Period designated in the college catalog. Adding courses after the Schedule Adjustment Period is not permitted except with special permission from the instructor(s) of the course(s) the student intends to take and the division dean(s). A late registration fee is required unless officially waived due to extenuating circumstances.

Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Classes

After the official registration period is over, enrolled students may make adjustments to their schedules through the process of adding, dropping or withdrawing from courses. Students may choose to add/drop and/or withdraw from classes (within the specified dates in the academic calendar) via the Web or by completing the appropriate paperwork in the Enrollment Services Center. Dual Enrollment students do not have this option. They must speak with the Dual Enrollment Office to add or drop any course. The official add/drop period is indicated in the academic calendar for the particular semester or term and is published in this college catalog. Students enrolled in classes that are cancelled by the college will not be financially penalized. It will not be necessary for a student to drop/withdraw from a class that is cancelled by the college. Each of these processes is governed by specific policies and procedures. Failure on the part of the student to observe such policies and procedures may result in financial or academic penalties or both.

1. Adding and Dropping Courses
   Students may add and drop a course(s) within the published Schedule Adjustment Period. Courses dropped within the Schedule Adjustment Period are not recorded on the student’s transcript. If adding a class after the last day of the Schedule Adjustment Period, permission and signatures must be obtained from the individual instructor(s) and the division dean(s). With the exception of courses which begin later than the first official day of the term, no new course(s) may be added to a student schedule after the 7th day of instruction for the term.
2. Withdrawal from a Course(s)
   Failure to attend class or discontinued attendance is NOT considered an official withdrawal. Withdrawal from courses may be completed via CougarNet through the advertised last day to withdraw from the course. Dual Enrollment students must contact the Dual Enrollment Office to withdraw. Failure to withdraw officially from a course in which the student no longer wishes to be enrolled will result in the student’s receiving a failing grade for each course affected.
   1. After the second week of classes, which begin and continue through the full semester, and not later than the end of the 10th week of the semester, a student may officially withdraw from a course(s) and receive a “W”. Official withdrawal is accomplished by logging into the student’s official schedule via CougarNet. Withdrawals may be completed online through the advertised last day to withdraw from the course. The “W” does not count as hours attempted in the calculation of the grade point average (GPA). (Exact dates are specified in the academic calendar and on the class syllabus.)
   2. During the summer term that operates on a varied schedule, the academic calendar and course syllabus should be consulted for withdrawal deadline dates.
   3. Students who wish to withdraw from a course(s) after the “Last day to withdraw from individual classes or for complete withdrawal from the college” date specified in the academic calendar and class syllabus must make a formal application by completing a “Late Withdrawal Request Form” including obtaining instructor and advisor signatures and providing any necessary supporting documentation. This form must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for review by the Late Withdrawal Committee. If the instructor indicates the student is passing the course(s) being dropped, the student will receive a “W” after approval by the Late Withdrawal Committee. The student will receive a failing grade (“F”) in the course(s) failing unless it can be clearly demonstrated and documented that unusual condition or hardship exists following the guidelines as specified in CSCC Policy No. 2:04:03:00 and on the Late Withdrawal Form.
   4. For short courses that meet less than the entire semester, the withdrawal deadline is stated on the course syllabus.
3. Withdrawal from the College
   Failure to attend class or discontinued attendance is NOT considered an official withdrawal. Failure to withdraw officially will result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course(s) involved.
   1. After the second week of classes and, not later than the end of the 10th week of the semester, a student may officially withdraw from the college and receive a “W” grade for each class. “W” grades do not count as attempted hours in the calculation of the GPA. Official withdrawal is accomplished by logging into the student’s schedule via CougarNet. Withdrawing may be completed through the advertised last day to withdraw from the course. Dual Enrollment students must contact the Dual Enrollment Office.
   2. During the summer term, which operates on a varied schedule, the academic calendar and class syllabus should be consulted for withdrawal deadline dates.
   3. Students who wish to withdraw from the college after the “Last day to withdraw from individual classes or for complete withdrawal from the college” date specified in the academic calendar and class syllabus must make a formal application by completing a “Late Withdrawal Form” including obtaining instructor and advisor signatures and providing any necessary supporting documentation. This form must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for review by the Late Withdrawal Committee. If the instructor indicates the student is passing in the course(s) being dropped, the student will receive a “W” after approval by the Late Withdrawal Committee. The student will receive a failing grade (“F”) in the course(s) failing unless it can be clearly demonstrated and documented that unusual condition or hardship exists following the guidelines as specified in CSCC Policy No. 2:04:03:00 and on the Late Withdrawal Form.

Academic Transcripts and Other Records

All records pertaining to student admission and academic progress are maintained in the Enrollment Services Center.

For students that attended 1987-current:

Cleveland State has given the National Student Clearinghouse authorization to provide electronic transcript ordering via the web.  These transcripts are processed immediately.

Cost
Transcripts may be subject to a National Student Clearinghouse processing fee.  Only credit card payments are accepted.

Order Information
Once your transcript order is completed, you will receive an Order Confirmation number.  Make a note of this number as it may be needed for you to follow up on your order.  An email will be sent to you once your transcript has been sent.

Order Help
Please contact the National Student Clearinghouse’s transcript ordering service if you need help or have questions about your order.

For students that attended prior to 1987:

You can request your official transcript here.

In order to submit forms online, you will need to create a free account in our online forms processing system, Dynamic Forms.  If you’ve never created a Dynamic Forms account, please follow the steps below:

1. Go to the form here.
2. Select “Create New Account”.
3. Fill out the form to create a Dynamic Forms account.
4. After you submit this form, check the e-mail address you included when creating your account.  Look for the subject: “Activate Your Account.”  If you don’t see the message in your Inbox, check your SPAM folder.
5. ​In this email, there will be a link to activate your Dynamic Forms account.  After clicking on the link, you will be directed to fill out the form.

No academic records or transcripts will be released until the student’s admission file is complete and all financial obligations to the college have been met.

We do not accept faxed requests.

Confidentiality of Student Records

The social security number of applicants will be secured when the application is processed. An alternative campus identification number is assigned through our records system. Students are advised to keep the campus ID number available and use it instead of their social security number. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Cleveland State Community College students have the right to review, inspect and challenge the accuracy of information kept in a cumulative file by the institution unless the student waives the right. The law further ensures that records cannot be released except in emergency situations or in response to a subpoena without the written consent of the student. The following items do not require a release from the student:

1. to other school officials, including faculty within the educational institution or local educational agency who have legitimate educational interests;
2. to officials of other schools or school systems in which the student intends to enroll, upon condition that the student be notified of the transfer, receives a copy of the record if desired and have an opportunity for a hearing to challenge the content of the record;
3. to authorized representatives of (1) the Comptroller General of the United States, (2) the Attorney General of the United States, (3) the Secretary of Education, (4) an administrative head of an educational agency or (5) state and local educational authorities;
4. in connection with a student’s application for and receipt of financial aid, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, amount of the aid, conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid; and
5. in cases of information classified as “directory information.” The following categories of information have been designated by the college as directory information: name, address, e-mail, telephone listing, date and place of birth, photograph, major field of study, full-time/part-time status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and the most recent previous educational institution attended by the student. If the student does not wish such information released without consent, the student should notify the Enrollment Services Center.
6. to organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the institution, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction.
7. to accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions.
8. to parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes.
9. to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
10. to a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding.
11. to the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding. If the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her.
12. to parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21.

Questions concerning this law and the college’s policy concerning release of academic information may be directed to the Registrar.

Transfer Credit

Cleveland State Community College will review credits from all institutions of higher learning for currently matriculated, degree-seeking students. Transfer evaluations are conducted in the Records Office in cooperation with the academic divisions, which have final authority.

In some cases, transfer of credit may require an extended departmental review, specifically if credit was earned at an institution for which CSCC does not have a recent transfer history. For such a review, documentation on a completed Petition for Credit form is mandatory. The review process will include, but is not limited to, a scrutiny of the content and depth of the course, the credentials of the issuing faculty and the appropriateness of the course to the degree sought by the student. The student is responsible for providing course descriptions and other documentation (such as a course syllabus, textbooks used, etc.) required for the departmental transfer review.

All, none or a portion of the credits from the transferring institution may be accepted based upon the following transfer evaluation considerations:

1. Transfer credits will be combined with credits earned at CSCC for classification purposes and for satisfying certificate/degree requirements. However, only courses taken at CSCC will be used in calculating the student’s grade point average.
2. Credit hours awarded for a transfer course may not exceed the credit hours of the CSCC equivalent course.
3. All transfer work is posted to the CSCC transcript, but may not necessarily be considered for graduation/completion purposes. It may be necessary to submit a Petition for Credit form to the appropriate academic division for upper division courses to be considered for graduation/completion purposes.
4. Transfer credits will be evaluated and posted to the Cleveland State transcript within two weeks once all transcripts have been received.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Introduction to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a term used to describe the assessment of college level learning that is gained outside a traditional academic environment. It is learning and knowledge students acquire while living their lives, such as by working, participating in employer training programs, serving in the military, studying independently, volunteering or doing community service, and studying open source courseware. PLA is a means of evaluating what a student already knows at the college level, derived from these experiences, which can determine competencies for advanced standing toward further education or training and/or college credit.

Pathways for Prior Learning Assessment

A maximum of 50 percent of the total hours required for a specific program of study may be earned through any combination of PLA. The recognized forms of PLA considered are as follows:

1. Credit by External Exam - (ACT, SAT, CLEP, AP, DANTES, DSST, NOCTI, CPS, CAP, International Baccalaureate Credit, Cambridge International Exam)
   Note: External exams not listed and any exams or certifications, which have not been reviewed for concordance with specific course credit, may be submitted for portfolio reviews for consideration of credit.

2. Military Experience/Training - College credit for military training may be awarded through the American Council on Education (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service or through direct evaluation of the student’s service school transcripts.
3. Dual Credit - Dual credit may be awarded from a postsecondary course, taught in high school by certified secondary instructors, which prepares students to sit for a postsecondary challenge exam. The postsecondary exam is administered under the supervision of postsecondary faculty. Statewide dual credit provides academically challenging high school courses which are aligned to postsecondary standards. Students have the opportunity to earn credit that can be applied to any TN public postsecondary institution.
4. Portfolio Review Credit - Credit by a Portfolio Review may be requested when the student submits documents verifying existing knowledge and competencies that cannot be readily assessed for credit through other forms of PLA.
5. Institution Course Challenge Exam - Course Challenge Exams may be developed by academic programs, where no other form of PLA exam exists, that assess competencies outlined in the particular course syllabus.

Courses Available Through Institution Course Challenge Exam

Limitations and Criteria

To be eligible to earn PLA credit, students must be currently enrolled and meet all the requirements of a Cleveland State Community College student in good standing. Students should not have previously taken or attempted the course for which prior learning credit is being sought.

Application and Awarding of PLA Credit

Inquire in the Enrollment Services Center.

PLA Associated Fees

• $25 CLEP Test Center fee for on campus testing
• $25  Institution Course Challenge Fee
• $125 Portfolio Assessment Fee
  
  *Important note - Students who are considering scheduling an external exam should discuss PLA credit options with an Academic Advisor or Dean. The correct exam must be chosen for required credits needed for program of study. Refer to Cleveland State website (www.clevelandstatecc.edu) for more detailed information on PLA process and awarding of credit.

Transferability

Tennessee Board of Regents colleges include:

Chattanooga State Community College
Cleveland State Community College
Columbia State Community College
Dyersburg State Community College
Jackson State Community College
Motlow State Community College
Nashville State Community College
Northeast State Community College
Pellissippi State Community College
Roane State Community College
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Volunteer State Community College
Walters State Community College

Tennessee Transfer Paths (TTPs) transfer to all Tennessee public colleges and universities as well as many private institutions.  Visit http://www.tntransferpathway.org/ for more information. For articulations unique to Cleveland State and other public and private institutions visit http://www.clevelandstatecc.edu/academics/transfer-and-articulation-agreements/index.html.

Each institution in the College System of Tennessee (the Tennessee Board of Regents) shares a common lower-division general education core curriculum of 41 semester hours for baccalaureate degrees and the associate of arts and the associate of science degrees. Lower-division means freshman and sophomore courses. The courses comprising the general education curriculum are contained within the following subject categories:

¹Foreign language courses are an additional requirement for the Associate of Arts (AA). Six hours of foreign language are required for the AA degree.

²Six hours of English composition and three hours in English oral presentational communication are required.

³Students who plan to transfer should check the requirements of their transfer institution and take the appropriate courses; there are significant differences between institutions.

Although the courses designated by Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institutions to fulfill the requirements of the general education subject categories vary, transfer of the courses is assured through the following means:

• Upon completion of an AA or AS degree, the requirements of the lower-division general education core will be complete and accepted by all public higher education institutions in the transfer process.
• If an AA or AS is not obtained, transfer of general education courses will be based upon fulfillment of complete subject categories. (Example: If all eight hours in the category of natural sciences are complete, then this “block” of the general education core is complete.) When a subject category is incomplete, course-by-course evaluation will be conducted.
• Institutional/departmental requirements of the grade of “C” will be honored. Even if credit is granted for a course, any specific requirements for the grade of “C” by the receiving institution will be enforced.
• In certain majors, specific courses must be taken also in general education. It is important that students and advisors be aware of any major requirements that must be fulfilled under lower-division general education.

Courses designated to fulfill general education by Cleveland State Community College are published in Academic Information . A complete listing of the courses fulfilling general education requirements for all system institutions is available on the TBR website at https://www.tbr.edu/academics/general-education-courses-community-colleges.