The Access Center (AC) at Volunteer State Community College (VSCC) helps students with disabilities participate more fully in educational programming, benefit from an accessible environment, and achieve greater academic success by facilitating educational, programmatic, and environmental access.
The promotion of student independence and self-advocacy is instrumental to our mission and remains a major tenet of our philosophy for working with all students.
Welcome! We’re All About Access!
All currently enrolled students with disabilities who desire improved access at Volunteer State Community College are invited to register for academic accommodations through the Access Center. You may have previously known us as Disability Services; however, we’ve changed our name to more accurately reflect the wide range of services we provide to the entire Vol State community.
In the AC we use an online registration and accommodation management system called AIM, which allows students to independently request and manage the accommodation process anytime, anywhere. Please choose the button below that most closely represents what you want to do.
Before your registration for accommodations can be complete, you must provide professional documentation of your disability to the AC. You’ll have an opportunity to upload your documentation into AIM when you use the link above to fill out an application. If your documentation is not yet available to upload, it may also be emailed at a later date to access.center@volstate.edu or personally delivered to the AC in the Ramer Administration Building, Suite 143.
If you’re not sure what documentation you need to provide, please view our Documentation Requirements information sheet.
Supportive Resources
In addition to arranging classroom accommodations and promoting universal access, the AC supports students through advocacy, mentoring, referral and the provision of:
- Alternate Format Textbooks
- Assistive Technology/Orientation
- Assisted Listening Devices
- Braille Materials
- Sign Language Interpreters/CART Services
Learn more about our services, resources and processes in our Student Handbook.
Campus Access Issues
If you experience any issues with physical access on campus, please notify the AC on Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. If an access issue or concern occurs after hours and needs to be addressed immediately, please contact Campus Police at (615) 230-3595
Fee Waiver
Students who live in Tennessee and are totally and permanently disabled (TPD) may apply for a TPD Fee Waiver. For the purpose of the TPD fee waiver, an individual is considered totally and permanently disabled if totally incapacitated from working at an occupation which brings an income. Documentation of the disabling condition and its permanency as to preventing employment will be required. Students must:
- Submit proof of total and permanent disability to the AC, Ramer 143. Documentation may be from a physician or an agency charged with declaring and/or compensating the TPD status. The physician letter or affidavit must state that the disability has a significant impact, is permanent in nature, and totally incapacitating. Agency documentation can include an agency award letter, copy of an agency check or other notification of the disability status.
- Not be working at an occupation that brings an income.
- Not have an open file with Vocational Rehabilitation (VRS).
- Not register for classes prior to 4 weeks before the start of the semester.
For audit courses, no fee is required for persons with a permanent, total disability. For credit courses, a fee of $70 per semester may be charged. This fee includes all mandatory fees; it does not include course-specific fees such as all miscellaneous course fees, materials fees, application fee, online course fees, books and parking fees. This only applies to enrollment on a space available basis.
Students who are at least 24 years old or are considered independent students, and who have not yet earned an associate’s degree or higher are encouraged to visit the VSCC Financial Aid office to see if they qualify for Tennessee Reconnect which does not carry the $70 per semester service fee.
