Introduction
Volunteer State Community College (VSCC) grants credit in accordance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges’ standards and policies.
VSCC may review and approve course credit for college-level student learning that has taken place outside of institutions of higher education. When credit is awarded in this manner, it is because the student has demonstrated the equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities that would be gained in pursuing a specific course or courses offered by the college. This type of credit is referred to as Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and falls into four main categories.
Credit for Service in the Armed Forces
Students presenting verification of completion of basic military training (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) through either a DD214 or other verification of this training will be evaluated by the Office of Records & Registration for eligibility for credit. Specific credits available upon presentation of the DD214 or other verification of training are available in the College Catalog and on the Tennessee Service Member Opportunity Portal (TN-SOP) maintained by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The College Registrar should also be consulted to determine whether additional credit can be given for other military training through recommendations from the American Council on Education (ACE) from the Joint Service Transcript or credit from a Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) or Air University transcript. An evaluation of service credit is not made until a student has applied to the College and a transcript has been provided to the College from their military service.
Credit by Examination
Currently enrolled students may request college credit for the successful completion of acceptable national, regional, state, or local examinations. Specific credits available upon presentation of the official exam result to the Office of Registration and Records are listed in the College Catalog.
Students may also request that additional examinations be reviewed for credit on an individual basis. These requests should be presented to the Office of Records and Registration with a copy of the official examination result and will be reviewed and approved by the relevant faculty, Division Dean, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Any credit approved in this manner will be transcribed by the Office of Records and Registration as Credit by Exam.
Credit for Workforce and Other Training
Under certain circumstances, credit may be granted for on-the-job training, certifications, licensure, and other structured learning experiences completed outside of higher education or the military. Specific credits available upon presentation of the official certificate or other proof of completion to the Office of Records and Registration are listed in the College Catalog. In some cases, additional skills demonstrations or other activities may be required at the department’s discretion.
Students may also request that additional training and certifications be reviewed for credit on an individual basis. These requests should be presented to the Office of Records and Registration with a copy of the official certificate or other proof of completion as well as information regarding the source of the training, the content/materials covered, and the clock hours involved, if applicable. The request will be reviewed and approved by the relevant faculty, the Division Dean, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If approved, course credit will be posted on the transcript under the heading “Credit Granted on the Basis of Workforce or Other Training”
Credit by Portfolio Assessment
Students may request consideration of college credit awards by submitting a portfolio for assessment of college-level learning gained outside the classroom. The Office of Records and Registration will serve as the initial point of contact for students seeking portfolio credit. Credit for portfolio assessment may not be requested for subject areas that offer CLEP or credit by examination options. Procedures for earning Portfolio Credit will be approved by the Curriculum Committee and published in the College Catalog.
Maximum Transfer and Alternate Sources of Credit
Should a student be granted credit through transfer and alternate sources, the student must still complete all specific degree or certificate requirements as outlined in the respective Program of Study and meet the residency requirement for the conferral of the credential as published in the College Catalog. At least 25 percent of semester credit hours applied toward a certificate or degree must be completed in residence.
Appeals and Exceptions
Appeals related to the award of transfer and/or credit from an alternate source should be made to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Exceptions to this policy may be approved by consensus of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the College Registrar.
TBR Source: 2:01:00:01: TBR Meeting, June 20, 1975; March 27, 2008; 2:01:00:03: TBR Board Mtg: March 29, 2006; March 29, 2012; 2:01:00:04: March 2006 TBR Board Meeting; Revised September 20, 2013; Revisions approved by Board September 15, 2016. Revisions approved at a Special Called Meeting May 14, 2019.
VSCC Source: Former II:09:34, April 30, 1990, President; March 26, 1999, President; March 31, 2008, President's Cabinet. Former II:09:38, July 23, 1997; January 8, 2009, President's Cabinet; August 4, 2014, President’s Cabinet; April 27, 2015, President’s Cabinet; January 28, 2019, President’s Cabinet; April 19, 2023, President’s Cabinet; March 17, 2024, Interim President
