Enrolling at UTC

Undergraduate Admission

Admissions Office personnel oversee the undergraduate admissions process. Send requests for information and application forms to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions Dept. 5105
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403

The Admission Office is located in room 101 University Center; the telephone number is (423) 425-4662.

Applicants may request admission for the fall or spring semester, or any summer session. Students applying should submit all required admission materials by the following priority deadlines:

Spring semester - November 1 for all new students

Summer semesters - April 15 for all new students

Fall semester - May 1 for freshmen, July 1 for transfers

Applying for Admission

This section presents the requirements for admission, including special requirements for adult, early admission, and transfer student applicants, and other groups of prospective students.

Credentials for all Freshman Applicants

Applicants for freshman admission must submit the following:

1. Application for admission
2. Official high school transcript. Applicants may send this transcript any time after the completion of the junior year of high school, and must submit a final transcript showing all grades, type of diploma, and the date of graduation after graduation from high school. Applicants with a high school equivalency diploma must submit scores from the General Education Development Test (GED) or High school equivalency program (HISEP) as well as official transcripts of completed high school coursework.
3. ACT or SAT scores (for applicants under 21)
4. A $30 nonrefundable application fee is required of all candidates except those who have previously applied to The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Required High School Courses

All applicants must have completed the following high school courses:

The University may deny admission to applicants who have deficiencies in any of these units. Students admitted with deficiencies must complete the missing courses. These courses will apply toward the student’s college degree(s) and will apply toward the minimum credit hours required for graduation.

In addition to the minimum high school unit requirements listed above, an applicant should plan a high school course of study that will prepare them for their specific area(s) of interest. In particular, the University encourages all applicants to complete four years of college preparatory mathematics. Prospective engineering majors should take three units of science including physics.

Immunization Requirement

• MMR: All students born on or after January 1, 1957 must provide proof of immunization with two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart or serology showing immunity to MMR.
• Varicella or Chickenpox: All students born on or after January 1, 1980 must provide proof of immunization with two doses of Varicella vaccine at least 28 days apart, serology showing immunity to Varicella or documentation from a medical facility verifying a previous diagnosis with the illness.
• Hepatitis B: All students must provide proof of immunization with three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine or documentation of serology showing immunity to Hepatitis B virus. The State of Tennessee does allow a waiver of the requirement by completing the waiver statement on the reverse side of this form.
• Meningitis: New incoming students, who are less than 21 years of age, who will be residing in on campus housing, must have documentation of a dose of conjugate vaccine at greater than or equal to 16 years of age. Any student not residing on campus who has not received a dose of conjugate vaccine within the past 5 years may choose to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of meningococcal disease.

Regular Admission (by applicants under 21 years of age)

The University grants regular admission to graduates of approved high schools* who meet one of the following two criteria beginning fall 2014:

1. A high school grade point average of at least 2.85 (on a 4.0 scale), a minimum score of 18 on the Enhanced ACT (940 SAT), and completion of all 16 high school units listed above.
2. A high school grade point average of at least 2.50 (on a 4.0 scale), a minimum score of 21 on the Enhanced ACT (1060 SAT), and completion of all 16 high school units listed above.

*Approved high schools are those approved by the State Department of Education or by the regional accreditation association. In the case of graduates of high schools that have not been so approved, regular admission will be granted to applicants with a high school grade point average of at least 2.85 on a 4.0 scale, a score of 21 on the Enhanced ACT (990 SAT), and completion of all 16 high school units.

Students may enroll in the Honors College through one or more special academic programs: the Brock Scholars Program, which offers a unique four-year, multidisciplinary general education experience; the High Achieving Mocs Living Leaning Community (HAM LLC), a one-year, freshman-only program in which students explore their aptitude and develop ability to grow as leaders, collaborators, and creative problem solvers; or the Innovations in Honors (IIH) program, a two to three-year program focused on community engagement, research, and problem-solving, designed for sophomores, juniors and/or seniors.

The Brock Scholars Program

Applicants to the Brock Scholars Program should have a record of outstanding achievement and promise. Continuation is reviewed each semester and is contingent upon the student’s academic performance. All Brock Scholars are obligated to complete 27 hours of Brock Scholars seminars, three hours of honors studies course work, and either Departmental Honors or an Honors College Thesis. Interested potential first-year students should submit a Brock Scholars application by December 1. 

For more information and a current application, visit the program’s web site at: www.utc.edu/honors-college/brock-scholars.

High-Achieving Mocs Living-Learning Community

High school seniors with a minimum ACT score of 26 and a minimum high school GPA of 3.5 are encouraged to apply to the High-Achieving Mocs Living-Learning Community (HAM LLC). Applications are received and reviewed on a rolling basis. Upon completing the program, HAM LLC students are encouraged to apply to the Innovations in Honors Program to continue their pathway through the Honors College. For more information and an application, visit the program’s web site at: www.utc.edu/honors-college/hamllc.php.

Innovations in Honors Program

Applicants to the Innovations in Honors Program should have a minimum college GPA of 3.25 and a record of outstanding achievement and promise. Continuation is contingent upon the student’s academic performance. All Innovation Scholars are obligated to complete a year-long Innovation Lab sequence, a Brock Scholars seminar or other approved honors credit, two hours of honors studies course work, and either Departmental Honors or an Honors College Thesis. Interested currently enrolled UTC students or transfer students should submit an Innovations in Honors application according to instructions on the program website (see below). Brock Scholars may also complete the IIH Program in addition to the Brock Scholars Program; as Innovation Scholars, Brock Scholars need only complete the two Innovation Labs as they will fulfill their other IIH requirements as Brock Scholars. For more information and a current application, visit the program’s web site at: https://www.utc.edu/honors-college/iih.php.

Exceptions to Regular Admission Requirements

A limited number of students who do not meet the regular admission standards may be admitted to UTC by appealing to the Admissions Office. Applicants will receive the official appeal form from the Admissions Office after an initial application review has been completed. The deadlines for submission of these petitions will be June 15 for fall semester, November 1 for spring semester, and March 15 for summer semester.

Students admitted with high school unit deficiencies must fulfill these requirements by completing the necessary courses within their first 42 hours of enrollment. Credit earned in these courses apply toward any degree requirements, including the 120 credit hours required for graduation, the general education requirements, and major or elective requirements.

Students admitted with a high school deficiency in American history are required by Tennessee law to complete six semester hours of college-level American history (Tennessee Code Annotated Section 549-3253).

If a student must complete developmental courses, the overall cumulative GPA will determine the student’s eligibility to continue coursework. The overall cumulative GPA includes all developmental and all for-credit courses used for continuation purposes for admitted students. The institutional cumulative GPA determines the continuation standards of all other students. The institutional cumulative GPA includes all for-credit courses only. Additionally, freshmen admitted by petition or exception may be subject to one or more of the following conditions:

1. Reduced course credit load
2. Specific course requirements
3. Specific academic advisor
4. Enrollment in summer programs designed to improve academic skills.

Adult Freshman Admission (applicants over 21 years of age)

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga encourages applications from adults who are 21 years of age or older. Adult freshmen applicants must submit official high school transcripts or equivalent, including type of diploma and date of graduation. Adult applicants do not need to submit ACT or SAT scores. An applicant with a high school equivalency diploma must have an average standard score of at least 450 on the General Education Development (GED) test or at least a score of 88 on the HISEP (High School Equivalency Program).

The Director of the Admissions Office, or a designee, reviews applications for Adult Freshman admission on a case-by-case basis using all available evidence, including the applicant’s post-high school experiences. The University may require that students admitted to this program comply with one or more of the following conditions:

1. Reduced course credit load
2. Specific course requirements
3. Specific academic advisor
4. Admission with GED: High School Equivalency Diploma

The University will accept a high school equivalency diploma if the applicant scored 450 or higher on the General Education Development test (GED) or at least a score of 88 on the HISEP (High School Equivalency Program). Applicants who are 21 or older should refer to the section entitled “Adult Freshman Admission.” Applicants younger than 21 should refer to the section entitled “Regular Admission.”

The Director of the Admissions Office, or a designee, reviews on a case-by-case basis applicants with extenuating circumstances who fail to meet admission requirements. Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements should present in writing the extenuating and other circumstances that produced the deficiencies.

Early Admission

The University has an early admission program for exceptionally gifted high school students. This program is available only to applicants who intend to complete their high school requirements with college-level courses and will not enroll in high school courses while participating in the program. In order to be eligible for the Early Admission Program, applicants should have at least a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and score at or above the 95th percentile of university norms on the ACT or the SAT examination at the end of the junior year in high school. Additionally, applicants must have the consent of their parents and the approval of their principal or guidance counselor. Applicants who meet these criteria will be admitted if the Associate Director of Admissions determines that participation in early admission is in the applicant’s best interest. In most cases, a personal interview with the applicant is required.

Joint High School Enrollment

The Joint High School Enrollment Program allows outstanding high school students to enroll in college courses while they enroll in high school courses. The admission to the Joint High School Enrollment Program requires the following:

1. Concurrent enrollment in high school,
2. A grade point average of at least a 3.0 (B on a 4.0 scale),
3. Recommendation of the high school principal or guidance counselor, and
4. Permission of the UTC instructor and/or department head.

Students may earn up to 24 semester hours in the program and may take a maximum of 12 hours during the summer and no more than two courses during the fall and spring semester. Students may apply the credits toward a degree at UTC or transfer them to another college or university.

Applicants who wish to take courses for personal fulfillment or career enhancement can apply as non-degree-seeking applicants. To qualify for this status, applicants must be at least 21 years of age and must be a high school graduate or have a GED.

Non-degree-seeking students can earn no more than 60 semester hours. Students can apply these hours toward an undergraduate degree after admission as a degree-seeking student. Admission as a non-degree-seeking student does not guarantee admission as a degree-seeking student. Non-degree-seeking students who wish to enroll in upper level courses requiring prerequisites must provide the appropriate department head with an official transcript to verify completion of the prerequisite courses.

Former UTC students, international students, and applicants denied admission to UTC may not enroll as non-degree-seeking students. Non-degree-seeking students are not eligible to receive academic advising or financial aid. Non-degree-seeking students must maintain a 2.0 institutional cumulative grade point average in order to continue enrollment at UTC.

Special Admission

Audit Student Status

Adults who wish to attend undergraduate classes without earning credit or receiving grades may register as auditors only if the space is available in the class desired and if the instructor approves the registration. Any adult student entering under audit classification who subsequently wishes to take courses for credit must meet all requirements for admission to the University. Those under 21 may have this privilege only if they have fulfilled the admission requirements of the University. Auditors are under no obligation of regular attendance, preparation, recitation, or examination. They receive no letter grades and no credit. The degree of their participation in class discussion, laboratory, or field work shall be determined by the instructor of the class. The tuition and fee charge is the same for audit registration as for credit registration.

Special Audit and Special Fee Students (Tennessee Residents Only)

Tennessee residents who are at least 60 years of age may audit classes on a space available basis without paying a Maintenance fee. Miscellaneous fees like Course Fees, Differential Fees, Lab Fees and On-Line Support Fees will be assessed. Similar arrangements are available for Tennessee residents who are totally disabled.

Tennessee residents who are 65 years of age or older and persons totally disabled who meet admission requirements may enroll for credit for a fee of $7.00 per semester hour to a maximum of $70.00 per semester. Course Fees, Differential Fees, Lab Fees and On-Line Support Fees will be assessed.

Transient Students

Students who are enrolled in good standing at another college or university and do not wish to transfer to UTC may enroll as transient students. Enrollment under this classification is usually for one semester, and students usually enroll in courses that will transfer to another institution. An official letter indicating that the student is in “good standing” (i.e., eligible to return) must be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions from either the registrar or academic dean of the student’s present institution. A transient student cannot be on any type of academic or disciplinary restriction, warning or action such as probation, suspension or dismissal. If a transient student wishes to continue enrollment past the initial semester, a new application as well as an additional letter of good standing are required.

Transient students who wish to enroll in upper level courses requiring prerequisites must provide the appropriate department head with an official transcript to verify completion of the prerequisite courses.

Transient students are not eligible for advisement and financial aid.

Transfer Students

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission as degree seeking students who have been registered at another college or university are classified as transfer students. They must submit to the Undergraduate Admission Office an official high school transcript showing graduation and type of diploma and complete official transcripts from each previously-attended college or university. Transfer students applying for the fall semester must have all supporting credentials listed above on file in the Admission Office by July 1. Transfer students applying for the spring semester must do so by November 1. Transfer students applying for any summer semester must apply by April 15.

For admission as a transfer student, an applicant must have pursued courses appropriate to the curriculum at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, must be classified as in good standing and eligible to return to the last institution, and must meet The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s continuation standards. Grades for all previous coursework determine eligibility for admission. An applicant who graduated from high school in 1989 or after and are transferring fewer than 60 hours of semester credit must also meet the minimum high school unit requirements. An applicant who transfers fewer than 12 hours of college level non-developmental coursework must meet the minimum requirements for new freshman. Refer to the “Required High School Courses” section in this chapter for high school unit and placement exam requirements.

An applicant whose records do not meet the admission standards will be denied admission unless, in the opinion of the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services & Student Success the applicant can be admitted. If admitted, the student will be required to remove high school unit deficiencies within the first 30 hours of enrollment at UTC. Credits earned in such courses will apply toward any degree requirements, including general education, major or elective requirements, or the 120-hour graduation requirement.

• Senior level (e.g., 3000-4000 level) credit is not awarded for courses completed at a two-year institution.
• Transfer students from senior institutions must complete at least 25% of the minimum semester hours required for the degree under the direction of UTC faculty; the last 24 semester hours must be completed at UTC.
• Transfer students from two-year institutions must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours at a senior institution.
• A student who earns credit at a two-year college during his last 24 hours at UTC may choose not to apply the credit toward graduation.

Credit from Non-Regionally Accredited Colleges

Applicants wishing to transfer to The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from colleges and universities that are not regionally accredited must meet UTC’s admission requirements. Normally, applicants do not receive credit for courses completed at regionally unaccredited colleges or universities. However, this credit may be accepted if recommended by the American College of Education (ACE). If credit is recommended, a transcript from ACE must be submitted to the Admissions Office before the transfer work will be evaluated. Credit accepted based on the ACE recommendation will be applied to a student’s record in accordance with the University’s Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) guidelines. When no ACE Evaluation is available, a student may request further review by the Office of the University Registrar based upon other accreditation held by the original institution and the level, content, quality, comparability, and degree program relevance of such credit.

Applicants who fail to declare previous college attendance and to submit transcripts of such records will be subject to dismissal from the University.

Transfer Coursework

Students who transfer to UTC will receive credit for coursework attempted at other regionally accredited institutions. The transfer process ensures that students receive credit for college-level work that they have already completed. Upon admission, students will receive a course-by-course evaluation of all previously completed course work. This evaluation will reflect current UTC policy regarding repeated courses, replacement courses, grading policy, etc. The University maintains articulation agreements with Tennessee community colleges that allow students who have received the Associate’s degree to complete a baccalaureate degree at UTC. This section describes the procedures the University uses to allow students to transfer the coursework they attempted at other regionally accredited institutions to UTC. Applicants who fail to declare previous college attendance and to submit transcripts of such records will be subject to dismissal from the University.

A WES (World Education Services) I-cap evaluation or ECE(Educational credential Evaluators), is required for all education from a non-US institution. This includes secondary education and higher education. WES website is www.wes.org. ECE website is ece.org. Students should request the evaluation be sent to UT Chattanooga electronically.

When transferring to this University, students must submit official transcripts of coursework attempted at all the regionally accredited institutions they attended. The University’s staff evaluates each course to determine its equivalency to UTC courses. Courses without an exact UTC equivalent will transfer in as an elective course related to the specific department. If UTC has no equivalent department, the course will transfer in as elective. Transfer students will not receive credit for courses that are not at the college level or are not appropriate to the curriculum at UTC, such as technical or vocational coursework.

The grades for transferred courses are included in the transfer grade point average. Students who transfer a course grade that is lower than the UTC required grade must repeat the course.

Students who transfer community college coursework that is equivalent to 3000- or 4000-level UTC equivalent will receive elective credit for the course. These courses will not fulfill the University’s requirement for upper division coursework.

Transfer Course Classification Appeal

Students who believe that their transfer coursework was misclassified should present their concerns in writing to the Office of the University Registrar (registrar@utc.edu) as soon as possible. Staff will review the coursework and issue a response to the student.

Transfers from Tennessee Public Institutions (UT and TBR)

Courses specifically meeting common general education category requirements at Tennessee public institutions satisfy the comparable general education category requirements when transferring to UTC. Students who have completed the general education requirements at a previous Tennessee public institution will not be required to complete additional general education courses. However, specific general education courses may be required to satisfy the requirements of the major.

The transfer module includes two courses in mathematics, a category which presumably includes courses in statistics. UTC requires one course in mathematics and one in statistics. Students who transfer two mathematics courses which meet the general education requirement at their original institution must be given credit for meeting UTC requirements in mathematics and statistics, though they may also need to take statistics to meet the requirements of their major.

The TBR general education core includes six credit hours in history and nine in humanities and fine arts. The transfer module includes 15 credit hours in history, humanities, and fine arts without mandating a distribution of courses. Students who have taken general education courses in history, humanities and fine arts at other public colleges and universities in Tennessee must accordingly be given credit for them as meeting our requirements in Fine Arts and Humanities and Non-Western Culture, even if these courses are not distributed as the UTC requirements specify. Any 15 credit hours in history, humanities, and fine arts must be accepted as meeting our General Education requirements.

Tennessee Transfer Pathways

Tennessee Transfer Pathways (TTPs) are designed to assist students planning to transfer from a community college to a Tennessee public university to complete a baccalaureate degree once the student has earned an A.A. or A.S. degree. (The Tennessee Transfer Pathways do not apply to the A.A.S. degree.) All coursework completed to earn an A.A. or A.S. degree as part of a pathway will transfer to a Tennessee public institution and will apply toward completion of that particular major. The student must complete the coursework identified in the TTP for their chosen major. For more information: www.tntransferpathway.org/.

Tennessee Reverse Transfer

Tennessee Reverse Transfer is a process allowing students who have transferred from any Tennessee community college campus to UTC to combine credits from both institutions and apply them toward an associate degree. This means transfer students can complete the associate degree they started at the community college while working toward a bachelor’s degree at UTC.

Eligible transfer students will be contacted by email and informed of how to take advantage of this opportunity. For more information, visit www.tnreversetransfer.org or talk with your four-year academic advisor.

International Students

Prospective international students seeking undergraduate admission on an F-1 visa must provide the following:

1. A completed online application for international undergraduate admission.  The application will be considered incomplete until the nonrefundable $30 application fee is received.
2. Academic Credentials:
   • Original or attested copy of high school diploma
   • Complete and official transcript (statement of marks) for each high school and/or college attended
   • IMPORTANT:
   • Documents must be attested and sealed by the proper official within the issuing institution.  UTC will not accept documents attested by instructors or external notary publics.
   • Documents should be submitted directly by the issuing institution.
   • All documents become the property of the University.  We cannot return or forward documents.
   • Documents should be mailed to:

   • Credential Evaluation Services
     International Undergraduate Admissions, Center for Global Education
     University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Dept. 4755
     615 McCallie Avenue
     Chattanooga, TN USA 37403-2504

3. Proof of English proficiency (for applicants whose native language is not English):
   • a minimum score of 61 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language, OR
   • a minimum score of 5.5 on the International English Language Testing System.
   • (Information on the TOEFL can be found at The Educational Testing Service  www.ETS.org. and information on the International English Language Testing System can be found at www.IETLS.org).
4. Evidence of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccination before enrolling in courses.
5. Proof of Funding: Documentation, dated no earlier than six months prior to course registration, demonstrating that the applicant possesses financial resources sufficient for nine months of study and that the resources will be available to the applicant in the United States prior to the date of his or her registration at the University.
6. Valid copy of current passport.
7. TRANSIENT APPLICANTS ONLY: A letter of good standing signed by the Designated School Official at the applicant’s most recently attended U.S. institution.
8. All international students are required to possess medical insurance while enrolled at UTC.

All application materials must be submitted and processed by July 1 for the following fall semester and by November 1 for the following spring semester. Send all admission materials to:

Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Dept. 4755
Center for Global Education
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Lupton Hall
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2504
United States of America

Academic Forgiveness

The University maintains an academic forgiveness policy for courses taken at any institution, including UTC. The policy allows for the removal of previous coursework from the calculation of the student’s grade point averages and from consideration for fulfillment of all University requirements. Academic forgiveness does not remove the record of these courses from the student’s transcript. Upon issuance of academic forgiveness, the student must retake, as necessary, and complete all coursework specified for an academic degree and other courses the student may be required to complete (e.g., deficiency courses).

The Policy

1. A student must be admitted to UTC and registered for classes at UTC.
2. Academic forgiveness applies to all undergraduate courses taken anywhere by the student four years prior to the date of application for academic forgiveness.
   • The four years extends from the semester preceding the date that the Office of the University receives the application for academic forgiveness.
   • For the purposes of this policy, the summer represents one semester.
   • All grades below a “C” earned more than four calendar years before the date of application will be removed from consideration for credit for fulfillment of general education or major requirements or for grade point average or for any other purpose or requirement.
3. Students can receive academic forgiveness only once.
4. When granted, the academic forgiveness is irrevocable.
5. Students must not have earned an undergraduate degree at UTC.

The Process

1. Submit the application for academic forgiveness to the Office of the University, 125 University Center. The application form is available in the Office of the University Registrar and at www.utc.edu/registrar/forms.php. Submission of the form indicates that the student wishes to forfeit all previously-completed coursework and understands the consequences of this action.
2. The staff will verify the application and the eligibility of the student’s coursework for this policy. The staff will list for the student the course credits forfeited in compliance with the policy.
3. Sign the final agreement to forfeit eligible courses and return the form to the Office of the University Registrar for processing.

Student veterans and dependents receiving educational benefits from Veteran’s Affairs should contact the VA Certifying Official before submitting a request to learn how Academic Forgiveness will affect VA benefits.

Readmission

Former students in good standing who have not enrolled in UTC courses for one or more semesters (excluding the summer) must apply for readmission. If they have attended another college or university during their absence, they must also meet the requirements for admission to the University as transfer students, with the exception that no application fee is required for readmission.

Students who have been suspended or dismissed from the University should review the section on Retention and Continuation Standards Appeals section for information on readmission.

Students applying for readmission who have not attended any other institution in their absence must submit the completed application by August 1 for enrollment fall semester; December 1 for enrollment spring semester; and April 1 or June 1 for each respective summer term. Students who have attended another institution must meet the transfer student deadline and submit a completed application by July 1 for fall semester, November 1 for spring semester, and April 15 for all summer terms.

Post-baccalaureate Students

Second Undergraduate Degree Students

Students seeking a second Bachelor’s degree must apply with a post-baccalaureate application. A student may receive a second Bachelor’s degree if the student fulfills requirements for each degree.

Students may earn a second Bachelor’s degree whenever they simultaneously complete the requirements for more than one degree (e.g., B.A. and B.S.) or, after receiving one degree, return to the university to complete another degree.

A student may receive a second Bachelor’s degree if:

1. The student fulfills all requirements for both degrees.
2. The curriculum for the second degree includes at least 25 percent of the minimum hours required for the degree not applied to the first degree. These hours must consist of courses taken at UTC. A grade point average of at least 2.0 is required in these courses.
3. The additional hours beyond the first degree shall include a minimum of 12 hours taken at UTC in the major department of the second Bachelor’s degree. A grade point average of at least 2.0 is required in these courses.

Post-baccalaureate students with Bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited colleges or universities who are seeking undergraduate UTC degrees are not subject to UTC general education requirements. However, they are subject to major requirements, including general education courses specifically required for the major. Post-baccalaureate students who are not seeking a UTC degree also do not need to meet UTC general education requirements.

Non-degree Post-baccalaureate Students

Post-baccalaureate students who are not seeking a second undergraduate degree should apply through UTC’s Undergraduate Admission Office. Students must submit an official transcript from the college or university where they received their bachelor’s degree.

Students admitted to the University may earn institutional credit for college level learning gained outside the traditional classroom environment.  Prior Learning Assessment credit (PLA) may include competency examinations, employer training programs, military service, and other learning experiences. PLA credit is only awarded for college level learning.

A student may earn up to 60 total semester hours of PLA credit, including up to 24 semester hours of portfolio credit. PLA credit may apply to general education requirements, and may count toward major and minor requirements. PLA credit awarded by UTC may be included in the last 24 hours of coursework at UTC.

Examples of the types of PLA credit that UTC accepts are:

Advanced Placement (AP)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
International Baccalaureate Credit (IB)
Credit by Special Examination (Challenge Exam)
Military Service Credit
Portfolio Assessment Credit
American Council of Education (ACE) college-level credit recommendations

Other types of PLA may be accepted.

All PLA credit is entered on the academic record as Satisfactory Credit. The Undergraduate Admissions Office must receive official test score reports. For ACE credit recommendations, an ACE transcript must be submitted to the Admissions Office. Contact the appropriate academic department for information regarding Credit by Special Exam.

Students seeking Portfolio Assessment Credit must contact their major department to determine whether the prior learning is college level. The student may then contact the Integrated Studies program for assistance with the approval process http://www.utc.edu/integrated-studies/prior-learning-assessment.php. Completion of INTS 3010  and submission of a portfolio may be required.

Students may request an exception by submitting a completed petition form to the Undergraduate Petitions Committee.  The Undergraduate Student Petition form is located online on the Office of the University Registrar website at www.utc.edu/registrar/forms.php.

Military Service Credit

Students may be awarded up to 60 hours of PLA credit for Military Service. Military Service courses and/or experiences are evaluated and equated following the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations. Office of the University Registrar personnel evaluate the Military Service work with the support of ACE guidelines and the appropriate academic department. Credit not equated by ACE may be awarded departmental elective credit or Military Service Elective credit as appropriate.

Students should submit their Joint Services Transcript (JST) or other military transcripts to Admissions Office at UTC, 615 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37403.

Military credit awarded on the UTC transcript may be removed from the transcript for Financial Aid purposes provided it has not been previously certified for VA educational benefit purposes as applying to the degree.

Petitions and Appeals

This section presents the appeal processes for matters related to admission, readmission, and residency. Applicants should note that all petitions of appeal must be made in writing and that many of the petitions must be submitted before specific deadlines. In each case, the applicant must first submit a petition to the appropriate committee or office. Applicants who receive a negative decision may then appeal to the Chancellor for special consideration.

Admission and Readmission Decisions

Applicants who are denied admission or readmission may appeal to the Admission Committee. An appeal form is automatically mailed to applicants for whom admission has been denied. This form must be completed and submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the appropriate admission application deadline date: June 15 for the fall semester, November 15 for the spring semester, and March 15 for all summer sessions. Applicants are not permitted to attend class during the Admission Committee’s review of the petition.

Applicants may appeal to the Chancellor to overturn the decision of the Admission Committee by following the procedures described in the Appealing to the Chancellor section below.

Residency Classification

Most undergraduate students classified as non-residents may appeal this classification by submitting a petition and supporting evidence to the Undergraduate Admission Office on or before the last day to register for class for each respective semester. Graduate students classified as non-residents may appeal this classification by submitting a petition and supporting evidence to the Graduate Admissions Office on or before the last day to register for class for each respective semester. These deadlines also apply to students seeking to pay in-state fees due to their full-time employment in the State of Tennessee or receive the Regional Tuition discount. Decisions on appeals made before the deadline will be effective for that semester. Petitions received after the deadline, if granted, will be effective the following semester.

The Assistant Director of Admissions serves as the primary classification officer for undergraduate students and the Dean of the Graduate School serves as the primary classification officer for graduate students enrolled at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Residency classification appeals should be made by completing the petition form provided by the Undergraduate or Graduate Admission Office. Appeals should include appropriate evidence to support the student’s establishment of domicile in the State of Tennessee. Evidence of residence includes rental agreements, property deeds, voter registration, and other instruments that verify that the student’s permanent residence is in Tennessee.

Undergraduate students may appeal the decision of the Assistant Director of Admissions by submitting a formal request to the chair of the Residency Appeals Committee. Graduate students may appeal the decision of the Dean of the Graduate School by submitting a formal request to the chair of the Residency Appeals Committee. The chair of the committee will schedule a hearing to review the student’s request. The student may be present at the committee’s hearing and may bring to the hearing any materials or other individuals (including legal counsel) that he or she believes will support the appeal.

The student may appeal in writing the committee’s decision to the UTC Chancellor. The UTC Chancellor makes the final decision on all residency appeals.

Appeals to the Chancellor

Applicants and students who are not satisfied with the result of a petition review may submit an appeal to the Chancellor requesting specific action. The appeal must be a written letter that can be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Dr. Steven Angle, Chancellor
Office of the Chancellor Dept. 5605
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403