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 deadlines:

Spring semester - December for all new students

Summer semesters - April 15 for all new students

Fall semester - May 1 for freshmen, July 15 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) 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 who have not previously attended another University of Tennessee campus or 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.

Note: Beginning fall 2013 (for high school graduates spring 2013 or after), the following changes will be in effect for the following subject areas:

Measles Immunization Requirement

In an attempt to maintain a healthy campus environment, The University of Tennessee campuses require that all new entering students born after 1956 to submit documentation of two MMR immunizations unless contraindicated by a medical condition documented by a physician’s statement, laboratory proven documentation of immunity supplied by a health care provider or contraindicated due to religious beliefs (must be accompanied by a signed statement of refusal). Students are also required to provide information regrading immunization against meningococcal disease and Hepatitis B. New for 2011, students must provide either proof of having had chicken pox (Varicella) or being immunized against the disease. A verification of immunization, signed by a health care provider, must be returned to Student Development. Evidence of the immunization is not required for admission but is required for course registration.

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 descriptions:

1. A high school grade point average of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale), a minimum score of 18 on the Enhanced ACT (870 SAT), and completion of all 14 high school units listed above.
2. A high school grade point average of at least 2.30 (on a 4.0 scale), a minimum score of 21 on the Enhanced ACT (990 SAT), and completion of all 14 high school units listed above.

Beginning fall 2012, the freshman admission standard will be high school GPA of at least 2.85 with a minimum 18 ACT composite score or a minimum 890 SAT score, and completion of all 14 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 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, a score of 21 on the Enhanced ACT (990 SAT), and completion of all 14 high school units.

Each year the University Honors (UHON) Program admits 30 to 40 freshmen. This prestigious program offers to members an atmosphere that nurtures their intellects, sense of social responsibility, and drive to lead. The goal is to foster a community of scholars who enjoy each other’s company, benefit from each other’s work, and provide the University with new ideas and ways to excellence.

To achieve this goal, the Program provides Honors students with a specialized general education curriculum tailored to their talents and needs (See University Honors Program in Course Listing Section); opportunities for social, University, and community service; personal advisement; priority registration; an exclusive reading room and computer lab; and membership in a highly visible and respected group of students. Most Honors students receive a full four-year scholarship (see Financial Aid Chapter).

Applicants to the UHON Program should have a record of outstanding achievement and promise. Continuance is reviewed each semester and is contingent upon the student’s academic performance. All UHON students are obligated to complete Departmental Honors. Interested high school seniors should submit a UHON application by December 15.

For more information and a current application write to:

University Honors Program Dept. 1101
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403

The University Honors Program is located in room 202 Guerry Hall; the telephone number is (423) 425-4128; the web page is www.utc.edu/univhon.

Associate Honors Scholars

Current UTC students who were not initially admitted to the UHON Program and who have completed at least 24 hours of credit with a GPA of 3.5 may apply for membership as Associate Honors Scholar. Although ineligible for any University Honors Scholarships which are awarded to incoming freshmen only, Associates enjoy most of the benefits of the other UHON students, including admission to specialized UHON courses, early registration for classes, access to the UHON reading room and computer lab, and a stipend to spend on concert and theater tickets.

Interested students can obtain an application at the Honors Program Office, 202 Guerry Hall, or on line at www.utc.edu/UniversityHonors/associate.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 petition to the Admission Office. Applicants will receive the official petition form from the Admission Office after an initial application review has been completed. The deadlines for submission of these petitions will be July 15 for fall semester, December 1 for spring semester, and April 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. Specific program of developmental studies
5. 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. The University may require some applicants to take UTC placement examinations to demonstrate academic preparedness. An applicant with a high school equivalency diplomas must have a score of at least 45 on the General Education Development (GED) test.

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. Specific program of developmental studies.

Admission with GED: High School Equivalency Diploma

The University will accept a high school equivalency diploma if the applicant scored 45 or higher on the General Education Development test (GED). 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 fee. 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 $7.50 per semester hour to a maximum of $75 per semester.

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, an additional letter of good standing may be 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 15. Transfer students applying for the spring semester must do so by December 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 Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services, 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, a student may request further review by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs 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.

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.

Students who believe that their transfer coursework was misclassified should present their concerns in writing to the Registrar 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. Required competencies including laboratory science and unmet category requirements must still be satisfied. 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 Cultures and Civilizations/Humanities and Fine Arts 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.

Transfer Articulation

The purpose of a Transfer Articulation is to provide students with a list of courses to complete at a Tennessee college and at UTC that will lead to a Bachelor’s degree in a specific major.

Transfer articulation agreements list the courses that students must take to earn an Associate degree in a major as well as the coursework in the same major required for the Bachelor’s degree. Transfer students who change their majors once enrolled at UTC will receive full credit for their college-level transfer work but will not be considered to be within the articulation program.

Students completing an articulation program must also fulfill all UTC academic regulations listed in the Degree Requirements section of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Students transferring to UTC under an articulation agreement must meet the following criteria:

• Meet UTC admission requirements.
• Have a 2.0 institutional cumulative GPA with no transferred grade below a “C.”
• Have earned an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from a Tennessee two year public institution and transfer major to major.
• Be currently enrolled in coursework at UTC.
• Submit Intent to Articulate form to the Records Office to request a review of the academic record for articulation.

Articulation agreements are valid only for the major under which the AA or AS degree was awarded and must be completed within 10 years of admission to UTC. Transfer students who change their majors once enrolled at UTC will receive full credit for their college-level transfer work but will not be considered to be within the articulation program.

Applicants with the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree may not participate in the articulation program. Individual courses earned under the AAS degree may transfer as electives and count toward completion of a degree.

Universal Transfer Pathways

Universal Transfer Pathways (UTP’s) 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 Universal 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 UTP for their chosen major. For more information: www.tntransferpathway.org/

Students must inform the Records Office of their intent to articulate under a UTP.

International Students

International students wishing to apply for admission as an undergraduate student must provide the following:

1. A completed online application for undergraduate admission accompanied by the $30 application fee
2. Authenticated copies of the applicant’s academic records (These records should describe the courses of instruction in terms of years spent in school and types of subject matter covered with grades earned in each subject. These official documents must be accompanied with an English translation.)
3. A minimum score of 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language for applicants whose native language is not English or a minimum score of 5.0 on IELTS. (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 IETLS.org)
4. Evidence of MMR vaccination before enrolling in courses
5. Evidence dated no earlier than six months prior to registration that the applicant has adequate financial resources to meet the expenses of attending the University 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. An estimate of expense form signed by the student showing he/she is aware of the costs of attending the University
7. Clear Copy of current passport

Transfer students must supply a letter of good standing from their Foreign Student Adviser and must meet the requirements for admission to the University as a transfer student and an international student. These requirements are stated in the section on Transfer Students.

All international students are required to enroll in the insurance program for UT students.

All application materials must be submitted and processed by June 30 for the fall semester and by October 31 for the spring semester. Send all admission materials to:

International Student Services Office
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Dept. 4755
Room 201 Hooper Hall, 648 Oak Street
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
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 all 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 eight years prior to the date of application for academic forgiveness.
   • The eight years extends from the semester preceding the date that the Records Office receives the application for academic forgiveness.
   • For the purposes of this policy, the summer represents one semester.
   • All work attempted more than eight 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.

The Process

1. Submit the application for academic forgiveness to the Records Office, 109 Race Hall. The application form is available in the Records Office and at www.utc.edu/Administration/Records.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 Records Office for processing.

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 15 for enrollment fall semester; December 31 for enrollment spring semester; and April 15 or June 15 for each respective summer term. Students who have attended another institution must meet the transfer student deadline and submit a completed application by July 15 for fall semester, December 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 for readmission. 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.

Limitations on Non-Traditional Credit

Students admitted to the University may earn no more than 60 semester hours of non-traditional credit. Moreover, no student may earn more than 24 semester hours of non-traditional credit for each of the categories listed below.

Normally, non-traditional credit will not apply toward the last 24 hours of residency. However, students who have completed their previous 24 hours of traditional coursework at UTC and earn Practical Training credit or credit for the NCLEX in the Gateway Program in their final semester need not petition for an exception to the final 24 hour residency requirement.

Except for credit by special examination, credit earned by these non-traditional means is elective. Exceptions to this principle occur only with the written approval of the respective departments, indicating specifically the amount and type of credit to be applied to a major degree program.

Advanced Placement

Students admitted to the University may obtain advanced placement by any of several examinations. The University participates in the advanced placement program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Applicants who have taken the advanced placement examinations may submit the results to the Undergraduate Admission Office for consideration. The University may grant credit and advanced placement in a subject for students whose test scores are three or higher. Some departments require a minimum score of four.

Credit earned through advanced placement will be entered on the student’s academic record as satisfactory credit but will not be computed in the grade point average. Students may earn no more than 24 semester hours of advanced placement credit.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

UTC recognizes and accepts credit derived from several of the subject area examinations of the College Level Examination Program or CLEP. The CLEP subject examinations measure achievement in a number of specific undergraduate courses. The Undergraduate Admission Office must receive the report of test scores directly from CLEP. Individual academic departments set standards for the acceptance of CLEP credits. Therefore, the required percentile grade for credit at UTC varies. Some departments accept no credit via CLEP.

Students may earn up to 15 elective hours for successfully passing CLEP general examinations. They may earn three hours of elective credit by successfully passing the CLEP general examination in English composition with a score of 530-610. Students may earn three hours of elective credit per exam by passing CLEP general examinations in mathematics, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and history with a score of 421-500. These credits, however, will not satisfy UTC general education requirements.

Credit earned will be entered on the student’s academic record but will not be computed in the grade point average.

Correspondence and Extension Credit

Up to one-fourth of the hours (excluding physical education) required for an undergraduate degree may be earned by correspondence or by a combination of correspondence and extension courses. The same limitations apply to hours in the major. All such courses must meet degree requirements at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Students may not use correspondence and/or extension courses within the last 24 hours of degree credit work unless the Petitions Committee grants advanced approval or the Department Head of the student’s major department grants prior approval for the student to use one such course to be completed at another University of Tennessee campus.

The University of Tennessee correspondence program provides over 100 college credit courses that may satisfy degree requirements. Students may learn more about these course options at www.anywhere.tennessee.edu.

DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support)

Students may earn up to 30 hours of DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) credit for specific examinations in DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests). Credit awarded is based upon American Council on Education (ACE) minimum recommendations and is entered on the student’s academic record as satisfactory credit. Examinations are available in numerous subject areas and are similar to end-of-course exams offered by colleges and universities. Results should be recorded on the appropriate military educational transcript (i.e. SMART, CCAF, ARTS, Coast Guard Institute), and official transcripts should be submitted to UTC for evaluation.

International Baccalaureate Credit

Students admitted to the University may obtain International Baccalaureate credit by any of several examinations. The University participates in the International Baccalaureate program of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Applicants who have taken International Baccalaureate examinations may submit official results to the Undergraduate Admission Office for consideration. The University may grant credit or advanced placement in a subject for students whose test scores meet the University’s criteria for awarding credit. The required score for credit may vary by department. Some departments may not accept credit via the International Baccalaureate Program.

Credit earned through International Baccalaureate will be entered on the student’s academic record as satisfactory credit but will not be computed in the grade point average. Students may earn no more than 24 semester hours of International Baccalaureate credit. Type of credit will be determined by the appropriate academic department. The academic department will determine if International Baccalaureate credit is to count toward degree requirements or as elective credit only.

Credit by Special Examination (Undergraduate)

Any student admitted to the University is eligible to receive credit by special examination. Students may earn credit by special examination for courses offered in the catalog with the exception of the following:

1. courses described as directed research, tutorial, or directed independent study;
2. any course from which the student has been exempted by placement examination or which the student has presented for admission purposes;
3. any course in any education teaching block; or
4. courses in which the student received a grade.

Students must pay the published fee for each undergraduate semester hour of credit. Students seeking credit by special examination should use forms provided by the Records Office to request approval from the department under which the course is described in the Catalog. The department will grant or deny the request pursuant to the standards stated on the request form; the department shall deny the request if it determines that the student would realize substantial benefits from participating in the activities of the course.

The departmental committee on special examinations in the department in which credit is to be awarded shall grant the request for credit by special examination when it is satisfied that, in addition to meeting the requirements for special examinations stated in the catalog, the student can demonstrate competence gained through study and/or experience primarily independent of University class activities. Thus, the course material must be such that the student has achieved the objectives of the course without class attendance.

The academic department will determine the method for designing, administering, and evaluating the special examination. In all cases, the examination must equal the scope and difficulty of a comprehensive final examination in that course. No student may repeat a special examination in a given course within one year.

Students will receive credit, recorded as S (Satisfactory) on the academic record, upon demonstrating the development of the abilities and attitudes of students who have taken the course and upon passing the examination with a minimum equivalent grade of C. Students earning less than a C grade equivalent receive NC (No Credit) on the academic record. Neither S nor NC grades will be used in computing the grade point average.

Military Service Credit

The University may grant credit for military science to students with six or more months of honorable active service in the armed services of the United States or in a service academy. Students may receive up to 30 semester hours of elective credit, including basic military service, from the Community College of the Air Force. University policy permits and encourages granting credit for appropriate educational experience in the armed services in accordance with their evaluation in the American Council on Education’s 1986 Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services or by the Commission on the Accreditation of Service Experiences evaluation service. Veterans requesting military service credit should submit a copy of their DD Form 214 to the Records Office for evaluation. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a member of Service Members Opportunity Colleges.

Practical Training

Adult students who have not earned a degree and wish to enter or return to the University after working for several years may be eligible to receive credit for their professional work experience, in-service training, and completion of certified professional programs. UTC’s Credit for Practical Training program awards elective credit for those professional and in-service training experiences that have University equivalencies. Information concerning Credit for Practical Training is available in the Office of Cooperative Education and International Programs (423) 425-4735. Students pay a portfolio/registration fee of $50.00 and an additional fee per credit hour, based on current University charges for Practical Training credit hours awarded.

Normally, non-traditional credit will not apply toward the last 24 hours of residency. However, students who have completed their last 24 hours of traditional coursework at UTC and earn Practical Training credit in their final semester need not petition for an exception to the final 24-hour residency requirement.

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 petition the Admission Committee. A petition 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: July 15 for the fall semester, December 1 for the spring semester, and April 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.

Transfer Course Classification

Students who believe that their transfer coursework was misclassified should present their concerns in writing to the Records Office as soon as possible. Staff will review the coursework and issue a response to the student.

Residency Classification

Undergraduate students classified as non-residents may appeal this classification by submitting a petition and supporting evidence to the Admission 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. 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 enrolled at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Residence classification appeals should be made by completing the petition form provided by the 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.

The student may appeal the decision of the Assistant Director of Admissions 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 Chancellor of UTC. The student has the right to appeal in writing the Chancellor’s decision to the President of The University of Tennessee. The President of The University of Tennessee makes the final decision on all residency appeals.

Credit from Unaccredited Institutions

Students who wish to have credit from regionally unaccredited institutions reviewed for transferability should submit a written request to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

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. Roger Brown, Chancellor
Office of the Chancellor Dept. 5605
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403