THE COST OF COLLEGEThe College reserves the right to change the fees listed herein or to add new ones whenever such additions are found to be necessary. Please see the current semester’s schedule of classes for current maintenance fee charges. The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) approved the elimination of the 12-hour tuition cap in December 2008. With the elimination of the tuition cap beginning in the fall 2009, all students may pay an hourly rate for each semester hour of classes they take depending on the fee structure approved by the TBR. TBR will establish the 2010-2011 tuition rates at the June 2010 quarterly meeting. Rates listed in this catalog are the rates that were in effect during the 2009-2010 academic year. Fees are subject to change at any time by action of the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Business Regulations
All fees are payable at the time of registration each semester, unless otherwise noted in the schedule of classes. Registration at the beginning of each term is incomplete until all fees are paid, and no student may be admitted to classes without having met this financial obligation. No student may re-enroll, graduate, or receive a transcript of his/her record until all accounts are settled. The term ‘account’ includes any amount owed to the College. The student’s responsibility for amounts owed to the College is not relieved by the non-attendance of class. All fees can be paid in the Business Office, located in the Ramer Administration Building at the Gallatin campus, the Business Office, located in the Millard and JJ Oakley Administration Building at the Livingston campus or on the College’s online registration system.
Payment Methods
Fees may be paid by cash, check, money order, American Express, Discover, Visa, or MasterCard. Fees may be paid through the College’s website, the College’s online registration system, on campus in the Business Office located in the Ramer Administration Building at the Gallatin campus, or the Business Office located in the Millard and JJ Oakley Administration Building at the Livingston campus.
Direct Deposit
Students may receive their excess financial aid or refunds by direct deposit. The direct deposit information should be set-up prior to the beginning of the semester. Once the direct deposit information is set-up, there is a three day waiting period for account verification before a direct deposit can be processed. Detailed instructions for setting up direct deposit are available at http://www.volstate.edu/Pride/ in the Pride Online Information.
Deferred Payment
The deferred payment agreement can be obtained in the Business Office located in the Ramer Administration Building or online, by downloading the agreement from the College’s website (http://www.volstate.edu/BusinessOffice/deferredpayment.html). The deferred payment and deferred payment agreement may be completed online using the College’s online registration system. Detailed Instructions for making the online deferred payment can be found by going to: www.volstate.edu, selecting Current Students, and Pride Online Infomration. The online deferred payment requires you to store a saved payment method for the installment payments. On the deferred payment due dates, the credit card or bank account information that you have saved will automatically be charged. In addition, the signed agreement and initial deferred payment can be mailed, faxed or returned to the Business Office.
For specific terms and conditions, as well as due dates, please refer to the current semester’s schedule of classes. Any refund due resulting from the withdrawal of class is subject to the refund policy referenced in the Credit Course Refunds section of this catalog. Eligibility for Deferment of Payment of Tuition and Fees by certain eligible students receiving U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs or other Governmentally Funded Educational Assistance Benefits. Service Members, Veterans, and dependents of veterans who are eligible beneficiaries of U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits or other governmentally funded educational assistance, subject to the conditions and guidelines set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 49-7-104 as amended, may elect, upon formal application, to defer payment of required tuition and fees until the final day of the term for which the deferment has been requested. Application for the deferment must be made no later than 14 days after the beginning of the term, and the amount of the deferment shall not exceed the total monetary benefits to be received for the term. Students who have been granted deferments are expected to make timely payments on their outstanding tuition and fees balance once education benefits begin, and eligibility for such deferment shall terminate if the student fails to abide by any applicable rule or regulation, or to act in good faith in making timely payments. This notice is published pursuant to Public Chapter 279, Acts of 2003, effective July 1, 2003.
Fees
Application Fee
Each student submitting an application for admission to the College must pay, at the time he/she submits an application, a one-time, non-refundable fee of $10.00. This fee is assessed for all students except for pre-college community service non-credit students and is waived in the case of senior citizens or totally disabled people who wish to audit courses.
Maintenance Fee
All students, whether resident or non-resident, pay a maintenance fee which entitles the student to admission to home athletic events and certain health services, concerts, plays, social and other student-sponsored activities, as specified by announcement. Maintenance fees are $111.00 per credit hour for 1 to 12 credit hours and an additional $6.00 per credit hour for 13 or more credit hours.
Testing Center Fees
Fees are applicable for the following exams given by the Testing Center: ACT-Residual, CLEP, Correspondence exams, Career interest exams, GED, Challenge exams, and Nurse Entrance exams. Transcript request fees also apply to GED and Nurse Entrance exams. Check the Testing Center’s web page at www.volstate.edu/testing for current fee schedules.
Tuition
Tuition is only charged to students who are not bona fide residents of the State of Tennessee. There is no tuition charged to bona fide residents of the State of Tennessee. Tuition charges are in addition to maintenance fees. Non-residents are charged Out-of-State tuition fees of $349.00 per credit hour for 1 to 12 credit hours and an additional $18.00 per credit hour for 13 or more credit hours. The Director of Admissions shall make the original decision concerning residence classification. Further information about residence classification may be obtained from the Office of Admissions.
Audit Students Fees
Students enrolling in regular college classes as auditors will pay the same fees (including the application fee and any late registration fee) as those enrolling for credit. Exceptions are granted for students who are totally disabled, senior citizens or state service retirees in compliance with VSCC Policy.
Senior Citizens Fees
Persons 60 years of age and over who are domiciled in Tennessee may audit credit classes at no maintenance charge, providing there is space available and sufficient fee enrollment. Special fees may be charged where required. Senior citizens who audit classes will be required to submit an application for admission to the College, but are not required to pay the $10.00 application fee. Persons 65 years of age and over who are domiciled in Tennessee may take classes for credit with a maximum fee of $70.00 (these students are assessed the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) fee in addition to the $70.00 maximum fee, if RODP classes are taken), providing there is space available and sufficient fee enrollment. All admissions requirements must be met and the $10.00 application fee will be charged. Senior citizens must verify their birth date, either with their driver’s license or birth certificate.
Totally Disabled Persons Fees
Persons who are permanently, totally disabled and domiciled in Tennessee may audit classes with no maintenance charge provided there is space available and sufficient fee enrollment. Special fees may be charged where required. Totally disabled persons who audit classes will be required to submit an application for admission to the College, but are not required to pay the $10.00 application fee. Totally disabled persons who are domiciled in Tennessee may take classes for credit with a maximum fee of $70.00 (totally disabled students are assessed the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) online fee in addition to the $70.00 maximum fee if RODP classes are taken) providing there is space available and sufficient fee enrollment. All admissions requirements must be met and the $10.00 application fee will be charged. Totally disabled persons must provide the College an affidavit or certificate from a physician, or an agency that has adjudicated the person to be totally disabled. Forms are available in the Office of Admissions in the Ramer Administration Building or in the Office of Disability Services, in the basement of Wood Campus Center. Refer to section on Regent Online Degree Program Course Fees for additional information regarding RODP courses.
Non-Credit Course/Workshop Fees
The fees for non-credit courses, seminars, and workshops vary according to the nature of the subject matter and length of instruction. Non-credit students are not assessed an application fee, late registration fee, student activity fee, campus access fee, technology fee or international education fee. The fee for each course or workshop is published in the current semester schedule of classes or in the brochure announcing the activity.
Fee waivers and fee discounts do not apply to non-credit courses or workshops.
Regents Online Continuing Education Program Course Fees
All students enrolled in the Regents Online Continuing Education Program (ROCE) pay a course fee and an online fee. Fees are listed on the ROCE website at www.rodp.org/roce each semester. There is no refund of fees after the ROCE class starts.
Individual Music Instruction Fees
A special fee of $55.00 per credit hour for all individualized instruction in music is assessed per semester.
Regent Online Degree Program Course Fees
All students enrolled in Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) courses pay a RODP Maintenance Fee of $111.00 per semester hour and an online fee of $44.00 per semester hour. Students who are non-residents of the State of Tennessee are charged RODP tuition of $349.00 per semester hour. These courses are separate from the College’s courses and are not included in the fee calculation for the Colleges courses. There is no full-time maximum for RODP courses. RODP fees are refundable during the specified refund dates. Please refer to the current semester’s schedule of classes or the College web site for refund dates. All students who are enrolled in RODP courses are required to pay the Online Course Fee. The Online Course Fees are not subject to limitations for disabled and elderly students.
E-Rate Fee
The eRate is available to students who enroll at TBR institutions, who are classified as non-residents of Tennessee, and who are enrolled exclusively in online courses. The eRate is 150% of the institution’s approved undergraduate or graduate maintenance fee. To qualify for an eRate, students must (a) meet all institution admission requirements and must (b) be verified as an online out-of-state student enrolled exclusively in courses delivered online by a procedure documented by the institution. Students enrolled in any type courses other than online (on-ground, telecourse, distance education, etc.) will not be eligible for the eRate specified in this guideline and will instead incur traditional non-resident fees and charges. Students who enroll in both online courses and other type courses and subsequently drop the other type courses will not then become eligible for the eRate.
Transcript Issuance Fee
No fee is charged for the issuance of transcripts. Transcripts are issued only at the request of the student or an authorized agent to the Office of Records and Registration. No transcript will be provided for a student who has any amount outstanding due to the College.
Graduation Fee
Each candidate seeking a degree from the College pays a $25.00 fee to cover cost of the diploma, rental of cap and gown, and incidentals connected with the commencement exercises. This fee must be paid at the time that the Graduation Application is submitted.
Campus Access Fee
A campus access fee of $2.00 per semester will be charged to all students. The purpose of the access fee is to provide parking improvements and repairs for the campus. Parking decals are required for all vehicles that are parked on campus and should be placed in the left bottom corner of the back windshield. Parking citations will be issued to vehicles not properly displaying a current parking decal or parked in unauthorized spaces. Students may park in any campus parking lot, unless otherwise designated. The parking decals may be picked up in the Business Office or Student Services. The cost of the parking decal is included in the campus access fee.
Student Activity Fee
A $3.00 per semester student activity fee will be charged to all credit students. The purpose of the Student Activity Fee is to provide and promote student events for all members of the student body, both on- and off-campus. It will be used for student programs, student activities, student conference travel and student leadership scholarships. A Student Life Newsletter provides a Calendar of Events for each semester and is available to every student via student e-mail. This calendar will include all major student events. Each student is encouraged to participate in as many events as possible.
Student Government Activity Fee
A $5.00 per semester Student Government Activity Fee will be charged to all credit students. The purpose of the Student Government Activity Fee is to provide and promote campus activities for the benefit of the entire College student body. This fee supplements the Student Activity fee and is used to provide on-and-off campus activities.
International Education Fee
A $10.00 per semester International Education Fee will be charged to all credit students. The purpose of the International Education Fee is to promote student’s world knowledge and to assist in internationalizing courses across all disciplines in order to increase our student’s ability to compete in the world environment.
Technology Fee
A technology fee will be charged to all credit students each semester. Part-time students pay $9.00 per credit hour. Students registered in 12 or more credit hours pay a flat fee amount of $112.50 per semester. The purpose of the Technology Fee is to purchase, maintain, and upgrade technological equipment and applications used for instruction and student support.
Parking Citations
Parking citations are $10.00 per violation except for the unauthorized parking in a Handicapped parking space. A $200.00 fine is imposed for each citation for unauthorized parking in a Handicapped parking space. Parking citations are posted to the student account and the student’s records cannot be released (will be put on hold) until payment of the fine. The citation may be paid using the College’s website, online registration system, or at the Business Office. If the citation is paid using the online registration system, the student must contact the Business Office at (615) 230-3585 to get the hold removed from the student account.
Credit for Life Experience
A non-refundable application fee of $25.00 per course is required when a request for Credit for Life Experience is made. If credit is awarded, the credit for life application fee is applied toward the maintenance fee charged for the number of credit hours approved. For information on Credit for Life Experience, please contact the Office of Career Placement and Cooperative Education at 230-3307.
Health & Accident Insurance for F-1 Visa Students
All foreign non-immigrant students with F-1 Visas must enroll in the TBR Student/Scholar Health & Accident Insurance Plan as a condition of admission and continued enrollment. The Assistant Director of Records & Registration provides information to the Business Office to have this fee posted on the student account. For information regarding the insurance, please contact the Assistant Director of Records & Registration at 230-3558.
Books and Supplies
Since the cost of books and supplies varies from one program of study to another and from term to term, only the average cost can be included in the catalog. The average cost of books and supplies for a full-time student taking a minimum fifteen hour course load is estimated to be $475.00 per semester. Books and supplies may be purchased at the Campus Bookstore with cash, personal check, American Express, Discover, Visa, or MasterCard or online at www.efollett.com Bookstore refund dates may be obtained from the Bookstore each semester.
Identification Cards
The College issues each student a photo identification card. There is no charge to the student for this service. The ID Card is only valid until the end of the current academic year. A returning student who has an ID card from a previous year will be issued an updated expiration sticker for the new academic year. Please keep your ID card for this purpose. The card is required for admission to some College activities, borrowing library books, cashing personal checks, receiving financial aid checks, and other purposes. The card remains the property of the College and must be presented or surrendered upon request of a College official. If your ID is lost or stolen, a fee of $10.00 must be paid to the Business Office. Bring your receipt to the Office of Student Life and Diversity Initiatives, Wood 215 or 217, and a replacement ID will be issued to you.
Check Cashing
Personal checks, maximum of $20.00 per day, will be cashed by the Business Office. An ATM is located in the Wood Campus Center for the student’s convenience.
Fee Holds
Payment made by personal check of past due amounts, which have resulted in a hold on the student’s account, will not release the hold for 14 days after the payment posts on the account.
Returned Checks
A $30.00 service charge will be assessed for any check (paper or electronic) returned to the College by a financial institution. Any student who has not paid for a returned check including the service charge, after notification, will not be able to receive a transcript: nor will any of his/her records from the College be sent to any other institution. Collection efforts will be pursued by the College for all unpaid returned checks. Check-writing privileges may be revoked for any student who has had more than one check returned by his/her financial institution.
Summary of Fees
Maintenance Fees - 1 to 12 credit hours = $111.00 per credit hour
13 or more credit hours = additional $6.00 per credit hour for each hour above 12 Tuition (Out of State) Fees - These fees are in addition to Maintenance Fees
1 to 12 credit hours = $349.00 per credit hour
13 or more credit hours = additional $18.00 per credit hour for each hour above 12 Regent Online Degree Program Fees (RODP)
Maintenance Fees - $111.00 per credit hour
Tuition (Out of State) Fees - $349.00 per credit hour
RODP Online Fee - $44.00 per credit hour Technology Access Fee
$9.00 per credit hour
Maximum $112.50 per semester for 12 or more credit hours Other Fees Application Fee (non-refundable) $10.00
Graduation Fee (non-refundable) $25.00
Student Activity Fee** (Credit Students Only) $3.00
Student Government Activity Fee** $5.00
Campus Access Fee** $2.00
International Education Fee** $10.00
Radiology Fee (Clinical Education II and IV)** $20.00
Golf Fee (Livingston Campus only)** $50.00
Music Fees: Individual Music Instructor (per semester hr.) $55.00
Returned Check Charge (non-refundable)** $30.00
Deferred Payment Fee** $25.00
Deferred Payment Late Fee (each payment late) $25.00
Late Registration Fee** $25.00
RODP Maintenance Fee - Please refer to the RODP Section
RODP Tuition - Please refer to the RODP Section
RODP On-Line Fee - Please refer to the RODP Section
**Refundable only during the 100% refund period
Additional Charges
The College reserves the right to change the fees listed herein or to add new ones whenever such additions are found to be necessary. Fees are subject to change at any time by action of the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Refunds
Non-Credit Course Refunds (Classes listed as RP)
A 100% refund of course fees is approved only under the following conditions: - when there is no space available in a class for which a registration is submitted, or
- when a class is canceled by the College, or
- when a faculty member recommends that a student drop a course or
- when a student is deemed ineligible by the institution, or
- when a student’s death occurs during the period of enrollment, or
- when a student officially withdraws from the College or drops the course prior to the first scheduled class meeting date.
A 50% REFUND of course fees is approved when a student officially withdraws from the College or drops a non-credit course from/on or after the first scheduled class meeting date but and prior to the second scheduled class meeting date. No REFUND of non-credit course fees is approved when a student officially withdraws from the College or drops a course on or after the second scheduled class meeting date. Failure to attend class does not result in a refund of course fees.
Non-Credit Workshops/Seminars (Classes listed as NR)
A 100% refund of workshop fees is approved when the workshop/seminar is canceled by the College. Otherwise, there are no refunds for workshops/seminars. You may substitute a colleague if you cannot attend or you may transfer your enrollment fee to a different course/workshop/seminar.
Online Non-Credit Course Refunds
The Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development offers a wide array of non-credit courses developed by nationally recognized providers. Once a student has enrolled and paid fees for an online course, there are no refunds awarded.
Credit Course Refunds
Refunds of all fees and charges must be in accordance with the following provisions except where previously stated. Refer to the current semester’s schedule of classes for refund dates. The refund percentage is applied to the difference between the per hour rate for the number of credit hours immediately before the drop or withdrawal and the number immediately afterward. The Business Office begins processing refunds after the first two weeks of the semester. The refunds are processed as checks or direct deposits to the student. Students can set-up direct deposit online. The direct deposit set-up instructions are available at http://www.volstate.edu/Pride/ in the Pride Online Information. Maintenance Fee Refunds - Refunds are 100% for courses canceled by the College.
- There is no refund or additional fee assessment for adding and dropping (swapping) equal number of credit hours for the sessions (parts-of-term) within a term with the exception of Regents online Degree Program (RODP) courses. RODP courses cannot be swapped for VSCC courses, or vice versa without additional fee assessment.
- The basic fee adjustment for withdrawals or drops during regular terms (fall and spring) is 75% from the official first day of classes for the term (not determined separately for each individual class) through the fourteenth calendar day of classes and then reduced to 25% for a period of time which extends 25% of the length of the term. There is no refund after the 25% period ends. For shorter terms within the fall and spring semesters, the 75% refund period and the 25% refund period will extend a length of time which is the same proportion of the term as the 75% and 25% periods are of the regular terms. These shorter terms have different beginning and ending dates and different refund dates.
- For summer sessions and other short terms, the 75% refund period and the 25% refund period will extend a length of time which is the same proportion of the term as the 75% and 25% periods are of the regular terms. Dropping a class and adding another class in the same session must be processed on the same drop/add form or on the Colleges website Pride online for the fees to be evenly exchanged. The summer term consists of four different sessions, each with different beginning and ending dates. Therefore, each session has a unique set of refund periods.
- All refund/fee adjustment periods will be rounded to whole days and the date on which each refund period ends will be included in semester schedule of classes. In calculating the 75% period for other than the Fall or Spring and in calculating the 25% length of the term in all cases, the number of calendar days during the term will be considered. When the calculation produces a fractional day, rounding will be up or down to the nearest whole day.
- A full refund (100%) is provided on behalf of a student whose death occurs during the term. Any amount owed will be offset against the refund.
- A 100% refund will be provided for students who enroll under an advanced registration system but drop or withdraw prior to the beginning of the official first day of classes for the term (not determined separately for each individual class).
- A 100% refund will be provided to students who are compelled by the institution to withdraw when it is determined that through institutional error they were academically ineligible for enrollment or were not properly admitted to enroll for the course(s) being dropped. An appropriate official must certify in writing that this provision is applicable in each case.
- When courses are included in a regular term’s registration process for administrative convenience, but the course does not begin until later in the term, the 75%/25% fee adjustment will be based on the particular course’s beginning and ending dates. This provision does not apply to classes during the fall and spring terms which may meet only once per week. Those courses will follow the same refund/fee adjustment dates as other regular courses for the term.
Students who drop or withdraw from classes may still have an account balance due under the deferred payment plan. If the drop or withdrawal occurs during a refund period, the total fees charged to the student will be adjusted. The refund is calculated as a percentage of total fees, not as a percentage of the amount paid. If the amount paid is greater than the adjusted balance, a refund check will be issued. - The refund percentage is applied to the difference between the per hour rate (or maximum) for the number of credit hours immediately before the drop or withdrawal and the number immediately afterward.
- Federal Title IV recipients will be granted refund through 60% of the term when withdrawing from the institution. These refunds will be based on applicable federal guidelines.
- The fee adjustment for the refund is calculated as the difference between (1) the cost of originally enrolled hours and (2) the per credit hour cost of the courses at final enrollment after adjustments have been applied for all courses dropped. Adjustments are calculated at the full per credit hour rate less the fee adjustment credit at the applicable fee adjustment percentage (regardless of the original number of hours enrolled) with total costs not to exceed full-time tuition. For students dropping courses resulting in a change from full-time status to part-time status, a fee adjustment in the tuition and fees will result only if the new calculated charges are less than the original charges. Not all drops/withdrawals will result in a fee adjustment.
- Other exceptions may be requested through the Office of the Vice-President for Student Services.
- Examples of common refunds are available upon request.
Out-of-State Tuition Refunds - The refund provision for out-of-state tuition is the same as that for maintenance fees. A 75% refund is made for the same period and a 25% refund is made for the same time period. When 100% of maintenance fees are refunded, then 100% of out-of-state tuition also is refunded. Calculation procedures are the same as those specified for maintenance fees.
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