Student Services

Division of Student Services

The Division of Student Services provides a variety of services and sponsors many activities which are designed to facilitate the personal growth and development of students and to support the instructional programs of the College.

Services and activities specifically offered for prospective and new students include admissions counseling, educational planning, placement testing, and advising.

Other student services and activities include, but are not limited to, scheduling assistance for registration, career and personal counseling, tutorial assistance, financial aid and intramural sports.

Offices within the Division of Student Services are: Enrollment Management which includes the Office of Admissions, Advising Center, Records and Registration, Retention Support Services, Student Financial Aid and Testing Center.  The Offices of Athletics and Intramurals, Disability Services,Student Life & Diversity Initiatives, TRIO Student Support Services and Veterans Affairs & Adult Learners are also a part of this Division.

Admissions
Admission advisors are available to assist new students with the application process. Additionally, these advisors are able to clarify information on the application, answer any questions students might have and outline the process that leads to registration.  The Office of Admissions offers campus tours for prospective students most weekdays at either 10:00 am or 2:00 pm.  Visit volstate.edu/admissions for more information about applying to the College or to schedule a campus tour.

Advising Center
Students who have not declared a major or who are not seeking a degree or certificate (but wish to enroll in credit classes) are assigned to a Full-Time Advisor/Counselor or Completion Advisor in the Advising Center for advising assistance. (Students who have declared a major are assigned to a faculty advisor or Advisor/Counselor.) The Advising Center also screens all transfer and transient students to be sure that required Learning Support assessment occurs and then modifies computer screens to allow enrollment.   Students should make an appointment to meet with their assigned advisor every semester before registering.   An advisor can:

• Provide general information about the College and its programs
• Explain placement assessment results
• Guide students through the registration process
• Assist with creating a class schedule
• Help students clarify their academic and/or career goals
• Provide students with specific information regarding transfer of courses to other colleges and universities
• Assist in explaining an unofficial audit of degree requirements

The Advising Center serves students both on and off campus. The normal operating hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students can walk in to the Advising Center to make an appointment or call (615) 230-3702.  Assistance and iInformation may also be requested by FAX at (615) 230-3692 or by e-mail to Advising@volstate.edu.  The Advising Center is also responsible for making all advisor assignments.  If students would like to be assigned to a new advisor, they should make that request by contacting the Advising Center. 

Academic and Career Counseling - Academic counseling consists of assisting students with curriculum choice, educational planning, and accomplishment of academic goals. Advisor/Counselors use necessary intervention strategies to assist students in overcoming difficulties that would hinder performance. Academic counseling guides students through an exploration of career and academic choices, assists in establishing life goals, and in developing personal plans to achieve educational goals.

Advisor/Counselors provide academic counseling for students who are having difficulty with their courses. While many students are referred to the Advising Center by their instructors, Advisor/Counselors will assist any student who is in need of academic counseling. Students may speak with an Advisor/Counselor either by appointment or on a walk-in basis.

The Advising Center can also assist students who are in need of career counseling. Students will meet with an Advisor/Counselor who can assist with the development of a plan to determine what career path is best suited for them. After meeting with an Advisor/Counselor, students can make an appointment to take a career assessment in the Testing Center. These assessments include the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. In addition, students can complete an internet-based assessment called Kuder. After completing a career assessment, students should make an appointment to meet with an Advisor/Counselor who will interpret and discuss the results with them.

Other Counseling Services - The Advising Center does not have a licensed counselor on staff. Thus, it is not equipped to handle serious personal counseling matters. However, Advisor/Counselors are trained to provide emergency crisis counseling and will then refer students to an appropriate agency or licensed professional.

Athletics
The intercollegiate athletic program includes men’s and women’s basketball teams, a men’s baseball team, and women’s softball. These teams compete with teams from other institutions of the same intercollegiate level as Volunteer State Community College. Athletes must meet the eligibility requirements of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association.

Disability Services
The Office of Disability Services will assist students with disabilities by ensuring the provision of reasonable accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to voluntarily and confidentially disclose information regarding the nature of the disability. In order to receive assistance, students are encouraged to:

• Register with the Office of Disability Services
• Provide documentation of the qualifying disability

Auxiliary aids, services and accommodations will be provided on an individual basis taking into consideration the nature of the disability and the functional limitations.  Services include sign-language interpreters, alternate-format books, notetakers, test proctoring and access to adaptive software and equipment needed by some students to ensure equal educational opportunity. With advance notice, the Office of Disability Services will be responsible for arranging appropriate aids when requested. The College may provide for academic aids deemed necessary for a student’s educational access if they are not available from another source; however, it does not provide for personal aids such as attendant care or individually prescribed devices of a personal nature.

Records & Registration
The staff in Records & Registration is available to help students with sending transcripts, dropping and adding courses past the drop/add period, withdrawals, registration errors, grade appeal forms and questions, enrollment verification, transcript evaluation, the graduation process including taking a student’s application and guiding them thru the process, diploma pick up, academic fresh start, and changes to a student’s record (such as address or telephone number). International Student Services is also located in the Office of Records & Registration. For more information about the Office of Records & Registration and the privacy act which governs the records held at our institution, please see Student Records and Academic Regulations.

Retention Support Services and College Success

The Office of Retention Support Services and College Success is responsible for retention initiatives developed within the Division of Student Services. Student success is the primary focus of this office; however, assisting faculty with their students and creating a conduit between both parties is also a very integral focus. The main objective is to expand and improve existing programming as well as build new programming and services that will enhance student success. The Call Center is a large part of the Office of Retention Support Services and College Success and serves in the role of welcoming students to the College as well as disseminating important information and reminders to students via telephone contact.  The Call Center is also responsible for contacting students who are having difficulties in the semester through our ALERT system.  The ALERT system is a campus collaboration whereby the faculty submit ALERT [Academic Progress/Early Intervention Notifications]to the Retention Support Office regarding students who may need assistance in the areas of academic issues, counseling issues, career goal issues, absenteeism, etc.). Likewise, students can receive KUDOS from faculty via the ALERT system to encourage, motivate and empower students to continue being successful. 

Orientation - CAMPUS CONNECT:  New Student Orientation is conducted by the Office of Retention Support Services.  New student orientation is mandatory for all new first-time freshmen.  As a requirement of new student orientation, all new first-time freshmen are also required to meet with an Academic Advisor. All required students receive an emailed notification about Campus Connect that is sent to their Vol State student email account.  Invited students must make reservations to participate in the program. Reservations are on a first-come first-serve basis, and walk-ins are not permitted.  Once on campus, students will meet with an Academic Advisor to create an academic plan leading to graduation.  Upon completion of CAMPUS CONNECT:  New Student Orientation students will have a class schedule, Vol State Student ID card and the ability to request a parking decal for their vehicle.

Student Life & Diversity Initiatives

The Office of Student Life & Diversity Initiatives strives to foster an educated and civic-minded college community. The office provides educational, cultural, leadership and social activities to meet the needs of a diverse student body, as well as, provide support services for underrepresented, non-traditional, and first-generation students, to assist with retention and graduation to build a sense of community and unity among all students, and to further Vol State’s goal of promoting diversity and equality of all persons at Volunteer State.

The Office of Student Life coordinates student activities, student organizations, student leadership development, diversity initiatives, and student ID’s & parking decals.

Testing Services
Testing services are provided by the College through the Testing Center on the Gallatin campus, as well as at the Livingston, Highland Crest, and Cookeville campuses.  The Testing Center administers placement tests for students who have applied for admission to Vol State, along with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) testing.  Additionally, the Testing Center also administers foreign language placement tests in French and Spanish, the Computer Competency Exam (CCE), graduate exit exams, make-up exams for college faculty, the HESI A2 Nursing Exam, and career counseling assessments (Strong Interest Inventory and Myers Briggs Type Indicator). The Testing Center also proctors online and correspondence exams for students enrolled at other colleges and universities, and it serves as an official testing center for the ACT National, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams, and the International Codes Council (ICC) Southern Building Codes exam.

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)
The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Volunteer State Community College is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Education. The main objective of this program is to provide eligible VSCC students increased educational opportunities in order to promote academic success. The overall goal is to support students through educational support and retention strategies that lead to graduation and/or transfer to a four year institution. In order to participate, students must meet one or more of the following U.S. Department of Education requirements:

• Low-Income:  Family income meets federal guidelines
• First Generation:  Neither parent has earned at least a four-year college degree or
• Disability:  Registered with the Office of Disability Services

Services provided by TRIO SSS include Start-to-Finish Seminar, academic advising, graduation planning, career counseling, financial literacy, tutoring, mentoring, goal setting, laptop check-out, digital recorder/calculator check out, priority registration, learning communities and four-year college transfer assistance. Educational trips are provided for cultural activities and 4-year college tours. Students may apply by coming to the TRIO SSS Office and completing an application. Students may also apply online at www.volstate.edu/trio.

Office of Veterans Affairs and Adult Learners
The mission of this office is to provide assistance and guidance to veteran, military, and adult students attending or preparing to attend Vol State by supporting their college success.  This office advises these students to help resolve their needs for college success, whether it is through guidance on the admissions process, academic advising, veterans benefits, local career center benefits, or basic college processes.

This office coordinates services for these students by working with state and federal agencies to help qualified students with financial assistance from local agencies, job retraining, and employment programs.  This office also provides assistance with Veterans Affairs educational benefits, military federal tuition assistance and military spouse financial aid.  As an added benefit, this office manages the Vol State Veterans Center and the Adult Learners Resource Center.  These locations are designed for our adult and veteran students to interact with their peers and have a quiet place to study.This office is also a source of information for college services such as advising, locations for tutoring, or guidance to external resources such as Veterans’ agencies or other adult support services.

Veterans Affairs
The Veterans Affairs (VA) section in the Veterans Center, is the location for veterans, military, or qualified military dependents attending Volunteer State to submit requests for certification of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), or Federal Tuition Assistance benefits.  The Veterans’ Affairs center provides assistance in processing benefits, establishing career goals, making life/career choices, and with veteran unique challenges as they transition to college. This office also assists students by explaining educational requirements and ensures all institutional requirements are understood and met.

Approval for the college to offer training to military, veterans, and eligible dependents using these benefits comes with certain requirements and exclusions such as students receiving veteran’s benefits are required to be degree/certificate seeking and have a degree/certificate plan.  Any of these benefits programs will only pay for courses that apply to the academic program the student is pursuing. Each semester, students desiring to use these benefits must fill out a Veterans Certification Request Form (VCRF) to request their classes be certified to the appropriate agencies.

Community Based State and Federal Financial Programs
The Office of Veterans Affairs and Adult Learners also coordinates services with various community-based state and federal agencies.  These agencies sponsor students enrolled in Volunteer State Community College by providing financial assistance for tuition costs, books, training materials and supplies.    Students qualify for services based on income eligibility and employment barriers such as being laid-off from a job or needing to improve job skills through retraining.  The Office of Veterans Affairs and Adult Learners functions as a resource center for students during periods of transition to college.

Student Housing
Volunteer State Community College does not have any housing facilities for its students although we have a list of available housing in the community. Students interested in obtaining a list of such facilities may contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.

Student Conduct and Discipline
The College aims to maintain an environment of integrity, civility, and safety.  Students are expected to behave appropriately with emphasis on self-respect and respect for others. Enrollment at VSCC indicates acceptance of those standards of conduct appearing in detail in the Student Conduct and Disciplinary policy. Violations of these rules and regulations may result in disciplinary action by an administrative official or an appropriate college committee. The College recognizes each student’s rights to fair procedures and due process, including notice that specifies the alleged violation(s) of the Student Conduct and Disciplinary policy, an opportunity to respond to the allegations, and an appeal process appropriate to the nature and potential consequences of the violation.

Student Organizations And Activities
Student organizations and activities provide ample opportunities for students to participate in to promote their educational, personal and social development. The rules governing student organizations are found in the current Vol State Student Handbook. The College provides budgetary support for the following student organizations and activities:

Student Government Association
The Student Government Association (SGA) was established to provide leadership training in an environment which permits the exploration of a wide array of ideas. This avenue, through which student interests and needs may be expressed, provides students the opportunity to work with College Administrative Officers in matters affecting the welfare of the student body. The SGA works with all student organizations to maintain and improve the quality of student life on- and off-campus. In addition, the Livingston Campus, Highland Crest Campus, and Cookeville Campus have SGA positions available called the SGA Regent. Students are encouraged to participate in the campus-wide Student Forums held each Fall and Spring semester

Students filling the elected offices of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of the SGA are elected during the Spring term.  All registered full-time and part-time students of Volunteer State possessing a G.E.D. score of 45 or a cumulative high school or Collegiate G.P.A. of 2.75 are eligible to run for offices in the Legislative and Judicial Branches. Students desiring to run for the Office of President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, and Attorney General must have a cumulative Collegiate G.P.A. of 2.75.  Additional information may be obtained through the Office of Student Life & Diversity Initiatives.

The Settler
The Settler, the campus student newspaper, is published and distributed each Tuesday of classes during the Fall and Spring semesters. The Settler is produced exclusively by students for the campus community. Students may participate for credit (COM 292P: 3 credit hours) or may volunteer. The instructor of COM 292P also serves as its faculty advisor. The Editor is selected by the advisor and the Coordinator of Student Activities with approval of the Vice-President for Student Services.

SettlerOnline.org
SettlerOnline.org, the campus online student news source, is run exclusively by students for world-wide Internet readers. All staff positions for SettlerOnline.org are filled by students, who may participate for credit (COM 292P: 3 credit hours) or may volunteer. The instructor of COM 292P also serves as its faculty advisor. The Media Editor is selected by the advisor and the Coordinator of Student Activities with approval of the Vice President for Student Services.

Intramural Sports
The goals of the intramural sports program are to provide facilities, funds and programs to encourage the voluntary participation of men and women at various levels of ability in structured seasonal sports which build a sense of community. Additional information can be obtained through the Athletics department or the Office of Student Life & Diversity Initiatives.

Campus Activity Board (CAB) 
The purpose of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) is to develop and offer a variety of social, cultural, educational and recreational programs for all members of the College community.  Any currently enrolled students interested in the planning, production and promotion of activities should contact the Coordinator of Student Activities. The CAB Chair, Vice Chair, and Publicity Chair are selected through an interview process by the Coordinator of Student Activities with approval of the Director of Student Life & Diversity Initiatives.

College Theatrical Productions & Delta Psi Omega
Each year the Humanities Division of the College presents a Fall and two Spring dramatic productions. One of the Spring productions is a children’s play and is performed for both on and off campus audiences. Although any VSCC student is eligible to audition or work in the productions, many participants are enrolled in theater classes (THEA 120, 130, 205D or 210) and/or are members of the college’s theatrical organization, Delta Psi Omega. Delta Psi Omega presents a student directed production.  Contact the Visual and Performing Arts Department for more information.

Special Interest Student Organizations

Many organizations have been established to address the special interests and/or needs of students. For students interested in out-of-classroom learning experiences, the following section provides brief statements of purpose for registered student organizations. Some organizations have affiliates at the Livingston Campus, Highland Crest Campus and/or Cookeville Campus. For additional information, contact the respective faculty advisor or the Office of Student Life & Diversity Initiatives.  Clubs/Organizations are listed below:

• African-American Student Union (AASU) - an exceptional opportunity for leadership development, camaraderie and friendship is provided to members during weekly meetings and a variety of programs.  Although the purpose of this organization is to discuss topics relative and germane to the African-American community, any person is welcome to attend and join this club.
• AXIS Campus Ministry - affiliated with First Baptist Church, AXIS provides an environment where all Vol Sate students are both encouraged and challenged to grown in their faith, as well as, reach Vol State’s campus and the community with the message of Jesus Christ.
• Cheerleaders - provide support to the athletic programs at Vol State and raises the level of fan engagement and excitement for Vol State teams.
• College Democrats - serve to educate the Vol State community on current political issues and help in voter registration process. Promote and foster the philosophy of the Democratic Party.
• College Republicans - serve to educate the Vol State community on current political issues and help in voter registration process. Promote the philosophy of the Republican Party.
• Dental Assistants - serve as a public relations group for the Dental Assistants in the Middle Tennessee area. The club participates in social activities and educational seminars with the First District Dental Assistants Association. Students must by in the Dental Assistants Program to be a member.
• e-Sports - aims to provide students with the opportunity to be in the e-Sports arena, as well as, provides other types of gaming tournaments throughout the academic year.
• Makerspace - the convergence of people who are artists which includes all of the humanities and engineers who know how to construct physical and digital works through chemistry, physics, and programming. We teach each other the skills that we have already harnessed in our own time through workshops.  
• Music Club - provides students with an opportunity to perform, discuss, and promote music within the community both on and off campus.
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians’ in America (NAVTA) - promotes the Vet Tech club and exposes the students to more educational opportunities, as well as, the humane medical care and treatment of animals. Students must be in the Vet Tech Program to be a member.
• National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS) - promotes student leadership enhancement, while encouraging attainment of personal and educational goals. Students must have a 2.5 GPA and at least 6 college credits to receive an invitation letter from the national office.  This organization is also known as Sigma Alpha Pi.
• Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) - the international Honors Society for two-year schools was established in 1918 to recognize academic excellence. This organization, which awards $28 million nationwide in transfer scholarships to active members annually, was chartered on campus in March 1998. While participation in chapter activities is not required, the organization offers opportunities for community service and personal development. Those students who have earned 12 collegiate hours, have a GPA of 3.5, and are working toward an associate’s degree are invited by invitation to join each Fall and Spring semester.
• Returning Student Organization (RSO) - provides an opportunity for support, information, and personal growth for any student who has returned to school after several years of absence.
• Sigma Kappa Delta (SKD) - The English Honors Society seeks to represent those students in the honors program by providing a means for students to meet, share ideas, and engage in collaborative learning. 
• Spectrum - provides an open environment to foster dialogue between our LGBTQIA and straight students in a supportive atmosphere.
• Team Change- promotes environmental responsibility and sustainability on campus and individual decision making.
• The Settler- the campus newspaper is published and distributed throughout the academic year. The Settler is run exclusively by and for students.
• Vol State International Student Association (VISA) provides an opportunity for its members to interact, support, and socialize with each member where club composition is international and domestic. Additionally, its purpose is to raise awareness of club member’s unique cultural, social and academic challenges, and to solicit administrative support to meet needs.
• Vol State Veteran’s Association (VSVA) - provides military veterans with resources, support and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and post-graduation.

All student organizations at Volunteer State are subject to Chapter 0240-2-4 of the State Board of Regents Rules promulgated pursuant to the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.   Additionally, all student leadership position, from special interest organizations to the Student Government Association, are held to the criteria of Vol State Policy III: 11:03 qualifying for Student Title/Office:

Purpose:
Volunteer State Community College expects academic excellence from all students who hold elected positions or titles of leadership in student organizations or activities. This policy establishes minimal academic and citizenship qualifications for those who seek student leadership roles.

Qualifications:
Any currently enrolled full-time or part-time student may qualify to run for office or honorary title if he/she:
1.Has a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 at Volunteer State Community College
2.Is a responsible member of the campus community who abides by institutional rules and regulations and by the laws of local, state and national governments
3.Submits a “Qualifying Petition” with the endorsement of fellow students, if applicable

Any student who is elected to office or honorary title must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 throughout the term of office.

Exceptions:
A first term student who wishes to qualify to run for office or honorary title must have a high school or transfer cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above and meet all other qualifying conditions for student leaders.