Dr. Evelyn E. Nettles, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Suite M200, Avon Williams Campus
(615) 963-7001
The Avon Williams Campus (AWC) of Tennessee State University is located at 330 10th Avenue North, in the heart of downtown Nashville. This facility, which serves as the hub for the University’s night, weekend, and distance education offerings, was named for the noted Civil Rights attorney Avon Nyanza Williams Jr. who brought litigation that sought to end segregation in public higher education in the state of Tennessee. At the Williams Campus, traditional and nontraditional students are afforded the opportunity to earn a degree during the day, in the evening, on weekends, and via distance education delivery systems. Both undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered at this facility. The Williams Campus houses the offices of Student Support Services for Adult and Distance Learners, Distance Education and Multimedia Services, and Continuing Education. Through academic programming and reliable and efficient student support services, the University reaches beyond its walls to serve citizens throughout the state and around the globe.
Center for Extended Education and Public Service
The Center for Extended Education and Public Service is the administrative unit at AWC responsible for coordinating academic and community service outreach that advances TSU’s mission of instruction, research, and service. It is also the administrative unit responsible for the operations of the Avon Williams Campus. Programs offered through Extended Education are designed to meet the professional, career development, personal and civic awareness needs of persons in the University’s service area, and among select client groups throughout the state and the nation. When specific needs are identified, instruction or assistance is provided on and off campus at times convenient to the learner or the sponsoring organization. All services are designed to facilitate individual adult participation, learning, achievement and/or organizational development.
Student Support Services for Adult and Distance Learners (OSS-ADL): The primary goal of a OSS-ADL is to provide a single point of access for academic and support services and to remove barriers for nontraditional students by extending services beyond the traditional hours in a seamless approach. The Office of Student Support Services for Adult and Distance Learners coordinates and makes available, within the standing University academic and student services structure, support services for students who attend classes at night, on weekends, at off-campus sites, and via distance education delivery. This unit provides recruitment, admissions, and financial aid services to all nontraditional students. Through OSS-ADL, nontraditional students have access to the Counseling Center, Career Placement, Disabled Student Services, Graduate and Professional Opportunities, and Minority and International Affairs.
Distance Education and Multimedia Services
Distance Education: Distance education at Tennessee State University allows the Institution to extend its resources in the areas of instruction and service to citizens within the state of Tennessee and to persons around the world. Classes are offered through various technological delivery systems including, interactive video instruction, TSU online, and the
Regents Online Campus Collaborative (ROCC). All distance education classes are planned and conducted in accordance with the academic requirements and regulations of participating academic colleges and schools. Descriptions of the various types of distance education delivery modes are as follows:
- Interactive Video Courses - Interactive video courses allow TSU to broadcast live instruction to enrolled students on-ground and at remote sites, in addition to individual desktops via Voice-Over-IP (VOIP). The remote sites can include other colleges, universities, and school systems. This method of delivery allows the instructor to communicate in real time via both audio and video.
- TSU Online Program - TSU Online courses are delivered via the University’s course management system. Students are required to read assignments, participate in discussion groups, and communicate with professors and other students by email. In addition, students are responsible for reading textbook assignments, completing papers and projects, and taking examinations. As the course is delivered completely online, students must have proficient computer skills, access to a computer with administrative rights to download software and change computer settings, etc., and a dependable internet service provider (ISP). Students are required to complete an orientation module online prior to accessing their course(s). TSU online courses are designated in the course schedule as section 98. TSU offers the Bachelor of Science in Sociology and the Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies fully online.
- Regents Online Campus Collaborative (ROCC) - Tennessee State University, in collaboration with the Tennessee Board of Regents Online Campus Collaborative (ROCC), offers the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies with concentrations in Health Administration, Organizational Leadership, International Organizational Leadership or Information Technology. Courses offered through these programs are delivered completely online although some courses may require proctored tests. ROCC courses are designed to meet the needs of the adult student who cannot attend school because of family, work, and/or other obligations. Students interested in pursuing one of these degrees must apply to TSU and meet the general admissions requirements. Upon acceptance to TSU, the student must meet with the TSU Student Support Services Counselor in person or by telephone to plan a program of study. In addition, academic advisement for students enrolled in the Regents Online Campus Collaborative is handled by the TSU Student Support Services Counselor. ROCC courses are designated as section R50. ROCC course fees are charged on a per hour basis and are in addition to standard course fees. While these courses are designed for students majoring in the degrees listed above, all TSU students may enroll in ROCC courses as approved by their faculty advisor.
Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (Multimedia Services)
The Center for Teacher, Learning, and Technology is to enhance the teaching and learning process in the classroom, distance education and continuing education programs by providing leadership, support and a broad range of services to Tennessee State University faculty, staff and students. This goal enables the University to incorporate existing and emerging technologies in the learning environment. The Center (1) provides training in the use of educational technology; (2) assists faculty develop, implement and assess the effectiveness of advanced research-based teaching and learning methodologies, including multimedia learning; and (3) increases the use of technologies in support of technology-enhanced courses, online courses and other distance learning environments.
For more information, contact the Office of Distance Education and Multimedia Services at (615) 963-7001 or visit www.tnstate.edu/online.
Non-Credit and Continuing Education
The Office of Non-Credit and Continuing Education offers non-credit courses designed to meet the professional, personal and civil needs of the adult community. The unit offers courses/activities throughout the year both on and off campus in response to special client needs and for the greater community that range from workforce development, skill enhancement to personal interest courses. The instruction is supported by regular and part-time faculty and it is designed to meet the special needs of both the vocational and avocational learner of which Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits may be awarded.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits are a quantitative unit of measure to recognize participation in an organized educational activity within the scope of non-credit courses. Participants of selected instructional activities that are approved within published guidelines earn CEU credits for the purposes of completing training programs, or obtaining and renewing licenses and certifications. Institutional records of such learning experiences are maintained by the Office of Non-Credit and Continuing Education and are available upon written request by the student. For more information, contact the Office of Non-Credit and Continuing Education at 615-963-7001.
Credit for the Nontraditional Learner
Tennessee State University recognizes that students have diverse learning, life, and professional experiences. The University provides opportunities for students to earn college credit toward the degree through a number of assessment options that evaluate their learning experiences. These paths are grouped under the category “Prior Learning Assessment” (PLA). Below are various means students may utilize to participate in PLA.
Prior Learning Assessment
Tennessee State University (TSU) recognizes that students have diverse learning, life, and professional experiences. The University provides opportunities for students to earn college credit toward the degree through a number of assessment options that evaluate their life, work and learning experiences. These paths are grouped under the category “Prior Learning Assessment” (PLA). PLA represents nationally recognized methods of consideration that save students from having to take courses in subjects they already understand. TSU has three major PLA categories:
- Credit by Examination - includes Advanced Placement (AP) Program (See page 26 of the Undergraduate Catalog for details), College Level Exam Program (CLEP), Local Exams (Academic Department Exams), and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), (See page 26 of the Undergraduate Catalog for details);
- Advanced Standing - American Council of Education (ACE) Military Credit;
- Portfolio-Based Assessment through “LearningCounts”/Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).
PLA credits are applied towards the student’s degree program as applicable. According to Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Guideline A-030 I:H-4, “credit based on PLA at another TBR institution will be accepted in transfer and applied toward the student’s degree in the same way that any other type of transfer credit is accepted.” At Tennessee State University, the maximum limit of 60 semester credit hours (SCH) may be gained through a combination of credit by examination - CLEP, DSST, and Local Exams. For ACE Military Credit and Portfolio-Based Assessment, the maximum number of semester credit hours accepted will be determined by the academic department. In all cases a student must earn 25% of hours required for a degree in instruction delivered by the institution awarding the credential. PLA credit will not count toward this 25% minimum. No other limitations are to be placed on student eligibility for PLA credit, such as minimum age or work experience.
Credit by Examination
Students who have mastered knowledge and skills covered in a college level course may earn degree credit for that course through taking either standard or local examinations (Departmental Exams). Local examinations are generated by faculty in the department which offers the course.
CLEP and DSST
Standard examinations offered are CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DANTES (Defense Activities for Non-Traditional Education Support)/DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST). Local examinations are not generated where a department has adopted use of either CLEP or DANTES. A listing of adopted standard examinations and the equivalent TSU courses follows this narrative. Standard examinations are graded by the agency which supplies the test. Local examinations are graded by TSU faculty.
A student who wishes to earn credit by examination begins the process through discussion with his/her department chair. The department chair will provide written instructions on the credit by examination process for both standard and locally generated examinations. The Testing Center (615-963-7111) may be contacted for additional information.
Academic credit attained through CLEP Subject Area Examinations and DANTES (DSST) will be given to TSU students provided:
- Scores are equal to or greater than the required minimum score shown in the accompanying Credit by Standard Examination table.
- CLEP and DANTES credit do not duplicate any college credit counted for admission.
- Credit earned through CLEP and DANTES will be entered on the student’s permanent record but will not be computed in the grade point average.
- A maximum of 33 semester hours may be gained through a combination of College Level Examinations, DANTES and examinations for credit.
- These examinations may not be taken to repeat course work or to remove a grade of “F” or “I”.
- Certain CLEP exams earn credit for two TSU courses; students who have already earned credit for one of the two courses with a grade of “C” or above are eligible to take the CLEP exam to earn credit for the second course.
- Examinations for credit may not be used for:
- research or independent study courses,
- any course work from which the student has been exempted,
- repeating of courses,
- removal of deficiency grades,
- any course in which the student is currently enrolled,
- any course which the student attempted or was enrolled in for four or more weeks prior to withdrawal.
- The examination must be completed and the recorded results must be received by the Office of Admissions and Records according to the following schedule:
- Regular Semester (prior to the end of the 9th week of classes),
- Summer Sessions I & II (prior to the end of the 3rd week of classes).
To register for a CLEP or DANTES (DSST) exam, go to www.tnstate.edu/testing.
Local Examinations
As stated above, local examinations are generated by faculty in the department which offers the course. These examinations are graded by TSU faculty. Each department determines which of its courses is appropriate for credit by examination. The department also determines if it will accept credit by examination for its majors. Because of content, performance or other requirements, not all courses readily lend themselves to the credit by examination process. A student who wishes to earn credit by examination begins the process through discussion with his/her department chair. The department chair will provide written instructions on the credit by examination process for both standard and locally generated examinations.
Advanced Standing
Students who are eligible may earn college credit through approved recommendation services/examinations and educational experiences in the armed services. A student is awarded a grade of “P” for credit received. Transcripts, military documents, and original score reports must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records for evaluation and review. Approved programs are:
- College Level Examination Programs (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board,
- DANTES (DSST) Standardized Tests administered by Educational Testing Service,
- Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board,
- Military training courses in the Armed Services of the United States as recommended by the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services published by the Commission on Educational Credit of the American Council on Education (ACE). For evaluation purposes:
- U.S. Army Veterans should present the Army/ACE Registry transcript. (ARTS);
- U.S. Air Force Veterans should present a Community College of the Air Force transcript.
The DD214 or other official documentation should be submitted to support request for credits via a and b above.
For more information concerning these programs, a student may contact the Prior Learning Assessment Advisor in the academic department, or the Prior Learning contact in the Office of Student Support Services for Adult and Distance Learners at (615) 963-7001 or email adultstudentsupport@tnstate.edu. Students with military experience should contact the Veterans Certifying Official in the Office of Admissions and Records.
Portfolio-Based Assessment
Students who are seeking degrees may be granted credit in their major for college level knowledge and understanding gained from work experience, life experience, or non-college instruction. This method of PLA requires a student to enroll in six week course yielding three (3) semester credit hours which provides instruction as to how to build a portfolio documenting learning from life and work experience. Currently, Tennessee State University uses “LearningCounts”/Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) to assist students with the preparation of a portfolio. Completed portfolios are assessed by CAEL expert faculty in a given discipline to determine if college level credit will be granted. A student is awarded a grade of Pass/Fail which will be reflected on the TSU official transcript as credit for a specified course. For more information on portfolio-based assessment, contact the Coordinator of Student Support Services for Adult and Distance Learners, at (615) 963-7001 or adultstudentsupport@tnstate.edu.
Correspondence Courses
A student may receive credit for correspondence work earned from other institutions. The student must receive written approval from the Office of Admissions and Records, Department Chair and College/School Dean in order to apply these credits to his/her degree program of study
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