Support Services

Academic Support/Tutoring

www.southwest.tn.edu/asc/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4107
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5054
Gill Center (901) 333-5989
Maxine A. Smith Center (901) 333-6046
Whitehaven Center (901) 333-6480

The ASC provides services and resources to help Southwest students successfully reach their academic and career goals. These include in-person tutoring (walk-in and by appointment), supplemental instruction, mentoring, open academic computer labs, instructional resources (such as course materials), and study areas. Tutoring is available to all currently enrolled students at Southwest. There is no charge for this service. Currently, the ASC has locations at the Gill Center, Macon Cove Campus, Maxine A. Smith Center, Union Avenue Campus, and Whitehaven Center.

The ASC offers Wi-Fi networking and also disability compliant facilities for special needs students.

Service hours may vary by location and are posted at the ASC website.  For more information about the ASC or to schedule an appointment, visit http://www.southwest.tn.edu/asc.

Advising

www.southwest.tn.edu/advising/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4594
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5122
Maxine A. Smith Center (901) 333-6005
Whitehaven Center (901) 333-6450

Welcome to Advising at Southwest.  Advising is an essential key to your success.  Professional Academic Advisors help you plan your academic experience at Southwest to enable you to achieve your educational goals.

The success of all students depends on a large extent upon their involvement in learning and academic processes. One vital process of the educational experience is academic advising. The Advising and Academic Support at Southwest assist with the full realization of the student’s academic aspirations. To that end, Professional Academic Advisors, along with assigned faculty mentors and Career Services, provide students with a high caliber of advising essential for their academic success. Entering students will receive a team that will guide the student through the educational experience to graduation.

Advising Online

http://www.southwest.tn.edu/advising/online-advising.htm

Online advising is designed to assist you, the student in meeting your educational goals here at Southwest.  We are committed to helping all students select classes and degree plans which will put you on the path to success.  Online advising is designed for students who are participating in our online programs or students who do not live close to any campus.

All emails will be answered in a timely fashion but delays will occur on weekends and holidays.  Responses may be slowed during our busier registration periods.

Guidelines

Please keep these guidelines in mind when using online advising.  In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), advisors cannot give out personal information such as:

• social security numbers
• financial aid information

When requesting Online Advising, please try to identify yourself using your Student ID number (if known) or Southwest email address.  To get started with Online Advising, complete and submit the Online Advising Request data form.

Change of Major

If you decide to change your major, you should discuss your academic goals and the programs with your Professional Academic Advisor. To change your major, you must log in to your student account and choose the option, “Change Major”. This is on your “Dashboard” tab. The change of major will take 3-5 days.  If you change major(s) and are receiving financial aid, the number of hours you have attempted in one major may affect your financial aid status.  This may be the case especially if you change from a degree program to a certificate program.  See the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Transfer Guidelines

If you plan to transfer to a baccalaureate institution, you should:

• review the catalog of the intended institution
• check foreign language requirements of the intended transfr institution; some institutions have special rquirements regarding coure selection and admission
• review Equivalency Tables and/or Articulation Agreements at www.southwest.tn.edu/advising/transfer-equivalencies.htm
• complete all appropriate courses at Southwest Tenessee Community College
• submit an admissions application to the transfer institution as early as possible

Students who receive an associate degree or technical/academic certificate from Southwest, and follow the Transfer Guidelines, will ensure that a higher percentage of credits earned at Southwest will transfer to a four-year institution to enable them to further their education.

Transfer

Students interested in information regarding transferring to another institution after completing the associate degree at Southwest may contact the Transfer Advisor at (901) 333-6484. Throughout the academic year, local colleges/universities visit Southwest.

To review Transfer Equivalency and/or Articulation Agreements, visit www.southwest.tn.edu/advising/transfer-equivalencies.htm.

Partnership Enrollment Agreements (PEP): PEP agreements provide Southwest students with the opportunity for guaranteed admission to a four-year college or university. Participants in these co-admissions programs are guaranteed admission upon graduation from Southwest with an associate’s degree. While each agreement may vary, students generally receive:

• coordinated academic advising from the Southwest Transfer Office and the participating four-year college
• waiver of college and university admissions fees

Please contact the Transfer Office for a current list of participants and to begin the process.

Transient Student

A transient student is one who transfers from another college and who seeks admission to Southwest for a limited number of courses. This admission category is designed for students who do not wish to pursue a degree at Southwest but plan to return to their home institution. Transient students are not eligible for financial aid. See the catalog for specific provisions listed under this category.

University Parallel Associate Degree

Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are designed to transfer to baccalaureate institutions.

Career Services

www.southwest.tn.edu/career-services/
careerservices@southwest.tn.edu

Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4180; Monday-Friday
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5511; Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Twitter: @SouthwestCareer

In Career Services, we understand that the #1 reason students attend college is to prepare for or further their career. We invite you to access our career exploration tools, take an assessment, and meet with our staff during your first semester to discuss your career plans.

Career Choice, Assessment and Planning Services

Whether you are trying to decide on a major, unclear about career options or want to make a career change, Career Services can help. The following career exploration and assessment tools simplify the process of choosing your career path:

• Career Coach ~ Take a Quick Assessment, Explore Careers and Access Real-time Local Labor Market Data
• Kuder® Career Assessments ~ Identify Careers Best-Matched to Your Interests, Skills Confidence and Work Values
• Memphis Works ~ Gain Insight into Local Jobs in a Variety of Industries

Job and Career-Readiness Services

• Optimal Resume™ and Resume Review Services

  Students and alumni can create and customize a professional resume to fit their specific career interests with OptimalResume™. The free online resume builder provides step-by-step instructions, examples, and a wide variety of formatting options. After you create your resume, contact Career Services to have it reviewed before you send it to employers.

• On-Demand Interview Training with Big Interview

Watch short (2-3 minute) videos to learn basic interviw information such as what to wear, how to answer common questions, and cutting-edge best practices. Training videos are now available in both Fast Track and Mastery Track formats to fit your schedule.

• Practice Interviews

Feeling a little nervous about your upcoming interview?Contact Career Services to schedule a practice interview and we will customize the experience and questions so that they are related to a position in your field of study.Get helpful tips and feedback immediately afterwards.

• Job Listings and Job Search Strategies

Check out full and part-time job listings from Mid-South employers interested in hiring Southwest students and alumni on the Career Services website. To apply for a position on the list, just follow the employer instructions at the end of each job posting. Be sure to check back frequently as job listings are updated every few days.

• Career Fairs

Meet with several area employers all in one location to learn about job openings and hiring expectations. Dress professionally and bring several copies of your resume to make the best first impression. Career Fairs are held on the Macon Cove or Union Avenue campus each spring and fall.

• Job-Readiness Presentations

Listen to professionals present on a variety of career-related topics, such as how to make the most of a Career Fair, where to look for jobs and how to create a resume. For a current list of topics being presented, visit the events calendar on the Career Services website.

• Career and Employment Counseling

Need help developing a career plan or just sorting things out? Contact Career Services at (901) 333-4180 to schedule an appointment to discuss your career plans.

• Career e-Portfolios

Students are encouraged to create and build an electronic portfolio (e-Portfolio) to document their college and career experiences, skills, abilities and achievements.

Experiential Learning

Students can gain real-world experience related to their intended career field through the options listed below. Visit the Career Services website or stop by our office to learn more about the different work-related experiences available at Southwest.

• Internships
• Cooperative Education (Co-op)
• Work Study
• Job Shadowing
• Service Learning

Child Care

www.southwest.tn.edu/childcare/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4500
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5233

The Child Care Centers provide a well-supervised program for six-week old to five-year-old children. They provide a warm, secure environment that encourages parental involvement and meets the cognitive, physical, social and emotional needs of children from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Campus Child Care is a fun place where emphasis is placed on learning through play and developmentally appropriate practices are used.

Evening and Weekend Programs

http://www.southwest.tn.edu/evening-weekend/
eveningweekend@southwest.tn.edu

Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4880

Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5190

Southwest’s evening and weekend programs afford the opportunity for students to complete entire degrees and technical certificates by attending solely in the evening and/or on the weekends. Currently, there are thirteen (13) degrees and eleven (11) technical certificates offered completely in the evening and/or weekend format. Courses may be offered in the traditional fourteen-week format, the seven-week hybrid plan, as well as the three-week SWIFT model.

Library

www.southwest.tn.edu/library/

Southwest Tennessee Community College

www.southwest.tn.edu

The InfoNet Library will address the top academic challeenges for students by promoting academic success through instruction and viable resources to support the curriculum, and by contiuously focusing our attention on providing innovative servies to our diverse clientele while conveying knowledge and confidene with a competent and professional staff.

Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4706
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5135
Gill Center (901) 333-5979
Maxine A. Smith Center (901) 333-6037
Whitehaven Center (901) 333-6442

Five libraries are available for student, faculty and staff use:

• Bert Bornblum Library (Macon Cove Campus)
• Jess Parrish Library (Union Avenue Campus)
• Gill Center Library
• Maxine A. Smith Center Library
• Whitehaven Center Library

Check Hours of Operation for current opening and closing times.

The InfoNet Library provides the following services:

• Research assistance and access to trusted information sources
• A significant print collection designed to meet faculty and student curriculum needs
• Electronic resources, consisting of databases and online books through ProQuest eBook Central and Netlibrary, available to both on-campus and distance education students
• Subscriptions to selected print and digital periodicals and journals
• Ask the Librarian allows students to ask questions via telephone, email, text, or chat
• Media resources, including popular and instructional DVDs, audio books, and music recordings
• Online catalog (S.O.A.R. Academic Catalog) with capabilities of renewing and requesting materials 24 hours a day
• Access to personal computers, mobile devices, photocopiers, scanners, and FAX machines
• Information literacy and library instruction for classes, as well as individualized and daily point-of-use instruction
• Online Orientation is available for distance learners
• Inter-library loan services are available to secure items not owned by the InfoNet Library
• Access to group and individual study rooms
• Borrowing agreements are maintained with Baptist College Health Sciences, Christian Brothers University, Harding School of Theology, Memphis College of Arts, LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis Theological Seminary, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Rhodes College, Southern College of Optometry, University of Memphis Libraries, University of Memphis - Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and the University of Tennessee Health Sciences
• Annual cultural activities are provided to enrich the college experience

Retention and Student Success

www.southwest.tn.edu/student-success
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4324
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5013

The mission of Retention and Student Success is to offer innovative, student-centred support systems in Advising, Academic Support, Career Services, Counseling and Social Services, Student Disability Services, Student development, and Testing Services to aid in increased retention and student success outcomes for the College.  Additional details related to each area are provided as follows:

• Professional Academic Advising (proactive advising; course selection; registration for classes)
  • Retention Intervention (early Alerts, academic probation and suspension support)
• Academic Support (tutoring and supplemental instruction, SMARTS mentoring)
  • Academic Progress Reporting
  • Academic Coaching
• Career Services (assessment, exploration, and job readiness)
• Counseling Services (mental health and social services)
• Student Disability Services
  • Accomodations, Accountability, and Advocacy
• Student Development (leadership, engagement, advocacy, and judicial affairs)
• Testing Services
  • Entrance & Exit Exams including, Accuplacer, ACT National, ACT Residual, ETS, CLEP, DANTES, Major Field Exams, etc.
  • Test taking tips and strategies
• Retention Specialists for special populations: Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect
• Student Success Workshops and Co-curricular Programming

In addition to providing leadership for all of the above student support units on campus, the Assistant Vice President of Retention and Student Success provides intentional focus for the entire College in developing, implementing, monitoring, and assessing student retention and success. Retention and Student Success initiatives align with the College mission “to provide the citizens of Shelby and Fayette counties and the surrounding Mid-South region with a high quality and affordable post-secondary education that prepares them for associate degrees, future educational opportunities, and successful employment.”

The Office of Retention and Student Success serves as a liaison to the special population of Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect students.  For Tennessee Promise questions, please contact Ms. Jivanta Farmer at (901) 333-5013, and for Tennessee Reconnect questions, please contact MMs. Alma Hernandez at (901) 333-4324.

The Saluqi Success Pathway (SSP) Program

http://www.southwest.tn.edu/saluqi-success

The Saluqi Success Pathway or SSP is an innovative program comprised of supportive faculty and staff who help Tennessee Promise students transition into college life and access all of the resources available to them at Southwest Tennessee Community College.  Students who participate in SSP engage more fully throughout their college experience through technology, enriching activities and the SSP Hub.  In addition, the SSP has been expanded to better serve adult learners through SSPAL (Saluqi Success Pathway for Adult Learners) and offers all the supports of SSP with additional support through SMARTS Mentoring.  Visit http://www.southwest.tn.edu/saluqi-success to learn more about these incredible student success programs.

Resources and Scholarships

Chromebooks are a great tool that students can checkout throughout the semester to assist with class assignments, study materials, and projects.  If you are interested in checking out a Chromebook, please complete a request by visiting http://www.southwest.tn.edu/student-success/chromebook.htm to fill out a request form for a Chromebook.

Southwest Tennessee Community College offers additional resources and scholarships to currently enrolled students. Some of these scholarships include the Access and Diversity Scholarship and the Saluqi Emergency Fund (SEF) Scholarship.  To review these and other scholarships, please visit Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Foundation page at http://www.soouthwest.tn.edu/scholarships/foundation/scholarships.htm or Student Success page at http://southwest.tn.edu/scholarships.

Student Disability Services (SDS)

www.southwest.tn.edu/sds
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4223
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5523

Fax (901) 333-4015

The Student Disability Services Office (SDS) serves as an advocate for students with documented disabilities to ensure equal access to the College. In order to benefit from the services, a student must provide written documentation of his or her disability. The documentation is evaluated and the needs of each student are assessed. Various support services have been established to assist students, according to their documented needs. Every effort is made to help students make a smooth transition to college as well as to succeed throughout their college experience. Students are encouraged to contact the SDS Office prior to the beginning of each semester.

Testing Center

www.southwest.tn.edu/testing/
Please call (901) 333-4170 for all Testing inquiries.

The mission of the Testing Center is to provide high quality academic testing services that observe nationally recognized professional testing in order to meet the growing needs of our students, faculty, administration and community. For a complete listing of all exams administered by Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Testing Center, please visit http://www.southwest.tn.edu/testing/tests.htm. A valid picture ID is required for admittance into all exams. All test dates, times and fees are subject to change without prior notice. Test fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable to future test dates. Special accomodations are made through Courtney Gipson, Director of Student Disability Services (Union Office 901-333-5523 and Macon Office 901-333-4223) for individuals with documented disabilities.

Transfer Office

www.southwest.tn.edu/advising
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4594

Each year hundreds of students transfer from Southwest to four-year schools all over the country. Students who are thinking about transferring after graduation from Southwest should visit the Advising Office to make sure classes will transfer and to learn about guaranteed admissions agreements with four-year colleges and universities.

The Advising Office provides the following services:

• Professional Academic advising to new students who plan to transfer to a college or university upon completion of a degree at Southwest
• Assistance with researching transfer options and articulation agreements
• Hosts the Annual College Transfer Days that bring representatives from regional Colleges and Universities to campus to visit with Southwest students who are interested in transfer
• Hosts monthly visits from representatives of local colleges and universities
• Initiates paperwork for Partnership Enrollment Agreements (PEP) for Southwest students wishing to participate in a special guaranteed transfer admission agreement with a participating college or university

Transfer Credit

For more information, refer to the College catalog: www.southwest.tn.edu/catalog/.

Partnership Enrollment Agreements (PEP)

PEP agreements provide Southwest students with the opportunity for guaranteed admission to a four-year college or university. Participants in these co-admissions programs are guaranteed admission upon graduation from Southwest with an associate degree.

While each agreement may vary, students generally receive:

• coordinated academic advising from the Southwest Transfer Office and the participating four-year college
• waiver of college and university admission fees

Please contact the Transfer Office for a current list of participants and to begin the process.

ACT - Residual

The ACT Residual exam is required for applicants who are under age 21 for admission to Southwest. Students who were unable to take the ACT in high school or the National Test can register for this exam. Scores from this test cannot be transferred to other institutions. The ACT sub-scores will be used to determine college-level placement or appropriate developmental studies courses.

ACCUPLACER

High School Equivalency Exams

The GED an HiSET (High School Equivalency Exam(s)) are designed for individuals who have not earned a high school diploma and are officially withdrawn from high school.  Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and must have completed the Official Practice Test (OPT).  Local agencies that administer the Official Practice Test include HopeWorks and Collierville Literacy Center. 

Graduate Exit Exam 

Educational Testing Service (ETS) Proficiency Profile

All Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.) and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree graduating students are required to take this test. The ETS^® Proficiency Profile test is 40 minutes in length and given onsite as a paper-and-pencil test. A valid photo identification is required to take the test. Please bring a copy of your graduation application to the Testing Center to schedule the ETS^® Proficiency Profile test.

Major Field Examination

All Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree graduating students are required to take an examination in their major field of study. This is a state mandated graduation requirement. The exam is 2 hours in length. Please bring a copy of your graduation application to the Testing Center to schedule the Major Field Examination.

TN eCampus Program 

Students enrolled in TN eCampus courses at TBR institutions may be required to complete proctored midterm and final exams.  Email notifications will be sent to all Southwest Tennessee Community College students detailing the exam periods and deadlines for scheduling appointments.  Please check your Southwest email regularly for these updates as well as important notifications from various areas within the College.  Each semester all available TN eCampus testing dates and times are listed at  http://www.southwest.tn.edu/testing/TN-eCampus.htm.  Please contact the Testing Center at (901)333-4170 to schedule appointments. 

Limited Enrollment Programs 

Students seeking admissions to certain limited enrollment programs such as Nursing and the Allied Health Sciences, additional testing may be required.  Exam registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable to future test dates.

Emergency Medical Technology-Paramedic Program

 Pre-Paramedic/MMPI Examination

 Please visit http://www.southwest.tn.edu/testing/tests.htm for Pre-Paramedic/MMPI examination dates.

Nursing Program

National League for Nursing Pre-Admissions Exam (NLN)

Please visit http://www.southwest.tn.edu/testing/tests.htm for NLN examination dates.

Pharmacy Technician Program

Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE)

Please visit http://www.southwest.tn.edu/testing/tests.htm for TABE examination dates.

Radiologic Technology Program

Health Occupations Aptitude Examination (HOAE)

Please visit hhttp://www.southwest.tn.edu/testing/tests.htm for HOAE examination dates.

The following are national assessment and/or certification tests administered at Southwest.

ACT - Residual and National
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS)

Veterans Affairs

http://www.southwest.tn.edu/veterans/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4594
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5122

Veterans Affairs (VA) provides counseling and outreach services to assist veterans in becoming acclimated to college life while obtaining veterans education benefits and/or other available resources. This office, the link between the College and the Department of Veterans Affairs, assists eligible veterans, dependents, reservists/guardsmen and disabled veterans (military service-connected disabilities) with applying for educational funding, and offers guidance on VA regulations.

Please contact the Office of Veterans Affairs immediately after registering for classes to complete an enrollment certification form.  You are required to submit a Southwest Veterans Request for Certification form each semester to ensure receipt of benefits.  For your convenience, the Office of Veterans Affairs is located at the following locations:  Macon Cove Campus, Farris Building, Room 2140, (901) 333-4594 and the Union Avenue Campus, M-Building, Room 110, (901) 333-5122.

Title 38 United States Code Section 3679(e) School Compliance Form

Part 1

As part of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, section 3679 of title 38, United States Code was amended, and educational institution will be required to sign this compliance form to confirm your compliance with the requirements as outlined.

  Effective August 1, 2019, the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State approving agency, shall disapprove a course of education provided by  an educational institution that has in effect a policy that is inconsistent with the areas below:

  NOTE: A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

• Your policy must permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website - eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
  • the date on which payment from VA is made to the institution
  • 90 days after the date the instiution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility

• Your policy must ensure that your educational institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Part 2

In addition, statute allows your policy to require the covered individual to take the following additional actions:

1. Submit a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance no later than the first day of a course of education.
2. Submit a written request to use such entitlement.
3. Provide additional information necessary to the proper certification of enrollment by the educational institution.
4. Your policy may also require additional payment or impose a fee for the amount that is the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.