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

In the Academic Support Center, our primary goal is the success of our students, and we commit to providing tutoring, academic coaching, mentoring, and supplemental instruction to currently enrolled Southwest students.  Academic support may be given in a limited, in-person format or online, especially as the needs of our students can be met both in face-to-face and distant formats.  Our academic support services remain an important part of student success, even as we have a heavier online presence.  Through either one-on-one in person or online Microsoft Teams meetings with students, the ASC engages students holistically to continue its mission to help students in their progress towards a successful course, program, and degree completion.

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 Advising and Academic Support Department is committed to fostering learning and success, while embracing diversity, through active student engagement and support services.  The department employs the Professional Academic Advising model which consists of Professional Academic Advisors, Career Services, and Faculty mentors.  This triangular model supports the student through matriculation to graduation with a circle of care, guidance, mentoring, and self-direction.

For Advising, there are a few different options available:

• Skype, Zoom (30 minute free version) and TEAMS
• In-person
• Phone
• Email - Students can email or text their Professional Academic Advisor; contact information is located on their dashboard.

NOTE:  All of these options require time for advisors to respond and may cause a delay in response.  Please plan ahead and check out the advising options available. 

• 2-Way Testing with your Professional Academic Advisor. Your Professional Academic Advisor, is just a text away. 
• Download the Southwest App and click on the Saluqi Success Pathway to access 2-way testing. 
• You will receive a timely reply. http://www.southwest.tn.edu/advising/online-advising.htm 

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, http://www.southwest.tn.edu/advising/online-advising.htm, 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 transfer institution; some institutions have special requirements regarding course selection and admission
• review Equivalency Tables and/or Articulation Agreements at http://www.southwest.tn.edu/advising/transfer-equivalencies.htm
• complete all appropriate courses at Southwest Tennessee 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, should follow the Transfer Guidelines.  This 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-Friday
Twitter: @SouthwestCareer

Schedule an appointment with Career Services

Visit https://swtn.navigate.eab.com and select “Career Services” as the care unit and follow prompts to choose your preferred day and time.

Knowing that the #1 reason students attend college is to prepae for or further their career, we offer the following career development services on campus and online:

Career Choice, Assessment, and Planning Services

• Use the career guide, career-dev-guide.pdf (tn.edu) featuring “10 Steps to Career Development Success” as your roadmap throughout your educational journey
• Take a career assessment to identify career pathways best-matched to your interests and values
• Meet with Career Services to review your assessment results and talk about your career plans
• Use tools like Career Coach and Handshake to explore different careers and learn about daily duties, potential employers,required education, salary, outlook and more
• Build an e-Portfolio to record and showcase your academic, extra-curricular, and work experiences; it’s also a great place to keep your career assessment results, ideas, and future goals.

Job Readiness Services

• Use Optimal Resume™ a free resume-building software to create your resume
• Schedule an appointment with Career Services to have your resume reviewed before you send it to employers
• Learn interview tips and schedule a “mock” interview with Career Services to practice your skills
• View internship, part-time, and full-time job listings in Handshake, the new career management tool
• Network with employers at Career Fairs and discover a variety of job opportunities in different industries
• Gain work experience related to your future career by completing an internship

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 and diverse backgrounds. Campus Child Care is a fun place where emphasis is placed on learning through play, where best practices and developmentally approprate practices are implemented.  Campus child care is in a partnership with Shelby County School’s Pre-K (four-years-old) and Porter Leath Agency (6 weeks to 3 years) to help meet the needs of student parents enrolled in Southwest.

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 meet the information needs of our students and faculty by: developing relevant collections to support the curricula; providing equal access to the resources and the space to use and share information; and promoting academic success and lifelong learning through information literacy.

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

studentsuccess@southwest.tn.edu
(901) 333-4790
 

The mission of Retention and Student Success is to offer innovative, student-centered support systems in Advising, Academic Support, Career Services, Counseling and Social Services, Center for Access, Student Development, and Testing Services and innovative grant programs 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)
  • Student access to Navigate Platform for Advising and Registration
  • 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, internships program, and job readiness)
• Counseling & Social Services (mental health and social support, emergency funding)
• Center for Access 
  • Accommodations, 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 workshops
  • Center for Access Testing Accommodations
• Retention Specialists for special populations: Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect
• Title III Peer Mentoring and Success Coaching
• Student Success Workshops and Co-curricular Programming

In addition to providing leadership for all of the above student support units on campus, the Associate 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 studentsuccess@southwest.tn.edu, and for Tennessee Reconnect questions, please contact Mr. Macklin Gipson at (901) 333-4790.

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 or email studentsuccess@southwest.tn.edu.

Student Success Workshop

Ready to reach your goals?  Student success workshops give you an extra boost to help you with your academic success.  We have a variety of workshops available to students such as the Communication at Southwest workshop, Put your Best Pen Forward Writing workshop, and Time Management workshop.  If you are interested in any of our workshops, please complete a Workshop Appointment Application.  Once you fill out your application, one of our program specialists will contact you to set up an appointment.  Contact Retention & Student Program Specialists at studentsuccess@southwest.tn.edu to learn more.

Title III “Inclusive Design for Equity in Academic Success” (IDEAS)

Our IDEAS program is an opportunity for “Student Success Reimagined” for Southwest students.  IDEAS will enable Southwest to build on its Achieving the Dream work to transform the student experience.  As an ATD college, a critical part of our IDEAS work is approaching student success holistically through wrap-around support services and equity and inclusion in teaching and learning – from enrollment to completion.  Thus, Southwest is dedicated to transformative equity work to foster success inside and outside the classroom.  IDEAS offers proactive advising supplemental instruction, peer mentoring and equity and inclusion training for the entire campus.  Contact IDEAS Project Activities Director, Alma Rutledge at anhernandez@southwest.tn.edu for more information.

Resources and Scholarships

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.southwest.tn.edu/scholarships/foundation/scholarships.htm or Student Success page at http://southwest.tn.edu/scholarships.

Center for Access (CA)

In fall 2020, the Student Disability Services (SDS) office was officially changed to the Center for Access (CA).  This is not only a name change, but a shift in how we serve students; this is intentional, research-based, and targeted to improve students with disabilities’ academic experience and preparedness for life after college.

The rebranding of the Office of Student Disability Services for more inclusion and equity is needed as the student population grows.  Student Disability Services is a space for students with disabilities to receive accommodations, learn self-advocacy skills, and become equipped with the tools they need to access all that Southwest has to offer. Rebranding to the Center for Access reflects a broader platform and better represents the statement of what disability services are for the classroom and workforce environment.  The Center for Access is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to all registered students with disabilities to ensure their full participation in all activities, promoting self-advocacy, and is committed to their academic success.  With this rebranding, the office is focused on increasing staff, improving data collection through technological advancement, continuing the work of the Peer-to-Peer Advocacy Program to promote inclusion and advocacy, and adding peer mentors and a summer autism program through the Access to Pathways project.

During summer 2021, we have developed an online platform summer weekend camp for students transitioning from high school to college with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We are in the implementation process of Accessibility Information Management System (AIM).  We have by appontment only through Miscrosoft Teams and Hybrid modality.  We will continue to advocate and promote the student organization, Leadership, Excellence, Advocacy for Disabilities (LEAD), which is seeking a strong executve board to host virtual mixers and self-advocacy trainings.  Although being online has been difficult, we have worked hard to continue to meet the needs of all our students in making sure their learning environment is accessible and accommodating.

You can contact Amanda Prewitt, program Coordinator or Courtney Gipson, Director at (901) 333-4223/(901) 333-5523 or visit our website, https://www.southwest.tn.edu/center-for-access/.

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-transferable to future test dates. Special accommodations are made through Courtney Gipson, Director of Center for Access (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 used to determine course placement.  Students who were unable to take the ACT in high school or the National Test can register for this exam or the ACCUPLACER exam.  Scores from this test cannot be transferred to other institutions. The ACT sub-scores are used to determine college-level placement or appropriate developmental studies courses.

ACCUPLACER

High School Equivalency Exams

The HiSET (High School Equivalency Exam) is designed for individuals who have not earned a high school diploma and are officially withdrawn from high school.  For more information on requirements, scheduling, and fees, visit http://hiset.ets.org/test-takers.    

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 taken online.  

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, with the exception of Allied Health Sciences majors.  This is a state mandated graduation requirement. The exam is 2 hours in length and taken online via PAWS. 

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-transferable to future test 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 http://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.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

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 institution 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.