Academic Support/Tutoring
www.southwest.tn.edu/asc/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4107
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5054
The Academic Support Center (ASC) provides services and resources for students to assist them to successfully reach their academic and career goals. These include tutoring, open computer labs, and auxiliary course materials (video tapes, DVDs, textbooks, etc.). Computer labs in the ASC provide self-guided software for practice in a variety of academic disciplines, word processing and office management software, and access to the Internet. DVD/VHS monitors are available at each location for media viewing. Study areas with Wi-Fi networking are available in the ASC at each campus. Many students use the ASC as a place to study individually or in groups.
Full services are provided at the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses where there are also some assistive aids and software for persons with disabilities. Tutoring services are offered at the Gill, Maxine A. Smith, and Whitehaven centers.
Services and hours may vary by location and are posted at the ASC website.
Advising and Counseling
www.southwest.tn.edu/counseling/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4594
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5122
The success of all students depends to a large extent upon their involvement in learning and academic processes. One vital process of the educational experience is academic advising. The Advising and Counseling Centers at Southwest assist with the full realization of the student’s academic aspirations. To that end, professional advisors, along with assigned faculty advisors, provide students with a high caliber of advising essential for their academic success. Prior to enrolling at Southwest, new student advisors help students determine their major and assist with the registration process. After the first semester, students who have selected a specific academic program are assigned to a faculty member in that program. Students who have an undecided major are assigned to the Advising Department. We encourage those students to take the Kuder, (career assessment), provide them with career counseling based on the Kuder results, and then advise the student to login my.southwest.tn.edu
Career Services
www.southwest.tn.edu/career-services/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4180
Union Avenue Campus (limited hours; call Macon Cove office for schedule)
The Career Services Department provides comprehensive career-related services to students, graduates, and alumni, in addition to overseeing the College’s Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program.
Career-related services include:
Job Postings
Check out full- and part-time job listings from Mid-South employers interested in hiring Southwest students and alumni online. To apply for a position on the list, just follow the employer instructions at the end of each job posting.
Career Fairs
Meet face-to-face with area employers to learn about job openings and what they look for in new hires. Dress professionally and bring several copies of your resume to make the best first impression. Career Fairs are held on the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses each spring and fall.
Job-Readiness Presentations
Listen to experts present on a variety of career-related topics, such as how to prepare for an interview, where to look for jobs and how to create a resume. For a current list of topics being presented, visit the Career Services website.
Resume Assistance with OptimalResume™
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.
Kuder® Career Planning System - Journey
Whether you are trying to decide on a major, unclear about career options or want to make a career change, the Kuder® Journey is an excellent place to start. This career guidance tool will help you explore and learn about all types of options. Begin your Journey by taking the Kuder® Assessments to learn more about yourself. The free assessments are offered through the Career Services or Advising and Counseling offices.
Mock Interview, Job Search Strategies and Career Counseling
Need help preparing for an interview, targeting your job search or just sorting things out? Contact Career Services at (901) 333-4180 to schedule an appointment to discuss your career plans.
Programs students can participate in:
Cooperative Education Program (Co-op)
The Co-op Program allows students to gain “real world” work experience with area employers, while earning academic credit at Southwest. In order to qualify, students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, have completed 12 college-level credit hours and be employed in a position related to their major prior to enrolling in a Co-op course. Students already working in a position related to their major should obtain a brief job description signed by their supervisor and bring it to Career Services, prior to enrollment. Students seeking employment related to their major should visit Career Services for job search assistance at least one semester prior to enrolling in Co-op. Once enrolled, students will complete a total of 225 work hours during the semester and earn a grade-based 80 percent on their job performance and 20 percent on a student synthesis paper. To learn more about the Co-op Program and gain approval for participation, students should contact Career Services.
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/Weekend College Program
www.southwest.tn.edu/evening/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4243
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5528
This office provides services to adjunct faculty and students of the college. Staff members will provide information and assistance as to where requested services may be obtained by the faculty member or the student.
These services are normally available after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, but service hours may also be adjusted to meet the needs of the college.
LEAP
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5523
The Learning Early Academic Program (LEAP) is intended for students whose assessment scores indicate a need for remediation in reading, writing and/or mathematics prior to enrollment in Learning Support. Students are given a diagnostic assessment to determine an individualized mastery study plan. Each student, based on a diagnostic assessment, will master skills needed to enroll in Learning Support. Emphasis is placed on the following: basic grammar, usage, punctuation and other mechanics with an emphasis on paragraph writing, vocabulary skills with an emphasis on reading for comprehension and mathematical topics of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, introduction to Algebra and Real Number system, ration proportion and measurement. Computer laboratory setting.
Library
www.southwest.tn.edu/library/
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)
- Parrish Library (Union Avenue Campus)
- Gill Center Library
- Maxine A. Smith Center Library
- Whitehaven Center Library
The InfoNet Library provides the following services:
- A significant print collection designed to meet faculty and student curriculum needs
- Electronic resources, consisting of databases (http://www.southwest.tn.edu/library/ebases.htm) and online books (http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/) (http://www.netlibrary.com/) which are accessible remotely
- Subscriptions to 545 periodical and journal titles; online access is available for selected titles.
- Ask the Librarian allows you to ask questions via email.
- Media resources, including videocassettes and DVDs (popular movies and instructional tapes), and sound recordings (music and books)
- Online catalog (CyberCAT) with capabilities of renewing and requesting materials 24 hours a day
- Computer access, copier and TV/VCR/DVD combos for viewing instructional materials
- Library instruction sessions are provided upon request to orient users on library services, and staff provides individualized and point-of-use instruction daily.
- Online Orientation (https://deit.southwest.tn.edu/orientation/) is provided for distance learners.
- Interlibrary loan services are available to secure items not owned by the InfoNet Library.
- Borrowing agreements are maintained with Christian Brothers University, Victory University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis Theological Seminary, Mid-America Theological Seminary and the University of Memphis.
- Annual cultural activities are provided to enrich the college experience.
Student Disability Services (SDS)
www.southwest.tn.edu/dss/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4223
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5116
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/test.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-refunable and non-transferrable to future test dates. Special accomodations are made through Sherri Scott, Coordinator of Student Disability Services (Union Office 901-333-5116 and Macon Office 901-333-4223) for individuals with documented disabilities.
Transfer Office
www.southwest.tn.edu/counseling
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 Transfer Office to make sure classes will transfer and to learn about guaranteed admissions agreements with four-year colleges and universities.
The Transfer Office is designed to help you plan continued education after graduation from Southwest. The Transfer Office provides a variety of services designed to make transfer from the community college as easy and efficient as possible.
The Transfer Office assists you in determining:
- Transferability of courses
- College options in and out of Tennessee
- General education and lower division course preparation focused on your major and four-year school of choice
The Transfer Office provides the following services:
- 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
Partnership Enrollment Agreements (PEP)
PEP agreements provide Southwest students with the opportunity to guarantee 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.
COMPASS
The COMPASS exam is a computer-adaptive college placement test that lets educators:
- Evaluate incoming students’ skill levels in Reading, Writing Skills, Writing Essay, Math and English as a Second Language
- Place students in appropriate courses
- Connect students to the resources they need to achieve academic success
General Education Development (GED)
The GED test is designed for individuals who have not earned a high school diploma or high school equivalency 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 Messick Adult Center and Collierville Literacy Center. Students transferring from other states wishing to complete their GED in Tennessee must have an official GED transcript submitted directly to Southwest Tennessee Community College Testing Center.
Graduate Exit Exam
All Candidates for graduation who are completing an Associate Degree must take a general education exam (ETS). Prospective graduates are required to take this exam as a requirement for degree conferment. Certain areas of study may also require graduates to take an additional departmental exam (Major Field Exam).
Regents Online Degree Program (RODP)
Students enrolled in RODP 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.
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
Nursing Program
National League for Nursing Pre-Admissions Exam (NLN)
Pharmacy Technician Program
Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
Radiologic Technology Program
Health Occupations Aptitude Examination (HOAE)
The following are national assessment and/or certification tests administered at Southwest.
ACT – Residual and National
Certified Professional Secretary Exam (CPS)
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS)
Veterans Affairs
www.southwest.tn.edu/veterans/
Macon Cove Campus (901) 333-4185
Union Avenue Campus (901) 333-5115
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.
Southwest Tennessee Community College is approved for the training of veterans and their eligible dependents. VA does not certify payment for non-degree seeking students unless in a transient status. Transient students must provide an authorization letter from the VA official at their primary institution. In addition, all previously earned credits, as appropriate, must be applied to the enrolled program. Only course(s) included in the requirements for the degree program being pursued will be certified for educational benefits. Developmental courses may be certified if indicated as necessary by the results of the COMPASS. These courses may not be taken online.
Service members, veterans and dependents of veterans who are eligible for VA benefits or other governmentally funded educational assistance may submit an application to defer payment of tuition and fees until the final day of the requested semester. |