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Admissions Requirement Policy

TBR Policy Reference: 02:03:00:00, 02:03:00:02

Approved by: Dr. George Pimentel

Original Date Effective: 2021-05-17

Introduction

Jackson State Community College is committed to serve the post-secondary educational needs of the community. The College develops specific admissions policies consistent with the TBR policy. The College provides opportunities for collegiate education to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability. In order to be admitted as a credit student, individuals must meet the requirements of admission to the category for which they are applying.

Degree Admission

Applicants seeking admission to Jackson State to enroll in credit courses for a degree must comply with the following requirements:

  • Submit a completed application for admission.
  • Provide official academic transcripts and test scores as applicable.

Admission of First-time Freshmen

Graduation from high school

Except as provided for below in the section on high school equivalency diploma, applicants for degree admission as first-time freshmen must provide an official transcript showing graduation from high school.  The high school transcript must be a “regular” or “honors” diploma. A special education diploma or certificate does not meet this requirement. The transcript of a graduate of a Tennessee public high school must include a notation that the student passed the required proficiency examination.

High School equivalency diploma

Applicants for degree admission as first-time freshmen may present a high school equivalency diploma in lieu of a high school diploma provided that their composite scores meet the College’s requirements.

Standardized examination scores

Applicants for admissions as first-time freshmen must submit valid ACT or SAT scores or be placed into the appropriate co-requisite learning support courses with the option to take the Accuplacer challenge test.  Valid ACT or SAT scores are those earned within five years prior to the first day of class for the first term of enrollment.

Admission of Transfer Students

Any degree-seeking applicant who has attended another college or university shall be considered a transfer student. Transfer students who earned credits but not a degree at another college and are eligible for readmission to the last institution attended are eligible for admission to Jackson State. Those who do not meet the readmission standards of the last institution attended may be admitted on academic probation or other established condition.

Transfer students must meet the criteria outlined above for degree admission and must submit to Admissions and Records official transcripts from each school previously attended.

Readmission to Jackson State

A student who has not attended Jackson State continuously (not counting summer term) must complete a new admissions application. If the student has attended any other college(s) since leaving Jackson State, he or she must submit complete official transcript(s) from the college(s) attended in addition to the admissions application. Failure to provide official college transcripts and report all institutions attended will result in delay of financial aid processing.

Placement Testing

For placement in college level courses, applicants must meet one of these criteria:

  • Applicants who do not present valid ACT, SAT, or other approved valid assessment scores, that demonstrate college readiness based upon established cut scores, or other documentation to the contrary, will be placed into the appropriate co-requisite learning support course(s) or interventions for reading, writing, and/or mathematics as defined by the academic program requirements.
  • Transfer students whose previous academic records from a college or university indicate college-level English, Mathematics and Reading proficiency will be considered for regular admission. Students whose records do not include transfer credit in English, Mathematics or reading intense courses will be placed in correlating corequisite learning support and college-level courses with an opportunity to take the Accuplacer to challenge that placement.

International High School/College Transcripts

Students who have attended an international high school, college or university must provide all transcripts and other credentials written in English or accompanied by an English translation and certified as official copies.  If transfer credit is requested, the academic transcripts must be evaluated by an educational credential service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Transfer credit awarded will take into consideration the credit recommendations provided by the educational credential service.

Non-Degree Admission

General requirements for all non-degree applicants

A non-degree-seeking student is one who is not working toward a degree. To be admitted as an undergraduate non-degree-seeking student, a person must hold a regular high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma. Exceptions may be made as listed in the high school section below. Non-degree-seeking students must (1) meet entry-level standards for each course in which they enroll, (2) be able to complete assignments, and (3) be able to read and write at the required level.

Non-degree students who wish to take college-level English or math courses or to take another college-level course that is the second course in a two-course sequence (e.g., Accounting I and II) must (1) provide evidence that they have successfully completed all college-level prerequisites or (2) provide evidence of other equivalent experiences before enrolling. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

High School Students

Dual enrollment of high school students

Dual enrollment is the enrollment of a high school student in one or more college courses for which the student is eligible to earn both high school and college credits. The Dual Enrollment program is a cooperative effort between Jackson State and high schools in our designated service area counties and qualified home school students. Qualified high school students may accelerate their college education through dual enrollment courses; all requirements of both the high school and Jackson State must be met by students participating in the program. 

Dual enrollment students are classified as non-degree seeking students who must meet entry-level standards for each course in which they enroll.

General Requirements

Residency Classification

Upon a student’s admission to the College, Admissions and Records classifies each student as resident or nonresident.

In order to comply with the Tennessee Eligibility Verification of Entitlements Act, Jackson State must verify the citizenship or lawful presence of students who apply for admission and are assigned a residency category that is eligible for state benefits. State benefits include in-state tuition, lottery scholarship, academic scholarship, or any other form of tuition assistance or waiver funded with state-appropriated funds.

If the initial assessment of records indicates nonresident status, an application for in-state residency is available on the Admissions and Records website.  Proof of relevant facts regarding residency must be included with the application. 

Admission of International Applicants

International applicants who plan to study in the United States on an F-1 student visa must:

  • Submit all required admission documentation by the deadline published on the Admissions webpage for International Students. Exceptions to the deadline may be granted by a Jackson State Student and Exchange Visitor Program Designated School Official.
  • Provide proof of language proficiency:
    • A minimum score on the paper, computer or internet based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or
    • A minimum score on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or
    • A passing score on the Michigan test or
    • A transcript showing graduation from an American high school or
    • A transcript from another U.S. institution showing a C grade in college English composition
  • Provide all transcripts, test scores, and other credentials written in English or accompanied by an English translation and certified as official copies. Students who have attended international colleges or universities and request to be awarded transfer credit must have their academic transcripts evaluated by an educational credential service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Copies of the credit recommendations from the educational credential service must be provided, in addition to copies of English translated transcripts from colleges/universities attended. Transfer credit awarded will take into consideration the credit recommendations provided by the educational credential service.
  • Provide evidence of sufficient financial resources to pay for the cost of one full year of school attendance and 12 months of living expenses in U.S. currency. The financial verification documentation must be current within six months, and must be issued by a financial institution.
  • Provide documentation substantiating official status with the United States Customs and Immigration Service.
  • Provide a copy of their passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months from the first day of classes.
  • Submit within 30 days from the first day of classes a certificate from a licensed physician or other qualified medical authority verifying freedom from tuberculosis. Failure to submit such certification shall result in denial of admission or of continued enrollment. In the event that a student has tuberculosis or has potential tuberculosis requiring medical treatment, continued enrollment will be conditional upon the determination by a licensed physician that further enrollment is not a risk to others and upon the student’s compliance with any prescribed medical treatment.
  • As a condition of admission and continued enrollment, students must provide proof of enrollment in an approved health insurance policy by the first day of classes.

Current test score and financial requirements can be found on the Admissions webpage for international students.