Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1540 - Higher Education Commission
Chapter 1540-01-02 - Authorization and Regulation Of Regularly Authorized Postsecondary Educational Institutions
Section 1540-01-02-.12 - ADMISSIONS STANDARDS

Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 1540-01-02-.12

Current through September 24, 2024

(1) The admissions policy for students must be based on the institution's objectives and must be publicly stated and administered as written.

(2) An institution should not enroll a student in a program leading to licensure when the institution knows or, by the exercise of reasonable care, should know the student is or will be ineligible to obtain licensure in the occupation for which the student is being trained. For example, an institution should not admit a student if the institution knows the student has a prior legal conviction that will prevent the student from obtaining licensure. If a student who is ineligible or likely to be ineligible for licensure desires to enroll in such a program, regardless of license eligibility, the institution may admit the student after the student submits a signed, written statement acknowledging the student is or is likely to be ineligible for licensure. The institution shall provide the student a copy of the statement and maintain the original in the student's file.

(3) Basis of admission shall be at a minimum:

(a) Students enrolling in a certificate or diploma program must possess a high school diploma, a high school diploma equivalency, a current Tennessee license in the field for which the training is intended, postsecondary credit in a degree program, or, subject to subparagraph (3)(d) of this rule, a passing score on an ATB test.

(b) Students enrolling in an associate or bachelor's degree program must possess, at a minimum, a high school diploma, a high school diploma equivalency, or postsecondary credit in a degree program.

(c) Students enrolling in a post-baccalaureate program must possess, at a minimum, a baccalaureate degree from an institution judged to be appropriate by the Commission.

(d) A student may be admitted as an ATB student if the student has terminated secondary enrollment and is beyond the age of compulsory attendance. An institution may use a standardized test formerly or currently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an ATB approved by Commission staff prior to January 1, 2023. The institution shall request approval from Commission staff before using the test and shall state the minimally acceptable scores and the maximum number of attempts allowable in a given period of time, for example, three (3) times in a six (6) month period. The following applies to all ability-to-benefit tests:
1. Tests shall be administered in a secure environment, for example, monitors present.

2. Tests shall not be administered in a manner that is inconsistent with the recommendations of the standardized test developers.

3. An agent is not allowed to administer the test, nor is anyone allowed to assist the applicant in answering the questions.

(4) Proof of the basis of admission shall be maintained in the student file in accordance with Rule .15 of these rules.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-7-2005 and 49-7-2008.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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