The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) awards transfer credits based on defined and published policies for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credits from another academic institution and/or based on established practices for recognizing relevant prior life experiences.

In accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR 690.80(b)(2)(ii) relating to the need for institutions to verify the attendance of all students receiving federal financial aid, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) requires that each of its colleges has a formal process for verifying class attendance by all students registered in each of their courses.

At UTHSC, each college must establish a formal review process for determining the appropriate number of credit hours for each of its course offerings, aligning their processes with federal guidelines to assure that assigned value can be roughly equated to the amount of student work required to achieve an intended learning outcome.

UTHSC is committed to providing a quality educational experience for all students regardless of
geographic location or mode of delivery. Students enrolled in distance education programs or
participating in instruction at an off-campus instructional site have access to the range of
support services and resources necessary to successfully complete their education. Likewise,
necessary and sufficient practices are followed to assure the privacy of all students regardless of
geographic location or mode of delivery.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) awards two types of certificates: 1)
post-baccalaureate certificates requiring completion of formal coursework in a defined program
of study that involves a minimum of 9 semester credit hours; 2) certificates acknowledging
completion of approved post-graduate training programs such as fellowships, residencies, and
postdoctoral research programs. Issuance of certificates requires sponsorship by an academic
department or unit at UTHSC and approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic, Faculty and
Student Affairs.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) recognizes the importance of lifelong learning, for its own community (faculty, students and staff), for its graduates and for members of the public at large. Moreover, as an institution that is committed to the education of a wide range of health care professionals, UTHSC also acknowledges a role in providing continuing education activities that will facilitate lifelong learning.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) relies on the colleges and academic
programs to determine the appropriate nomenclature for courses. The program faculty are best
positioned to identify course numbers based on the level of the student and the academic
curriculum. Changes in the course numbering system for an individual program are the
responsibility of the faculty in consultation with the Registrar.

The UTHSC provides students with opportunities to demonstrate college and university-level
learning gained in non-credit or experiential settings. The institution has established practices
for evaluating and granting academic credit for such learning.

Proposals for curricular change to existing academic programs or courses, or creation of new
academic programs to be offered at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC),
must be reviewed and approved by the relevant college committees and the Chief Academic
Officer (CAO) or designee prior to submission to UT System and THEC.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) may require students, whose native language is not English, to present the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) when they apply for admission.

All baccalaureate degrees conferred by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
(UTHSC) require a minimum of 120 credit hours of which a minimum of 25% (30 credit hours)
must meet general education requirements per standards set forth by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Tennessee Higher Education
Commission (THEC), and the University of Tennessee.

Grades include the score(s) assigned in evaluating the proficiency, value, and quality of a student’s
experiential, clinical, and academic course performance. It is solely within the purview of the
faculty to assign and determine student grades for a course.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) encourages intellectual exchange among its faculty, staff, students and foreign scholars. Highly qualified foreign nationals will be considered for admission to degree programs and foreign scholars may be invited to participate in appropriate educational and research programs at UTHSC. All activities addressed in this policy are coordinated by the Director of International Affairs.

All programs offered at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) are reviewed every five to seven years (in accordance with TN Higher Education Commission requirements). Such a review must include both an internal self-evaluation (focused on components outlined below) and an external peer review conducted by external consultants or trained auditors. Programs that are accredited by profession-specific accrediting agencies may use the required accreditation cycle and review procedures to satisfy this program review requirement.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) utilizes a centralized process to manage and schedule instructional classroom and laboratory space for the academic programs of the six colleges. A centralized system is also used to schedule the three main computer testing laboratories. Scheduling of space is also coordinated for ad hoc and special event activities that take place on the campus.