College is more than just going to class and submitting your assignments. Even if college was limited to coursework, having the ability to make it through those assignments successfully is paramount to achieving one’s academic goal. In addition to academic support, we recognize the importance of supporting individuals holistically to include social, emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing. Students are encouraged to seek out any and all supports that are most appropriate to help them achieve personal and education goals at Pellissippi State.
Academic Tutoring Center
The Academic Tutoring Center provides educational assistance for Pellissippi State students at all campuses and online. Free walk-in services include face-to-face tutoring with qualified instructors and tutors; tutoring for writing assignments via email using writing@pstcc.edu; virtual tutoring via Microsoft Teams using tutor@pstcc.edu; peer tutoring; supplemental instruction study sessions and access to computers. A schedule of tutoring times and offerings is posted at each campus and on the Academic Tutoring Center website. For more information about the Academic Tutoring Center services, visit our website or call 865-539-7079.
Academic Testing Center
The Academic Testing Center has a location at each campus. The Center’s policies and hours of operation are posted on the Academic Testing Center website. Students must have a valid College or official photo ID to test in the Academic Testing Center. No cell phones or other electronic devices are permitted. Students must store backpacks and other personal items before entering. Call 865-694-6454 for testing information. An Academic Testing Center is located at each campus:
- Blount County Campus, Room BL197
- Hardin Valley Campus, Room ER122
- Magnolia Avenue Campus, Room MA148
- Strawberry Plains Campus, Room ST2700
Academic Testing Center services include
- Makeup testing and standardized testing,
- High school equivalency (HISET) testing,
- CLEP, DSST and credit by exam,
- Nursing entrance exam,
- TN eCampus testing,
- Correspondence testing,
- Microsoft Certification exams.
Campus Security Report
The annual Campus Security Report is available on the Pellissippi State Police website. The report contains security policies, procedures and guidelines. Crime statistics for the past year and the previous two years are included in the report. These statistics are based on incidents reported at all campuses. These reports may also be obtained from Pellissippi State Police, Room 108, Alexander Building, on the Hardin Valley Campus, or the front office of the Blount County, Magnolia Avenue or Strawberry Plains campuses.
Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act
The Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and the Tennessee College and University Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2002 require that whenever a sex offender becomes employed, enrolls as a student or volunteers at an institution of higher education in the state of Tennessee, the student must complete or update the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) sexual offender registration/monitoring form and deliver it to TBI headquarters in Nashville. As defined in section 40-39-102 of the Tennessee Code, a “sexual offender” is a person who is, or has been, convicted in this state of committing a sexual offense or who is, or has been, convicted in another state or country, or who is, or has been, convicted in federal or military court, of committing an act which would have constituted a sexual offense if it had been committed in this state. A “sexual offense” is the commission of acts including, but not limited to, aggravated and statutory rape, sexual battery, sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated prostitution and kidnapping.
The Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and the Tennessee College and University Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2002 designate certain information concerning a registered sexual offender as public information and therefore amend and supersede the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other federal and state laws that previously prohibited the disclosure of such personal information. Since the laws require the publication of information pertaining to sexual offenders employed, enrolled or volunteering at an educational institution, said publication does not constitute grounds for a grievance or complaint under institutional or Tennessee Board of Regents policies or procedures.
In compliance with the Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and the Tennessee College and University Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2002, members of the campus community may obtain the most recent information received from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) concerning sex offenders employed, enrolled or volunteering at this institution. This information is available in the Pellissippi State Police Department in Room 108, Alexander Building, on the Hardin Valley Campus.
Information is available on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Sex Offender Registry.
Career Development
Career Development serves students by providing access to employment opportunities and preparing students to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution. Regularly updated job postings are available on the online job board (Handshake). Student placement data is maintained and made available to employers in the community upon request. The Career Development office provides the following services:
- Engagement with representatives of business and industry
- Resume writing assistance and review
- Interviewing skills assistance, including mock interviews
- Job referrals for Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and certificate students, graduates and alumni
- A.A.S. student placement data sent to companies
- Career exploration events (career fairs, skills workshops, etc.)
- Information about potential employers
- Posting of full- and part-time jobs and internships on the online job board
- Career services and preparation resources
- YouScience assessment
- Transfer student work-based learning coordination
Placement registration. Students must register with the Career Development office to receive maximum assistance in finding employment. Students in an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program should set up a placement appointment with Career Development no later than one semester before graduation. This meeting allows Career Development to assist the A.A.S. students in their career pursuits. The required forms for the placement file can be completed through Career Development. When a student accepts employment, whether secured through the Career Development office or through other means, the student should submit to Career Development the name, address and telephone number of the company; job title; reporting date and supervisor. State and federal education regulations require these statistics on graduates. This information is also used by Pellissippi State to aid in curriculum development and completing state reports. Reporting salary information is optional but helps the office maintain accurate statistics.
Job postings related to career programs may be shared with A.A.S. students, recent graduates and alumni before being posted on the job boards.
Interview policy. Students or graduates are expected to attend all scheduled interviews. Students or graduates who are late or who miss a scheduled interview appointment must meet with the director of Career Development before placement credentials will resume being sent to employers.
Career Services and Preparation. Career Development offers resources for career services and preparation for all students. Visit the Career Development website and the Handshake job board to access career development articles and resources, job opportunities, employer and business information.
Cooperative Education
Please see the Career Programs section for complete information.
Counseling Services
Personal, academic, and career counseling. Services include short-term personal counseling, academic skill-building, and career exploration. Counselors provide students the opportunity to explore concerns that may affect their academic progress and career goals. Counselors assist students with career exploration tasks such as deciding on a major, researching career options, or making a career change. Counselors use many resources to help students with career decision making and planning. These resources include interest and skill assessments, computerized career planning assistance, and individual career counseling. When necessary, counselors will make referrals to on- and off-campus resources. Counseling staff also provide information and guidance to students who wish to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
Counseling services are confidential and free to all enrolled students.
Students may schedule appointments for personal, academic, and career counseling by emailing Counseling Services at counseling@pstcc.edu, by using the Online Appointment Scheduling (OAS) link on the Counseling Services website, or by calling 865-694-6480 Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. when the college is open.
Disability Services
Pellissippi State provides services and academic accommodations for students with disabilities who self-identify as having a disability and provide appropriate documentation of the disability. The Disability Services office coordinates the services and academic accommodations for all students with disabilities. Academic accommodations are based on documentation of the disability and are determined on a case-by-case basis.
According to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and its 2008 amendments, a student with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment, has a history of impairment or is believed to have a disability that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities, such as learning, speaking, working, hearing, breathing, caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, seeing or walking.
Students with disabilities who meet the definition of disability and who voluntarily disclose the disability by providing appropriate documentation to Disability Services may request services. Personal services are not provided. Students who need support services or accommodations for entrance testing should contact this office prior to enrollment.
Persons who need assistance or information on services available to students with disabilities should contact Disability Services, Room 130, Alexander Building, on the Hardin Valley Campus, or call 865-694-6411.
Emergencies
In case of an emergency, contact the Pellissippi State Police:
- Blount County Campus—865-981-5300
- Hardin Valley Campus—865-694-6649 (staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Magnolia Avenue Campus—865-329-3100
- Strawberry Plains Campus—865-225-2300
For emergencies that may be life-threatening, call 911 and notify Pellissippi State Police.
Medical emergencies. In all cases when a person is on campus and found to be unconscious or incoherent, Pellissippi State Police will call 911 and request emergency medical care (an ambulance). If the person becomes conscious, he/she may refuse medical treatment when emergency medical care arrives.
Note: Pellissippi State is not responsible for the corresponding charges related to emergency medical care.
In case of an illness or injury to an employee, student or visitor:
- Notify Pellissippi State Police with location and nature of the call.
- Upon their arrival, Pellissippi State Police will take charge of the situation, give first aid and request emergency medical care and or other assistance if necessary. The Pellissippi State Police or Security officer on the scene will prepare an accident/incident report.
Food Service
The Pellissippi Cafe is located on the first floor of the Goins Building on the Hardin Valley Campus. The Cafe provides grab and go options to students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The Cafe hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. when classes are in session.
Vending services are also available at each campus.
ID Cards
Student identification cards (photo ID cards) are used for a variety of services on campus: Library, Tutoring, Testing Center, Student Recreation Center and some computer labs. The first ID card is free; however, there is a $10 fee to replace lost ID cards. ID cards are automatically renewed each semester a student is enrolled.
To get a student ID card, students may come to any campus during regular hours of operation, without an appointment, to have their picture taken and get an ID card printed immediately. Students should bring a valid photo ID such as a state-issued driver’s license, along with their Pnumber, to any of the following locations:
- Hardin Valley Campus – Open Computer Lab (ER327) or Information Technology Desk (GN240)
- The Libraries at Blount County, Magnolia Avenue or Strawberry Plains Campuses
Students unable to come to campus in-person may continue to use all college services without a student ID card. Other forms of ID may be required for testing purposes.
There is no process available for sending ID cards through the mail.
Inclement Weather
Pellissippi State uses the following color alert system to notify faculty, staff and students of potential closure related to excessive snow, ice or other severe weather conditions: Green Alert – Normal Operations; Yellow Alert – Potential for Closure; Orange Alert – Partial Closure; Red Alert – Full Closure. Information about closings and delays will be announced on the college website, via social media and through Pellissippi Alerts text and email messages. Students should check their Pellissippi email accounts for the latest updates. Weather conditions vary throughout the region. When classes are not canceled but the student decides that conditions in their area are too hazardous to travel, the student should advise faculty members about the situation.
Insurance
Since medical care is occasionally needed on an emergency basis and on short notice, students are encouraged to obtain student health and accident insurance. Information about student health insurance, available through TBR - the College System of Tennessee, can be found on the TBR website.
IT HelpDesk
The IT HelpDesk is your first stop for information technology support at Pellissippi State, serving students, faculty, and staff. The IT HelpDesk assist with issues such as account access, passwords, computer hardware, software, classroom projectors, internet, wireless, Banner, MyPellissippi, and Brightspace. For help, please call 865-694-6537 or email helpdesk@pstcc.edu. You may visit our webpage for office hours, first-time sign in instructions and more www.pstcc.edu/helpdesk.
Libraries
Visit the Libraries website for research assistance and to access databases, the New York Times, streaming video, and more. For assistance, please call 865-694-6516. Campus locations:
- Blount County Campus Library – Room BL136
- Hardin Valley Campus Library – ERC Building
- Magnolia Avenue Campus Library – Room MA140D
- Strawberry Plains Campus Library – Room ST2800
Lost, Found and Abandoned Property
Lost and found articles are accepted in the Pellissippi State Police Department office located in the Alexander Building, Room 108, on the Hardin Valley Campus or the main office of the Blount County, Magnolia Avenue and Strawberry Plains campuses. Lost and found items will be retained at all other campuses and sent to the Pellissippi State Police Department if not claimed within seven days. Lost or abandoned property that remains unclaimed will be processed under the procedures for the disposition of unclaimed property, according to TCA 66-29-103 et seq. Detailed procedures are available in Student Account Services.
Open Computer Labs
Open Computer Labs are available for student use at every campus. Computers (PC and Mac), printers, and scanners are available for students without an appointment during normal operating hours. Hours are posted at each lab and on the IT Helpdesk webpage. IT staff or student lab assistants are available for assistance. Academic classes may not be held in the Open Computer Labs.
Students use their general account username and password (provided upon admission) to sign in to on-campus computers and wireless internet. These credentials also grant access to college email, the student portal (myPellissippi), and online courses (Brightspace) off-campus.
Open Computer Labs are available at the following locations:
- Blount County Campus – Room BC174
- Hardin Valley Campus – Room ER327
- Magnolia Avenue Campus – Room MA140D
- Strawberry Plains Campus – Room ST2800
Student Care and Advocacy
Student Care and Advocacy is dedicated to fostering student success by addressing students’ insecurities around basic needs. Basic needs include access to food, housing, health care, and financial assistance—essentials required for students to focus on their education and well-being.
We provide comprehensive case management services to ensure that all students have access to these essential resources. Through advocacy, programming, service, outreach, and educational efforts, we create a compassionate and inclusive environment that promotes student learning, development, and success. By empowering students to thrive in their academic pursuits and workforce training, we contribute to the well-being and resilience of the entire Pellissippi State community.
Support services include the Pellissippi Pantry, which provides food and basic necessities to students experiencing food insecurity. The Hardin Valley Garden provides the Pellissippi Pantry with fresh produce to supplement students’ nutritional needs. The department also acts as a liaison for students experiencing homelessness. Finally, both the Pellissippi Pantry and the Hardin Valley Garden offer meaningful volunteer opportunities for students and members of the broader campus community.
Student Engagement and Leadership (Engage & Lead)
The mission of Student Engagement and Leadership (Engage and Lead) is to Connect, Grow, and Achieve by offering outside-of-the-classroom experiential learning opportunities, leadership education, personal development, wellness, and a strong sense of belonging provided through co-curricular engagement activities in which students connect and engage with their cohort, college faculty/staff, and the community.
Students who participate in Student Engagement and Leadership activities will
- Connect through student activities, leadership education, and events with fellow students and the campus community
- Learn and develop leadership skills and gain experience with student-led clubs and organizations
- Attain knowledge and skills in communication and collaboration for successful group work and career readiness
- Opportunities to learn inclusive and culturally aware practices within the student community culture
- Gain a sense of value and connection/belonging within a supportive community
- Access volunteer opportunities for community service scholarship requirements.
Building Community: Student Engagement and Leadership strengthen the campus community by sponsoring quality educational, leadership, social, recreational, and wellness programs and events across all campuses. We provide students with experiences outside the classroom that enhance real-life skills, preparing them to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals.
Student Government Association (SGA): The SGA plays a vital role in connecting students, fostering relationships, and building trust among students, faculty, and staff. The SGA also advocates for student needs and provides funding for club activities. For more information, email sga@pstcc.edu.
Student Engagement Staff (SES): The SES is a student employee program within Engage and Lead operating through student staff leadership. SES creates and implements high-quality programs and events for students across the college. SES collaborates with professional staff to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate campus activities, offering the student body enriched educational, social, and cultural opportunities. SES is coordinated through the Student Engagement and Leadership office in collaboration with the Pellissippi State Student Employee Program. Engage and Lead employs students at all four campuses.
Student Leadership Development: This programming presents leadership development workshops, trainings, and learning experiences in various formats for student organization/club leaders, student staff, and all interested students across the college community.
Students who participate in student leadership education:
- Gain an understanding of themselves, their values, abilities, and interests and develop a personal philosophy of leadership;
- Understand the importance of behaving consistently with their values, beliefs, strengths and limitations;
- Learn skills for effective membership in groups, including handling controversy with civility, shared responsibility, respect for individual and group differences and collaboration;
- See themselves as agents of change and as citizens with responsibilities to their communities;
- Develop a commitment to an activity or cause and invest energy in that activity or cause; and
- Gain an understanding of leadership as a skill set that is ever-evolving, not a position.
Student Clubs and Organizations: Honor, academic, and special interest clubs are organized through Student Engagement and Leadership. To be recognized and chartered by the College, each club must have a constitution, a faculty or staff advisor, and a list of charter members and officers. For a list of active clubs, visit Room 141, Goins Building, on the Hardin Valley Campus or consult the Student Engagement and Leadership website. The advisor facilitates the overall functioning of each student organization and is expected to attend meetings and events, update members on Pellissippi State policies and assist members as needed. Each officially recognized student organization is expected to keep a record of meetings, expenditures, and activities of the group and to submit an annual report to Student Engagement and Leadership at the end of the spring semester. Any student or group of students interested in starting a new student organization should contact Student Engagement and Leadership to obtain a copy of the procedures for forming a new student club.
Application for Special Events: Events or fundraising activities planned by student clubs require approval through Engage and Lead at least two weeks before the event. Please complete the GRIT form on the Student Engagement and Leadership website.
Student Engagement Activities and Meetings: Officially recognized student organizations may schedule campus facilities for regular meetings. Special programs, fundraising activities or off-campus activities must be approved through Student Engagement and Leadership. All use of campus property and facilities is subject to TBR and Pellissippi State regulations.
Student Recreation, Intramurals, and Excursions: Pellissippi State offers a variety of recreational and intramural activities at no additional cost throughout the year, including monthly hikes, tournaments, tubing, and bowling. The Student Recreation Center on the Hardin Valley Campus features outdoor facilities, including an outdoor combination basketball/tennis court/pickleball court, a soccer field, a golf area, a sand volleyball court, and a softball field. Indoor facilities include three tennis courts and a combined volleyball/basketball, /badminton/pickleball court. The center also has a fitness room with various weight training and cardio equipment, as well as ping pong tables, a golf/hitting suite, and a multi-purpose/dance exercise /martial arts room. Locker rooms with showers are available. Student workout facilities are located on all campuses and accessible to all students. Employees must pay each semester for facility access.
Student Publications: The “Panther Pause” is a newsletter designed to inform students about what’s happening on campus (events, services, deadlines). It offers tips for the transition to college life, as well as bits of humor and conventional wisdom. “Panther Pause” can be found in campus restrooms, at study and social areas, and on the Student Engagement and Leadership webpage.
The “Pellissippi Press” is the official student newspaper of Pellissippi State. It can be found online and is produced entirely by students enrolled in a specific journalism class. Students gain practical experience in writing, editing, layout and design, print shop composition, photography, and other facets of newspaper production. The online newspaper is published to provide a free marketplace of ideas for the student body. This is not student-run and no journalism major is required.
The “Imaginary Gardens” is the College’s news and arts journal. It provides an outlet for student journalism and creative works focused on students at the college. As part of an open-access community college, its core values include providing meaningful hands-on job-based learning for students and creating informational access for student readers. The journal is published year-round on a website and in a single print edition in the spring semester. Visit the English Department for more information.
Bulletin Boards: Bulletin boards for student use are located throughout the campus. Posted materials should be of campus interest to students, faculty and staff and must be approved and dated by Student Engagement and Leadership, in Room 141, Goins Building, on the Hardin Valley Campus, or in the main office of the Blount County, Magnolia Avenue and Strawberry Plains campuses. Materials must be no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches and may be posted for a maximum of 15 school days.
Student Lounges
Student lounges are provided for between-class relaxation and recreation. Students who wish to study may use the tables provided but may prefer the quieter study areas in the Educational Resources Center.
TRIO Student Support Services
Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects.
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is one of the eight TRIO Programs available to students at Pellissippi State. The goal of TRIO SSS is to increase the postsecondary persistence and graduation rates of students who meet eligibility requirements as required by law. All students who participate in the TRIO SSS program, in addition to meeting at least one required eligibility criteria, must also exhibit academic need. Academic needs include low grade point average, low ACT and/or admission test scores, limited English proficiency, lack of educational or career goals, lack of academic preparedness, having been out of school for five or more years.
Federal guidelines require TRIO SSS Programs to provide the following services: academic (tutoring), guidance in selecting postsecondary academic courses, information regarding public and private scholarships and financial aid programs, assistance with completion of financial aid applications, financial and economic literacy education, transfer assistance including assistance with students’ applications to, and resources for obtaining financial assistance from four-year programs.
The TRIO SSS Program is located in Room 218 in the Educational Resources Center on the Hardin Valley Campus. For more information call 865-539-7267.
Veterans Educational Assistance
Veterans Services
Pellissippi State provides veterans educational benefits assistance through the Veteran Services Department. The Ben Atchley Veterans Success Center on the Hardin Valley Campus offers student veterans a study center and lounge, which serves as a central gathering place and is located in Room 123 in the Educational Resources Center. Visit the Veterans Services website for more information or contact the Veterans Services office at 865-539-7368.
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