Payment Information and Business Services

Nashville State Community College is a state-supported college and, therefore, maintains modest matriculation and incidental fees. Expenses are charged and payable by the semester. Registration is not complete until all required fees have been paid (which means all checks have cleared the bank). Students who have not met their financial obligations will not be admitted to classes. All payments are to be made by cash, check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) to the Bursar’s Office. If the student’s employer pays the fees, the employer must mail an authorization letter on company letterhead to the Bursar’s Office at least two weeks prior to the beginning of each semester indicating which fees will be paid and dollar limit (if applicable). Any fee waiver or fee discount forms must be submitted to the Bursar’s Office prior to or at the time of registration. Please refer to the NSCC Bursar Web site for Bursar’s Office hours of operation and a listing of current tuition rates and fees.

For additional information, please call 615-353-3310.

Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time by policy of the Tennessee Board of Regents. Fee schedules are published as changes occur. Fee increases are enacted by the governing board and are normally implemented for the fall term.

Registration, maintenance, and tuition fees for the summer term will be the same as for the other two semesters except fees are charged per credit hour for all credit hours in which student is enrolled (no discount rate for over ‘full time’). Fees for auditing a course will be the same as the fees paid if taking the course for credit. Enrollment as an audit will be subject to the availability of space in the class being requested. Students are classified as residents or non-residents for the purpose of assessing maintenance and tuition charges. The definition of residency as determined by the Tennessee Board of Regents will apply. Information about residency classification may be obtained from the Admissions or Records Offices.

Senior Citizens and Students with Disabilities

For audit courses, no fee is required for persons who are totally disabled or who are 60 years of age or older. Enrollment will be subject to the availability of space in the class requested.

Persons 65 years of age or older who live in Tennessee or totally disabled persons may enroll for credit as special students for a fee of $70 per semester. Enrollment will be subject to the availability of space in the class requested.

An applicant who wishes to be admitted in one of these categories must submit the following:

1. A completed application for admission.
2. A twenty-dollar ($20) non-refundable application fee.
3. Proof of age or Physician’s Statement of Total Disability.

NOTE: Fees for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are not waived or reduced.

State Employee Fee Waivers

Title 8, Chapter 50, Part 1 in Public Chapter 1047 of the 1990 Public Acts enables full-time employees of the State of Tennessee to be eligible for enrollment in one course per term at any state-supported college or university without the payment of tuition charges, maintenance fees, debt service fees, student activity fees, or registration fees.

The following are rules that govern the use of this fee waiver type:

1. Fees are not waived for non-credit, CEU, or correspondence courses, application fees, or parking permits.
2. Enrollment is subject to space availability in the class selected. Registration is permitted only during the late registration process. The course must be taken for college credit; the course cannot be audited.
3. At the time of enrollment, the employee must have a completed state employee fee waiver form signed by his or her employer certifying that the applicant is a full-time employee with at least six months of continuous service.

Deferred Payment Program

All students owing a balance greater than $250 who are in good financial standing and with no outstanding balances from previous terms are eligible to participate in the deferred payment program. This program allows the student to defer payment of up to 50% of the maintenance fee, out-of-state tuition, and technology access fee into two monthly payments during the term. Fees can be deferred during fall and spring semester only.

Those who wish to participate must sign a deferred payment contract each semester. A deferral fee of $10 is assessed to defer costs of the program. Deferred payments that become delinquent are assessed monthly a $25 penalty for each late payment, up to $100. If there is a change in the student’s schedule that generates a credit due, it will be applied to the student’s outstanding balance before a refund check is issued. Credits or refunds are based on total fees assessed, not on the amount paid. Payments are due on the dates stated in the deferred payment contract. There is no grace period for late payments.

For more information, call 615-353-3310.

Fee Assessments and Refunds

Effective Fall 2009, the maximum amount being charged for tuition and fees based on hours enrolled was removed. Please refer to our Web site for a list of current fees; you may also call 615-353-3312 or 615-353-3509 for updated information.

The current policy is as follows:

Two changes in a student’s status which may require a fee adjustment are: (1) changes in a full-time student’s schedule which result in reclassification to part-time student status; and (2) A change in a part-time student’s schedule which results in a class load of fewer hours. Other situations that may require a fee adjustment are dropping a course or courses, withdrawing from school, cancellation of a class by the college, or death of the student.

The following procedures will be followed in regard to the calculation of maintenance fees:

All refund periods will be rounded up or down to the nearest whole day if necessary.

* A 100% fee adjustment and/or refund will be provided on behalf of a student whose death occurs during the semester.

* A 100% fee adjustment and/or refund will be provided to students who are compelled by the college to withdraw when it is determined that through institutional error they were academically ineligible for enrollment or were not properly admitted to enroll for the course(s) being dropped.

* A 100% fee adjustment and/or refund will be provided, upon submission of required forms, to students absent from the college in excess of 30 days while on active military duty.

** The Tennessee Board of Regents revised the refund policy effective Fall Semester 2009. These changes impact students who are enrolled in classes full-time and drop to less than 12 credit hours of classes.

Under the revised guidelines, undergraduate students who register for more than 12 hours and subsequently drop to less than 12 hours or withdraw from the college during a fee adjustment period will be assessed a prorated fee for the dropped hours. For example, consider a student who originally registered for 12 hours and then dropped to 6 hours during the 75% fee adjustment period. The adjusted student fee assessment before any refund will be 6 hours at the full rate per hour and 6 hours at 25% of the per hour rate. The difference in this calculated assessment and the original tuition and fee amounts capped at 12 hours would be the refund to the student. It is possible that certain adjustments in hours will not result in a refund to the student after the fee adjustment calculation.

The following calculation shows the effect for an in-state student who is enrolled in 12 hours and drops to 6 hours during the 75% refund period:

The following calculation shows the effect for an in-state student who is enrolled in 12 hours and drops to 6 hours during the 25% refund period:

All refunds will be in the form of a check or direct deposit within three to four weeks after the Records Office has processed a Schedule Change Form. If a student initially pays by credit card any refund will be processed to his/her credit card account. Fee adjustments and/or refunds involving third-party payments will be prorated based on the percentage paid by the student and third party involved, including discounts, waivers, or grants. Fee adjustment and refund dates will be established for each semester. Summer term fee adjustments and/or refunds will be based on the above procedures with concentrated terms being prorated as a percentage of a regular term. No fee adjustments or refunds will be made for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) unless the class is cancelled.

Returned Checks

There is a $30 charge for any check or electronic transaction accepted by the college that is returned. When a stop payment is issued or a check is written on a closed account, it shall result in the administrative dismissal of the student. Returned checks that represent 50% deposit on deferred payment contracts will result in administrative dismissal if not redeemed within 10 days. A late fee of $25 will also be assessed for any returned check for registration fees, unless the student registered late initially. This also applies to transactions processed electronically by the college. Students who have two or more returned checks or have stopped payment on checks and/or written checks on closed accounts will not be allowed to pay by check. In addition, if checks are not redeemed promptly, a registration hold will be placed on the account until the balance is paid. No grades or transcripts will be issued and the account is subject to being sent to a collection agency.

Business Services

Vehicle Registration and Parking

All privately owned and/or operated vehicles used on campus by students and staff must be registered in the Security Office (Room A-34 or at the Security Station in the lobby of the Student Services Center) and must bear an official registration decal for which there is a charge of $15. Decals are valid from each Fall semester through the end of the following Summer semester. The vehicle registration decal must be displayed on a vehicle by the owner or driver in such a manner that it will be clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle. If you choose to tape your permit to the back window, it must be completely flush against the glass. Vehicles so registered must be parked as directed. Students should park in the designated lot and park each vehicle so that it is headed into the parking place with the decal exposed to the traffic lanes. No vehicles are to be parked in the road or on the shoulders of the road. Any vehicle improperly parked may be towed away at the owner’s expense. The speed limit on campus is 15 m.p.h. Pedestrians are entitled to the right of way but should exercise caution and courtesy so as not to impede the orderly flow of traffic. Special parking areas are provided for students with disabilities. Disabled parking is governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee. Parking for students enrolled in special courses will be regulated as specified in the course announcement.

Appeal Process

1. Traffic fines:
   
   1. Traffic fines may be appealed to the Director of Security.
   2. Appeal forms may be obtained from Security in Room A-34 or at the Security Station in the lobby of the Student Services Center.
   3. For detailed information, refer to the Traffic & Parking Regulations brochure.
2. Other fees, charges, refunds:
   
   1. Appeals must be in written form and addressed to the Refund Appeals Committee.
   2. Forms are available in the Office of the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, room W-28 or on the website (Student Request for Fee Adjustment).
   3. The Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services will prepare a written response to the appeal. If the response is negative, the reason will be so stated.

Littering Policy

The college is committed to protecting the environment and maintaining the appearance of campus grounds and buildings. Any student, faculty, or staff member who litters campus property will be issued a citation. Please refer to the current Student Handbook for a listing of the applicable fines. Littering includes the improper disposal of small items such as cigarette butts, bottle caps, and candy wrappers, etc. Littering also encompasses larger items of trash such as newspapers, tissues/ napkins, food wrappers, cans/bottles, etc.

The purpose of the policy is to promote a safe, healthy and clean campus. Ideally, smoking, eating, and drinking would be confined to designated areas. However, inadequate facilities do not allow a universal policy for the behaviors. Therefore, the following guidelines will regulate the three functions on the property of the college:

• Smoking: The campus is a smoke-free facility. Smoking is not permitted on campus except in the designated smoking location.
• Eating is not permitted in classrooms or labs.
• Drinking is not permitted in labs and not encouraged in classrooms.

NSCC Bookstore

The Nashville State Community College Bookstore is located in S-126 and is operated under the auspices of the college for the convenience of the students. The Bookstore carries all required textbooks and an assortment of student supplies, health and beauty aids, clothing, general reading materials, and emblematic items.

Textbooks are selected and approved by the teaching staff. Since the cost of books and supplies varies from one program of study to another and from semester to semester, only the average costs can be included in this catalog. The average purchase or rental cost of books and supplies is approximately $400-$650 per semester, depending upon the program of study. The majority of book and supply costs will be incurred during the fall semester. In courses requiring special equipment and supplies, additional costs must be added.

The Bookstore accepts cash, personal checks, or company checks (accompanied with the driver’s license number, date of birth, expiration date of the license, and phone number of the signer) made payable to CBA (College Bookstores of America), American Express, VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. Some students will be eligible to charge their books against excess Financial Aid funds (students should contact financial aid to determine eligibility).There is a $35 charge for any check accepted by the Bookstore that is returned, in addition to the face value of the check. Students with returned checks will not be permitted to make additional purchases and a registration hold will be placed on the student’s account until the checks are redeemed.

If a class is cancelled, the full new purchase price of a book is refundable through the first seven business days of classes provided: (1) no markings have been made in the book; and (2) the cancel slip and sales receipt are presented when the refund is requested. (See “Return Policy” below.)

Changes in Bookstore hours will be posted on its door and Web site.

Bookstore Return Policy

The Bookstore’s policy on returns includes the following:

1. Textbooks must be in original pre-purchase condition, un-opened if sealed, with the original register receipt. The final return date is printed at the bottom of the receipt and the bookstore will adhere to that date. The Bookstore Manager is the final judge on the condition of a book
2. Books may be returned for any reason during the academic year for the first 7 days of class upon presentation of the Bookstore cash register receipt. After the first 7 days of classes, all books returned to the Book Bookstore will be purchased at the Nebraska Book Company’s catalog price. During the summer term, because of the shortened term length, books can be returned during the first 5 days of classes upon the presentation of the Bookstore cash register receipt. The Bookstore Manager will be the final judge on any special cases. Refunds are made in cash for returned items originally purchased in cash or by check after ten (10) days. Items purchased by credit card are credited to the credit card account. Items NOT accompanied by a Bookstore cash register receipt are not eligible for refunds.
3. Books that have markings in them, or which show signs of wear or damage, are classified as USED books and will be purchased according to the “Textbook Buy-Back” policy below.
4. Defective textbooks and supplies may be returned for REPLACEMENT upon presentation of the defective item and the cash register receipt.

Textbook Buy-Back Policy

During final exam week of each semester, the Bookstore conducts a textbook buy-back. The Bookstore will pay 50 percent of the retail price of a book if it has been adopted for the following semester, and the Bookstore is not over-stocked on the title. If the book is NOT scheduled for use the following semester, the purchase price will be limited to the wholesale value of the book as listed in the “Nebraska Book Company Wholesale Buying Guide” from NBC Nebraska Book Company (NBC). Books are bought back throughout the year, but at a price considerably lower than the semester’s end price cited above, as set by the NBC “Used Book Wholesaler’s Buying Guide.”

Computer Help Desk

The Help Desk will answer questions with any NSCC computer and network account problems. The Help Desk can assist with information about basic trouble regarding a computer that is school related, and with Web-related issues. Visit the Computer Help Desk online for more information such as hours of operation and specific instructions and troubleshooting help.

Open Lab

The Clement Building Open Lab in Room C-219 was established as an independent study lab in 1984. The Open Lab provides student access to PC and Mac computers, classroom software, Internet access, and academic course-related activities. Current equipment includes twenty-four stations connected to a laser printer. In addition there are two flatbed scanners one Mac and one PC.

Hours of operation vary and are posted online and on the C-219 Open Lab door. Students may call 615-353-3678, or email: ComputerHelpDesk@nscc.edu. The Open Lab is part of the Computer Services Division Help Desk.