- The first step is to complete a free online application for admission. You will also be asked to provide certain pieces of information such as official transcripts, proof of citizenship, immunizations, etc.
Between providing for your family, working a job, and paying bills, returning to college can often seem like an unrealistic option. To make college a reality, Tennessee Reconnect programs are designed to help busy adults achieve dreams of attaining a college degree.
Tennessee Reconnect is designed to assist adult learners in meeting educational goals. You may just need a few credits to finish a degree or you may just want to get started on a degree. Tennessee Reconnect at Walters State can help.
We understand that many barriers can arise for adult students during the process of enrolling in college, and it is our goal to remove as many of those barriers as possible. Many Walters State employees returned to school as working adults, so we can identify barriers we faced, and try to eliminate them for our students.
We want to help you take the first step in the process by allowing you to apply for admission at Walters State for free! Since there is no financial obligation up front, the only thing you are giving up by applying to Walters State is about 10 minutes of your time.
We also have an open admission policy which allows us some flexibility with our enrollment deadlines.
We offer a variety of options for our students to take classes. This allows students to work classes into their already busy lives! About 1/4 of our student population falls into the non-traditional category.
We also understand that our students may have concerns about returning to college after a period of time. We try to tackle those head on to make our students feel as comfortable as possible.
Our financial aid staff can answer any questions you have about paying for school. We have a number of institutional scholarships, and we honor outside scholarships you may receive. You may also be eligible for need-based aid like the Federal Pell Grant.
Classes are full of students from all walks of life. You won’t be the only nontraditional student in your classes. Your classmates will include new high school graduates, working professionals, veterans and displaced workers who have returned to earn job skills. It is not uncommon for the majority of a class to be adults coming back to finish a degree they previously started.
Walters State provides many student services designed to help you succeed. Advisors can help you choose a major or point out the classes you need to finish a degree. Tutors are available for free in almost every subject. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to supplement your classroom learning with field trips, presentations and guest speakers.
Programs/courses are offered in both traditional and alternative delivery systems as follows: evening classes, convenient campus locations, Video Streaming (VID), hybrid and online courses, TN eCampus (formerly Regents Online Degree Program)
A majority of Walters State students receive financial aid to help pay for college. A variety of resources are available from federal, state institutional and private sources including grants, scholarships and work study programs. One of the first steps in the financial aid process is filling out the Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA).
Walters State recognizes that our nontraditional students may have had opportunities to learn or acquire skills prior to reconnecting at Walters State. We will be happy to review transcripts from other colleges and apply those to your degree at Walters State. We also evaluate college credit for specific exams that measure subject matter, military experience and classes, certifications and licensures, and for some specific credit earned at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology. The admissions office can provide more information.
This is a great time to be living in Tennessee. New educational programs are available and we want to help you complete your degree. A degree can open up new career goals and increase your earning potential.
Tennessee Reconnect is Governor Bill Haslam’s initiative to help more adult students complete college to gain new skills, advance in the workplace, and fulfill lifetimes dreams of completing a degree or credential.
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For more information, please contact Walters State’s Reconnect Office at 423.318.2337 or at student.successFREEWS.
Walters State is proud to serve our country’s active duty service people, reservists, veterans and their dependents. We are proud to have been named a Military Friendly College for the last five years. All of our credit programs and some non-credit programs are covered by veterans’ benefits. Walters State has worked closely with veterans to streamline the process. Most veterans are only required to meet with the veterans’ service office once a semester to continue certification. The veterans’ service officer can also advise you on the type of benefits available and which ones match your educational goals.
Veterans Services
Additional information about Reconnect
Student Success Advising Center
Email%20Student%20Success
423.318.2337
Heather Waddell
423.585.6812
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