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Labs are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Other times available by request. Please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for lab requests.
TTU's Learning Support Program [formerly the Academic Development Program] is housed on the first floor of Matthews Hall, which is located beside the University Police Station, West 8th Street on TTU's campus in Cookeville, Tennessee: campus map
The Learning Support Program at Tennessee Technological University began in 1985 as part of a mandate issued by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), the governing body of Tennessee's twenty state-supported universities and community colleges that are not affiliated with the University of Tennessee system. The program is designed to bridge the gap between "academically underprepared students and the level of academic competency needed for success in collegiate studies" (Mission Statement, 1993). Of the 10,614 1st-time freshmen enrolled in one or more developmental classes at TTU from Fall 1986 through Spring 2008, TTU has awarded 3,185 degrees, ranging from AAS/AS (119) to BA, BFA, BM, BS, BSI (2673) through MA, MBA, MED, MS (309), EDS (84). At the end of 2008S, 25.20% of these 10,000+ students have received bachelors degrees, 3.70% a masters or higher.
TTU's Learning Support Program provides instruction in reading, mathematics, writing skills, and learning strategies at the developmental levels. Enrollment in these classes may be required by the University before a student is allowed to enroll in college-level classes [see Admission to Freshman Standing].
From 1985 to 2003, TTU offered both remedial and developmental-level courses. Based upon current TBR guidelines, TTU no longer offers remedial (basic 0700-level) classes; however, developmental level (0800 and higher) classes are still be offered at TTU. Students with remedial (0700) requirements based upon ACT scores and/or COMPASS placement may be denied admission to TTU until these requirements are satisfied. Remedial (basic 0700) classes may be removed by
1. completing the 0700-level classes at a community college and transferring the work to TTU
2. retesting for the ACT to achieve subscore and composite scores of 19 or above
3. testing with COMPASS and placing at the developmental (0800/0850) level.
In 2010 the Tennessee State Legislature decided that universities should no longer offer courses that carry less-than-college-level credit. The law is to go into effect in 2012. TTU is currently in a partnership agreement with Volunteer State Community College whereby learning support/developmental-level classes will still be offered at TTU and will be taught by TTU faculty.
Based upon ACT scores and test scores from the COMPASS Placement Test * (COMPASS), students may be required to enroll in one or more classes at the pre-college (basic/developmental) level. Students needing Learning Support DSP courses must enroll in and satisfactorily complete those courses during the initial term(s) of enrollment. Students may concurrently enroll in college-level courses which do not require pre-requisite DSP skills. Class attendance is mandatory. Students placed and enrolled in a DSP class are not permitted to withdraw except for serious circumstances and with the permission of the program director. A grade of "C" or higher is required for progression to the next level.
* For students wishing to challenge their ACT placement, the COMPASS Placement Exam will be offered on the 1st day of each SOAR [Student Orientation and Registration session]. Students requesting to take the exam should contact us at 372-3476 to register for the test. There is a $10 fee for any or all parts of the test [the fee goes to $20 for a retest]. The fee is payable by cash or check during check-in for COMPASS which begins at 8:30 in Clement Hall 313C. The test itself is scheduled to begin at 9 am. Since the test is computer adaptive and computer scored, test results are available by the time students finish the test. For more information about COMPASS, see COMPASS Placement Test. [Also, a timed, pencil-and-paper Challenge Test is offered on the 1st day of class at the beginning of the term. Students must be registered for the course to take the Challenge Test in that course.]
