PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Programs are designed to offer the student a degree of flexibility in completing course requirements. Students, with the exception of Practical Nursing, Patient Care Technician, and/or Trucking, may progress at a rate that recognizes individual differences in learning ability consistent with satisfactory progress. Practical Nursing, Patient Care Technician, and Trucking course requirements mandate required skills be mastered per a predetermined schedule. The center may make provisions for student entry into selected programs as vacancies occur. For more information contact Student Services at the center.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants not enrolled in high school are eligible for admission provided they are at least eighteen (18) years of age or have a high school diploma or equivalent, have a declared occupational objective, and demonstrate through testing and counseling a reasonable potential for achieving success.

Practical Nursing and Truck Driving Admission Requirements vary based on Federal and State entry requirements as described under that program in this brochure. Some programs may also require background checks, including (but not limited to) a search of the Tennessee Sexual Offender Registry.

The Tennessee Technology Center offers equal opportunity for admission to all qualified persons without regard to their sex, race, color, religion, age, national origin or handicap in all matters of admission, educational programs, employment, and student activities.

ENROLLMENT DATES / SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

The Tennessee Technology Center at Ripley, as well as our Alamo campus, conducts classes on a trimester basis. The Practical Nursing and Patient Care Technician programs are conducted twice each year. Truck Driving classes are scheduled to begin approximately every six weeks. Regular class hours for Truck Driving are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. This scheduling allows for multiple classes per year. Please contact Student Services for upcoming enrollment dates.

Full-time day classes meet Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The training is instructor led and taught through a combination of lecture, lab, self-study and hands-on exercises. Co-op and internships may be available in selected programs. Occasionally, evening classes are also offered to the general public. However, these classes will only be conducted if there are at least eight students enrolled. For information regarding our online programs, please return to our home page and click on the appropriate link.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications may be completed at the school between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applicants will be assessed to determine their strengths and weaknesses commensurate with the skills necessary to succeed in their chosen field of study. Students requiring remediation will be counseled as to skill building opportunities available. Practical Nursing and Trucking admissions will require additional steps as mandated by laws and accrediting agencies.

Applicants may also download an enrollment form by clicking here for an application in Adobe Reader format. Once the document has been printed and completed by hand, it can either be mailed in or faxed to student services. For more information on applying, please contact the center by clicking on the Contact Us button on the home page.

FEES

Tuition and associated fees, as set by the Tennessee Board of Regents, are reasonable. Payment of tuition and fees is required at registration. Refunds for students withdrawing from programs will be made in accordance with applicable TBR guidelines. Each class also requires specific books, supplies, tools, and/or uniforms.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Tennessee Technology Center at Ripley believes that a person should not be denied an education because of financial need. The center offers several financial aid programs in an attempt to offset financial need. All persons applying for financial aid must have a high school diploma or GED.

The current financial aid programs are as follows:

1.  Federal Pell Grant

2.  Tennessee Student Assistance Award

3.  Veterans Benefits

4.  Tennessee Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

5.  Families First

6.  Tennessee Opportunities Program for Seasonal Farm Workers (TOPS)

7.  Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

8.  Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship - Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant

TTC-Ripley adult students who have been Tennessee Residents for one year, as of May 1^st preceding enrollment, may apply for the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship. Students seeking a diploma or certificate may apply for the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant, which will provide up to $1,250 per year, while they obtain valuable workforce skills.

The unique features of the grant are: adults of any age may apply; no minimum grade point average is required; no ACT test is required for admission; part-time students may also be eligible for a prorated amount; it is not based on income; the grant may be awarded in addition to the Federal Pell grant and other financial aid sources; and adult students are not required to have a high school diploma or GED to apply in some programs.

Funding began in the fall term of 2004 and award amounts will be based on available funding from the state lottery. Students can complete either the 2005-2006 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or renewal 2005-2006 FAFSA form now to apply for this grant. May 1^st is the priority date for the application to be processed.  Applications submitted after May 1^st will be accepted, but preference will be given to those applications processed on or before that date. Students must file their yearly tax return before filing the aid application. TTCR staff will assist students in completing the forms when you apply for training.

Technical programs offered for which this grant will apply are: Business Systems Technology, Computer Systems Technology, Industrial Electronics, Patient Care Technician, and Practical Nursing (LPN). This is especially good for Patient Care Technician, since previous aid had been limited or not available for this class.

For more information on the lottery scholarship or other financial aid programs, please contact Student Services at extension 35.

CERTIFICATES, DIPLOMAS, TRANSCRIPTS, AND RECORDS

Diplomas and certificates, as appropriate, are awarded by the Tennessee Board of Regents to all persons satisfactorily completing training. The Tennessee Technology Center in Ripley has an articulation agreement with Dyersburg State Community College, Jackson State Community College, and Chattanooga Community College, which allows credit hours to be transferred toward an Associates Degree.