POLICY 04:06:00

INDEPENDENT STUDY

1. Purpose Students who can prove to the satisfaction of faculty that they are capable of independently mastering the content of a course may be eligible to complete a course on an independent study basis. Permission to pursue independent study must be granted by both the student’s instructor and the academic department dean.
2. Policy
   1. The creation of an independent study section of a course will be governed by the following factors.
   2. Course type: Courses with laboratories are generally not suitable for independent study.
   3. Availability of instructor: Independent study is a time-consuming method of instruction.
      1. Faculty load of 0.30 credit hours for a two- or three-credit course, .40 for a four-credit
         course and .50 for a five-credit course will be assigned for each student. Payment will be per Pellissippi State Policy No. 06:05:00 Extra Compensation.
      2. With the approval of the academic department dean, the faculty member may choose to use the credit for regular load assignments during the academic year in lieu of receiving extra compensation.
      3. All independent study students will be registered in a separate section that is appropriately labeled.
      4. Appropriate student registration should occur prior to the end of the registration period. The current maintenance fee per credit hour (non-refundable) shall be paid to the Business Office.
         The total student maintenance fee and tuition cannot exceed the current published maximum for one semester. Students are given one semester to complete a course taken as independent study.
         Evaluations will be given by the faculty member as the student progresses through the assigned material. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the faculty member to provide progress reports and to arrange evaluations throughout the semester to complete the course material. If the
         independent study course is passed, the student is awarded full course credit. If the course is failed, the student may not subsequently request another independent study of that course.
         Grades of A, , B, , C, D, F, W, or I are assigned to courses pursued on this basis.

Approved: Executive Council, March 4,1991
Editorial Changes, April 20,1993
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, September 9,1997
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, May 25,1998
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, October 9, 2001
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, December 12, 2005
Editorial Changes, July 2008, July 1, 2009
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Staff, September 27, 2010
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, September 27, 2010
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, September 28, 2015
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., September 28, 2015
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, April 12, 2021
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise Jr., April 12, 2021
Review/Recommended: College Council, March 3, 2025
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise Jr., March 3, 2025