M.S.C.C. Statement of Mission

Motlow State Community College is a public, multi-campus college offering certificates, associate degrees, and flexible learning pathways for early transfer, college preparation, and workforce training. Students are prepared for employment, career advancement, and four-year college or university transfer. The College serves an eleven-county area comprised of full-time, part-time, traditional, and non-traditional age students from diverse socio-economic populations with disparate educational and cultural backgrounds. The College offers high quality accredited educational programs and a variety of support services emphasizing and promoting student success.

Motlow State Community College, an institution governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents in the State University and Community College System of Tennessee, is a public, comprehensive, two-year, open-access college founded in 1969.  The college awards the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and Associate of Science in Teaching degrees and certificates of credit.

Motlow College strives to develop the cultural, intellectual, and career opportunities of the people in its Southern Middle Tennessee eleven-county service area, which includes Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Lincoln, Moore, Rutherford, Van Buren, Warren and White Counties.  The college is committed to achieving a diverse student body, faculty, and staff.  The college recognizes the significance of this diversity by providing a broad spectrum of services to respond to a variety of needs in the learning process and educational opportunities from developmental to advanced programs.

Motlow College is a multi-location community college providing:                                                                           

1. degree programs designed for transfer to other colleges and universities;
2. degree and non-degree programs designed to develop immediate job readiness skills and competencies; and
3. public service, lifelong learning, and workforce development programs to promote personal enrichment and economic and community development.

To establish a firm foundation for liberal learning, the college requires a strong core curriculum in degree programs complemented by cultural, scientific, social, and community service activities.   In particular, Motlow College is unique in that it provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary Honors Scholar Program integrated with a strong cultural series.  The versatile curriculum, qualified faculty and staff, and related resources, strengthened by innovative technologies, prepare students for success in the global community.  To support these initiatives, a continuous cycle of planning, evaluation, and response promotes institutional effectiveness and efficiency.

Motlow College encourages student success through critical thinking, clear communication, ethical behavior, respect for others, civic responsibility, problem solving, effective functioning in individual and team situations, and an appreciation of one’s own heritage as well as that of others.

Motlow College promotes and maintains alliances with business, industry, government agencies, and other educational institutions to enhance programs and services.

As a dynamic institution of higher learning, Motlow College enriches and empowers its students and the community it serves.

Motlow State Community College remains committed to the education of a non-racially identifiable student body and promotes diversity and access without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

To be the area’s recognized center for life-long learning and growth opportunities.

1. Motlow College is committed to student learning as our primary focus.
2. Motlow College is committed to excellence, creativity, trust, respect, diversity, teamwork, integrity, knowledge, honesty, civility, and the free exchange of ideas.
3. Motlow College is committed to continuous improvement, institutional effectiveness, and efficiency.
4. Motlow College is committed to our stakeholders and to the total development of individuals and their quality of life; we strive to enhance student competencies and to further the cultural development of our service area.

The course offerings and requirements of Motlow State Community College are continually under examination and revision. This catalog presents the offerings and requirements in effect at the time of publication but is no guarantee that they will not be changed or revoked. However, adequate and reasonable notice will be given to students affected by any changes. This catalog is not intended to state contractual terms and does not constitute a contract between the student and the institution.

Motlow State Community College provides the opportunity for students to increase their knowledge by providing programs of instruction in the various disciplines and programs through faculty who, in the opinion of the college, are qualified for teaching at the college level. The acquisition and retention of knowledge by any student is, however, contingent upon the student’s desire and ability to learn and his or her application of appropriate study techniques to any course or program. Thus, Motlow State Community College must necessarily limit representation of student preparedness in any field of study to that competency demonstrated at that specific point in time at which appropriate academic measurements were taken to certify course or program completion.

The central campus of Motlow State Community College is located on 185 acres of beautifully wooded land in Moore County. It is approximately 5 miles from Tullahoma via either State Route 55 or State Route 130, approximately 8 miles from Lynchburg via State Route 55, and approximately 12 miles from Shelbyville via State Route 130. Other locations include:

MCMINNVILLE CENTER - 225 Cadillac Lane; McMinnville, TN 37111

Construction of a 14,000 square foot instructional facility in McMinnville was completed for opening in the fall of 1988, and an expanded day and evening program was delivered at the facility in 1988-89. To expand the instructional program further, an addition of 2,992 square feet, including a 28-station computer lab and a 24-station biology lab, was completed in the spring of 1996. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission approved Center Status for the McMinnville Site in January, 1990. Center status indicates that students can complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree in General Studies or an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Technology at that location.

FAYETTEVILLE CENTER - 1802 Winchester Highway; P.O. Box 618, Fayetteville, TN 37334

Located on a beautiful 20-acre site 2.5 miles east of downtown Fayetteville, the 14,000 square foot instructional facility opened for classes in the fall of 1992. Construction of this million-dollar facility cap-stoned an initiative undertaken by Fayetteville-Lincoln county residents beginning in 1988. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission approved Center status for the Fayetteville Site in July, 1997. The Don Sundquist Center of Advanced Technologies, completed in August 2001, is located adjacent to the Fayetteville Center.

SMYRNA SITE - 5002 Motlow College Boulevard, Smyrna, TN 37167-2015

In a continuing effort to fulfill its mission statement, Motlow State Community College began offering evening classes at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro in 1998. To support the rapid growth and to fulfill the needs of its students who required day classes as well as evening classes, Motlow became partners in education with the Tennessee Army National Guard in Smyrna and began offering day classes to the citizens of Rutherford County in January 2000. Fall semester 2006, the college moved into a new 17,500 square foot facility where Motlow continues to enrich and empower the students and community it serves.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE EDUCATION CENTER - 841 Union Street, Shelbyville, TN  37160-2610

Students seeking higher education now have more options closer to home with the opening of the Middle Tennessee Education Center, a new higher-education facility in Shelbyville.  MTEC, created by a partnership between Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College, houses classrooms as well as administrative and advising offices for both institutions to offer assistance and education for their students.  The center is located in the former Medical Arts Building.  For more information on MTEC or to schedule an appointment, please call 931-685-4444.

 The Founding of Motlow College

The 187-acre site for the college was donated by the Motlow family of Lynchburg, Tennessee. Because of this generous gift and because of Senator Reagor Motlow’s contributions to education in Tennessee, it was recommended that the college be named Motlow State Community College.

Construction began on the first five buildings of the $2.7 million building project in March of 1968. Dr. Sam H. Ingram, former Dean of the School of Education at Middle Tennessee State University, was appointed as the first president of Motlow State Community College. Dr. Ingram moved the administrative staff into the Administration Building on the campus in August 1969. Other buildings on the campus were completed soon thereafter; and the college opened in September 1969, with 551 students and 18 full-time faculty members. At that time the college offered the two-year university parallel Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees and four two-year career programs.

The Expansion Begins

Moore County Main Campus

In 1983, Motlow’s service area was expanded from seven to eleven counties, and Motlow assumed the lead role for identifying the educational and training needs of its area. A major campus expansion project was implemented including renovation of the Student Center, the maintenance complex, and construction of a new 280-seat theater/auditorium, instructional support areas for nursing and engineering, and an office complex for the Career Education and Workforce Development division. September 1998 launched more expansion on the Moore County campus with the construction of the new Nursing and Technology Building. The vision of providing a 21st Century facility with design options for preparing students for careers requiring new technology and enhancing current technology was realized when Motlow College was named among the “most wired campuses” by PC World magazine. The facility houses state-of-the-art business, industrial and computer technology, the nursing education program including the latest in nursing laboratory equipment, and offices for the Computer Services Department, the Center for Information Systems, and Division of Career Education and Workforce Development. The beautiful state-of-the-art Clayton-Glass Library was completed and opened in January 2008.

McMinnville Center

Construction of a 14,000 square foot instructional facility in McMinnville was completed and opened in the fall of 1988. An additional 2,992 square feet, including a 28-station computer lab and a 24-station biology lab, was completed in the spring of 1996. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission approved center status for the McMinnville site in January 1990. Increased enrollment and academic program offerings led the way for the McMinnville Center addition which opened in the fall of 2008. Academic programs offered at the McMinnville center increased as the Mechatronics certification program was added in 2008 and the Nursing program was added in 2009. The continued success and expansion of the college and its academic offerings were recognized when Motlow received two prestigious accolades. First recognized as one of the fastest growing colleges in the nation by Community College Week and recognized with an Excellence in Business Ovation Award by the Cumberland Business Journal in 2010 for the addition of the Mechatronics program.

Fayetteville Center

In the fall of 1988, the college expanded its evening program in Fayetteville and initiated a day instructional program. Concurrent with the expanded program, an initiative was undertaken by Lincoln county residents to fund a new facility. This effort succeeded with the opening of a 14,000 square foot instructional facility. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission approved center status for the Fayetteville site in July 1997. Construction of the Don Sundquist Center for Advanced Technologies, located adjacent to the Fayetteville Center, was completed in August 2001. The 32,500 square foot facility is equipped with the latest in industrial and computer training equipment.

Smyrna Site

In January 2003, construction began on the first phase of a Smyrna facility that opened in July of 2006. Academic programs increased as the Nursing program was added at the Smyrna site in 2008. In December of 2010, the Tennessee Board of Regents approved the allocation of $7.6 million toward the completion of a 35,000 square foot classroom building on the Smyrna site. Plans toward the commencement of this project are underway.

Looking to the Future

Motlow College continues to adapt and grow to meet the needs of current and future students in its 11 county service area. From conception in1967, to fruition in 1969, and continued expansion today, Motlow College continues to provide affordable high quality education to students from all walks of life. Our Timeline of Growth and Expansion exemplifies this path of excellence and commitment to our students.

The Presidential Legacy

·         Dr. Mary Lou Apple / 2006 - Present

·         Dr. Arthur L. Walker, Jr. / 2003 - 2006

·         Dr. A. Frank Glass / 1987 - 2003

·         Dr. Wade Powers / 1986 - 1987 (Interim)

·         Dr. Harry Wagner / 1975 - 1986

·         Dr. Sam H. Ingram / 1969 - 1975

The lead institution concept, developed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, assigns to an institution the responsibility for identifying the appropriate level of sub-baccalaureate education and training needed based upon the area’s employment demands. Motlow College has been assigned the role of lead institution for the Tennessee Technology Centers in McMinnville, Murfreesboro, and Shelbyville and is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the development of a cohesive plan for the delivery of vocational, technical, and career programs in its eleven-county service area. Motlow assists the Technology Centers in program planning, accounting and budgeting, purchasing, personnel, student records, student financial aid and institutional research, and serves as a catalyst to strengthen the relationship between the area institutions of post-secondary education and business and industry.

Motlow State Community College intends to comply with Executive Order 11246, as amended in its entirety; all pertinent, subsequent amendments; and any superseding Executive Orders concerning Affirmative Action. Furthermore, Motlow State Community College intends to comply with Title IV of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; subsequent amendments to these acts; Title VI; and all other current state and Federal laws and regulations regarding equal employment opportunity and/or affirmative action. The Executive Director of Human Resources located in Simon Hall (telephone number 931-393-1542) is responsible for the coordination of policies and procedures for compliance with the aforementioned Acts.

Motlow State Community College prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol on the campus property or on institutionally owned, leased, or otherwise controlled property or as part of any activity of MSCC. All faculty, staff, and students are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws related to illegal use and possession of controlled substances and alcohol. Additionally, students found in violation of the Drug-Free Communities Act will result in disciplinary action set forth in the Student Handbook.