NASHVILLE (AP) - The state Senate plans to hold hearings to investigate allegations that officials at Tennessee State University changed more than 100 students' grades without instructors' permission.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham agreed on Thursday to hold hearings that would look into whether university administrators changed grades of incomplete for two introductory-level courses into letter grades. A date for the hearings has not been set.

State Sen. Jim Summerville told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/NRAHsf ) he had requested the hearings because he wanted to know whether the grade changes violated the state's Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010.

"As we work to raise standards for our colleges and universities in Tennessee, these are serious allegations," said Summerville, who is chairman of the Education Committee's higher education subcommittee. "If the allegations ar e true, they threaten to rattle the structure and integrity of the university and have the potential to cheapen the degrees that so many students work very hard to achieve."

But university officials have said the changes were made to the grades with approval after clearing up a miscommunication over the course requirements.

The two pilot courses were added to the TSU curriculum when the state banned remedial classes for incoming students. Students in these courses were supposed to complete college-level material, as well as additional coursework designed to bring the students up to speed.

Students who completed the college-level coursework, but who didn't complete the supplemental assignments were given incompletes.

But in the spring the school changed the incompletes to letter grades based on the students' performances on the college-level coursework. School officials have said they received approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents to change the g rades and instructors were informed.

Gresham has asked Summerville's subcommittee to produce a report on the incident.

"I am confident that you and your subcommittee will determine the facts and scope of the situation," she said. "As you know, compliance with the Complete College Tennessee Act with fidelity and integrity is our highest priority."