News

There was a standing-room-only crowd Wednesday, Nov. 29,  as Volunteer State Community College hosted a kick-off celebration for a new partnership between the University of Tennessee at Martin and Vol State Springfield that is slated to begin in January 2024, pending approval by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC, the colleges' accrediting agency).

If the two agencies approve, students will begin taking classes on this pathway in Spring Semester 2024. 

The Tennessee Board of Regents, in a special called meeting today, appointed Laura Travis as the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Dickson. She will succeed retiring President Arrita Summers Dec. 1.

Tennessee’s community and technical colleges are honoring veterans of military service – including students, faculty, staff and alumni – in Veterans Day activities this week. As part of those ceremonies, one veteran at each college is awarded the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans, a special recognition launched four years ago by Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.

The Tennessee Board of Regents will hold a special called meeting Nov. 15 to consider the appointment of Laura Travis as the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Dickson.

Driven by a growing number of apprenticeship programs, Tennessee’s public community and technical colleges delivered 1.628 million hours of direct workforce training in 2022-23, the Tennessee Board of Regents Center for Workforce Development announced today. TBR colleges trained 50,589 students and served 880 companies through their broad range of workforce programs.

The Tennessee Board of Regents committee chairs will meet Nov. 8, 2023, to receive informational reports and preview the agenda for the full board’s next quarterly meeting Dec. 12. The board’s Audit Committee will meet immediately afterward to review various audit matters.

The Board of Regents governs Tennessee's public community colleges and colleges of applied technology.

The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), the nation’s leading organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship through community colleges, has awarded Chancellor Flora Tydings of the College System of Tennessee its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

A search advisory committee has selected Laura Travis as the sole finalist for the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Dickson. She will participate in a campus interview/public forum at TCAT Dickson Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

Several presidents of TBR community and technical colleges attended Gov. Bill Lee’s 2023 Rural Opportunity Summit this week, an annual conference he hosts to address the needs of at-risk and distressed counties across the state. The summit brings together local and state leaders to brainstorm innovative solutions to these communities' unique challenges.

A Regional Articulation Convening focusing on academic pathways in the electric vehicle (EV) industry between Tennessee’s community and technical colleges was held Oct. 20 at Jackson State Community College. The event fostered advancement in the areas of technical education and statewide articulation agreements by bringing together faculty and staff from both community and technical colleges to craft new articulation agreements that make it easier for students to transfer from one program to another.

In a special called meeting today (Oct. 20, 2023) , the Tennessee Board of Regents appointed Jimmy L. Wright as the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Shelbyville. The board also approved criteria for the next presidents of Volunteer State Community College and TCAT Harriman.

The Search Advisory Committee that will lead the Tennessee Board of Regents' search for the next president of Cleveland State Community College has been appointed and will meet for its orientation session and a public forum on Oct. 26.

Gallatin — TBR – The College System of Tennessee and its member community colleges and colleges of applied technology (TCATs) have partnered with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and industries across the state to launch Be Pro Be Proud TN, a statewide tour showcasing skilled-profession careers in Tennessee. The tour kicked off in Gallatin at Vol State Community College on October 12th.

The Tennessee Board of Regents will hold a special called meeting Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, to consider approving the chancellor’s recommendation for the next president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Shelbyville. The board will also consider proposed criteria for the next presidents of Volunteer State Community College and TCAT Harriman.

At Tennessee’s community colleges, a student’s acceptance to college can begin the moment they apply for admission, regardless of academic readiness. A student’s high school grade-point average (GPA) or ACT score does not determine their eligibility for admission at any of Tennessee’s 13 community colleges.

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson earned VETS Campus certification by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, certifying the college’s commitment to programs and services to help veterans succeed as they pursue their education.

Enrollment in Tennessee’s community colleges rose one percent this fall over the fall semester of 2022, ending a three-year decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest enrollment report presented at the Tennessee Board of Regents quarterly meeting Thursday and Friday.

A total of 72,289 students are enrolled in the 13 community colleges this fall, compared to 71,804 in Fall 2022. Enrollment reached 88,946 in Fall 2019 but began a three-year annual decline in Fall 2020.

With tremendous sadness, we announce the untimely passing of Dr. Orinthia T. Montague, President of Volunteer State Community College. 

“Dr. Montague’s passing is a tremendous loss, not only to the Volunteer State Community but to the entire Tennessee Board of Regents System and higher education. She was a great leader who cared deeply about her students and their success,” TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband and family and the campus community.”

The Tennessee Board of Regents will hold its regular quarterly meeting at Motlow State Community College’s Moore County Campus, with committee meetings on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, and the full board on Friday, Sept. 22.

The Board of Regents governs Tennessee's public community colleges and colleges of applied technology.

NASHVILLE (September 15, 2023) – TBR - The College System of Tennessee, is pleased to announce that 11 students from Tennessee’s Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) have been awarded the James B. Brown Memorial Scholarship. Since 2018, $47,250 has been awarded to 188 technical students. 

This year’s scholarship recipients include: