Tennessee Board of Regents awarded national grant to simplify college admissions and expand student access

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) has been selected as one of 10 recipients of a national grant from Lumina Foundation’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative, which is investing more than $3.5 million to simplify the college admissions process and expand student access across the country.

Through this grant, TBR will streamline the enrollment process for dual enrollment at its community and technical colleges and improve the student experience once there – including clear, proactive interventions focused on advising, communication “nudges,” and career-aligned pathways so students and families know exactly what to do next and feel confident taking the next step. The effort is designed to make it easier for students to navigate the path to college by creating a more seamless, student-centered experience.

“We’re honored to be selected by Lumina as a recipient of this grant, which will help us advance the important work already underway to simplify the college enrollment process and to help students succeed through to graduation,” said Troy Grant, TBR vice chancellor for strategic enrollment management.

“For example, we are streamlining dual enrollment for high school students who want to earn college credit and enroll in higher education. This will allow students who have already demonstrated college readiness through dual enrollment to seamlessly enroll at their local community college or TCAT (Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology) after high school graduation,” Grant said.

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative supports states, systems, and institutions in integrating admissions, financial aid, advising, and enrollment systems. The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers and help more students successfully enroll in and complete college.

“Across the country, we’re seeing real momentum to rethink how students access college,” said Melanie Heath, Lumina strategy director. “This cohort reflects a clear shift from fragmented fixes to coordinated, student-centered systems.”

The initiative is part of a broader national effort to increase post-high school attainment and advance Lumina’s Goal 2040, which aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

“As Tennessee’s open-access college system, student success and workforce development is our mission,” TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings said. “The work supported by the grant is part of our broader systemwide efforts to simplify access and better support students from application through enrollment.”

Visit the Lumina Foundation website for more information about Great Admissions Redesign.