Low-Income Student Support

Resources

TN Student Support Network

Cost is the most commonly cited reason for students dropping out of college. In Tennessee, low-income students graduate from postsecondary institutions at lower rates than their wealthier peers. TBR’s data profiles show that 20 percent of Pell-eligible students enrolled in Tennessee’s community colleges graduate, compared to 32 percent of non-Pell students. This completion gap is significant; 56 percent of TBR’s incoming students are Pell-eligible, with 31 percent receiving the full Pell Grant. Traditional financial aid does not cover living expenses and other financial responsibilities, so even students receiving the maximum amount of need-based financial aid still have unmet need that can interfere with their ability to prioritize school. 

The vision of a low-income student support network is that any person who has experienced poverty, homelessness, or foster care will have ample academic, financial, social, and emotional supports to access, navigate, and complete a postsecondary education. This system-wide network serves TBR professionals and institutions to ensure connectivity, share best practices, and provide information exchange among students, community-based stakeholders, and K-12 educators in support of low-income students across Tennessee. 

The work of the TN Student Support Network (TN-SSN) began as a pilot in 2024 with three TBR institutions representing each grand region of the state. Chattanooga State Community College, Southwest Tennessee State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College and a partnership with TN Departments of Labor, Human Services, and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the Tennessee Board of Regents began work to streamline access to resources for TBR students.  The TN-SSN is testing a theory of change and resource alignment process between state agencies to see if enrollment and completion rates among at-risk populations can be increased when providing aligned and focused interventions. In 2025 all community and technical colleges joined the network.

TBR's Beyond Financial Aid Initiative

History of the Project

In March 2016, TBR campus teams were convened in Nashville to discuss the beta version of the Lumina Foundation's Beyond Financial Aid (BFA) assessment guide. A copy of the meeting materials can be accessed here.  Each campus conducted a self-study of how they currently support low-income students and areas for improvement. The data from the self-studies guided campuses to create campus plans for how they would address areas of concern in the coming academic year. The System Office applied for and received funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support four AmeriCorps VISTA members for the 2016-17 academic year to build capacity around resources and services to support low-income students at each of the 46 TBR Institutions. 

In 2017, the TBR System Office received funding from the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) to support four AmeriCorps VISTA members to build capacity among 46 institutions of higher education in Tennessee. The objective was to provide support services to assist low-income individuals to enroll and complete a certificate or credential, with the ultimate goal of breaking the cycle of poverty. VISTA members developed initiatives and processes to increase the number of low-income and veteran students entering a Tennessee postsecondary institution, with particular attention towards recent high school graduates and returning adult learners. The resources found on this page were created as a result of the VISTA member support.

Combating Food Insecurity

TBR COVID-19 Student Resource Guide - Resources to share with students facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Training Resources

Combating Food Insecurity - Presentation Recording - "Combating Food Insecurity: SNAP and Food Pantry Resources," TBR virtual training on September 10, 2020

Combating Food Insecurity - Presentation PowerPoint Slides - "Combating Food Insecurity: SNAP and Food Pantry Resources," TBR virtual training on September 10, 2020

Advising Student Referrals - Presentation PowerPoint Slides - "Effective Referrals for Low-Income Student Supports," TBR virtual training for Academic Advisors on November 12, 2020

SNAP Resources

Flyers:

PDF icon SNAP College Student Eligibility Flyer PDF icon SNAP College Student Guide Brochure PDF icon SNAP Medical Deductions Flyer PDF icon SNAP = More Food at Home Flyer

Video: SNAP Benefits for College Students - Created by Chattanooga State Community College

Sign-Up: Monthly Nutrition Newsletter - Created by the Tennessee Justice Center's nutrition advocacy team

Sign-Up: Quarterly College Hunger Calls - Led by the Tennessee Justice Center; email Signe Anderson (sanderson@tnjustice.org) to join the call list. 

Food Pantry Resources

Technical Colleges: Students wishing to access food pantry assitance at Tennessee's Colleges of Applied Technology should contact the Student Services Coordinator on their campus. 

Grant Opportunity: Stay tuned for future grant opportunities

For campuses interested in partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank:

PDF icon Second Harvest Partner Agency Manual Microsoft Office document icon Second Harvest Partner Agency Application

Contact Information

TBR System Office contacts, for resources and questions:

Kristina Krau Waymire,Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Support Services