Tennessee's Community Colleges

Tennessee’s community colleges are welcoming students back for Fall semester, in a variety of class modalities and with a focus on keeping them healthy and safe as they continue their studies.

Eleven of the 13 community colleges start fall classes Monday, Aug. 24.  Northeast State Community College began classes Aug. 17 and Roane State Community College launched Aug. 19.

The 27 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology start their Fall terms Sept. 1.

Tennessee's community colleges are “probably the furthest along in implementing guided pathways reforms” of any community college system in the nation, a new study by Columbia University concludes.

More than 80,000 students open a new academic year today at Tennessee’s 13 public community colleges, where they’ll find an array of new facilities, programs and welcome back celebrations.

After the wildfires struck the Gatlinburg area and tornadoes struck elsewhere last month, staff and students at several Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and Tennessee's community colleges from across the state swung into action to help with relief efforts. That work culminated Dec. 6 when a tractor-trailer rig from TCAT-Knoxville’s truck driving program pulled into a Red Cross donation center in Sevier County and unloaded 28,541 personal and household items for residents displaced by the fires.

Leaders of all 13 of Tennessee’s community colleges held a press conference at the state capitol today to emphasize their support for continuing Tennessee’s commitment to higher K-12 academic standards that prepare students for college study.