Press Releases

As the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) rapidly approaches one million certifications across its national network in 17 years of existence, TBR – The College System of Tennessee proudly recognizes the thousands of certifications earned by students at community and technical colleges across the state. All 23 Tennessee colleges of applied technology (TCATs) and three of the system’s community colleges provided NC3 training, leading to 60,262 certifications.

Student enrollment is up 4 percent over fall 2024 at Tennessee’s community colleges and 6 percent at the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), based on preliminary fall 2025 enrollment numbers presented to the Tennessee Board of Regents during its quarterly meeting Thursday and Friday.

The Tennessee Board of Regents will hold its next regular quarterly meeting Sept. 18-19, 2025, at the new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center in Knoxville. Agenda highlights include consideration of a new systemwide strategic plan for 2025-35, proposed policy revisions, legislative and budget requests, and a report on student access, enrollment and success trends.

The board governs the College System of Tennessee – the state’s public community colleges and colleges of applied technology.

Today, we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor all those affected by this tragedy. Their memory calls us to serve our communities and support one another.

On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, we encourage our students, faculty and staff to find ways to give back and strengthen the bonds that unite us.

Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Chancellor Flora W. Tydings has appointed Roane State Community College’s Teresa Duncan as nuclear workforce lead strategist. In addition to remaining in her current role as vice president of workforce development at Roane State, Duncan will help lead the College System of Tennessee’s nuclear strategy to continue building a highly-skilled nuclear workforce in Tennessee. 

Seventeen Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology across the state are included in USA Today’s list of America’s Top 250 Vocational Schools for 2025.

The 17 TCATs are the only Tennessee institutions cited on the list. Tennessee had the fourth-highest number of schools among the 32 states with institutions listed in the Top 250, behind only the much larger states of California (35 institutions), Florida (25), and Texas (22).

The Tennessee Board of Regents committee chairs will meet Tuesday, August 26, 2025, to receive informational updates, review proposed revisions to TBR policies, and preview the agenda for the full board’s next quarterly meeting in September. The board’s Audit Committee will also meet immediately after the committee chairs.

When Tennessee’s community colleges open the 2025-26 academic year this month, they’ll also launch the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) General Education Core, a transformative experience designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge for success in the 21st Century.

In a special called meeting Aug. 6, 2025, the Tennessee Board of Regents appointed Dr. Saul Reyes as the next president of Walters State Community College. He will assume office as the college’s fifth president effective Sept. 8.

The Tennessee Board of Regents will hold a special called meeting Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, to consider the appointment of the next president of Walters State Community College and to receive a notice of proposed changes to the TBR Bylaws.

The board will receive and consider approval of Chancellor Flora W. Tydings’ recommendation of Dr. Saul Reyes for the Walters State presidency. Dr. Reyes is currently vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at the College of Central Florida.