Presentation Overview Program Details Program Success Update Transfer Pathway Alignment Program Funding Framework Enrollment Impact Projections Challenges and Opportunities

The Tennessee Promise “Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover costs of tuition and mandatory fees not met from Pell, HOPE, or TSAA. As part of the program, students will be paired with a partnering organization and provided with a mentor who will support them during the college application process.”

Enrollment Eligibility Tennessee Resident Enroll full-time 8 hours of community service each semester Complete orientation and program deadlines o Application o FAFSA o Community Service

Maintaining Eligibility Remain full-time (12+ credit hours per semester) Attend a postsecondary institution for consecutive semesters Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February of each year Maintain satisfactory academic progress Complete 8 hours of community service each semester

Program Success Update Tennessee Promise Application Saturday – Motlow State Community College

TN Promise Application portal open from Aug 1 – Nov 1, ,638 students applied statewide (including public, private, and homeschool students) 6,000+ Volunteer Mentors First cohort of students will enroll in fall 2015 Financial AidMentorship Success Framework

Tennessee Promise Application Rate by County Applications as a Percentage of the Average High School Graduating Class

Applicants by Sector Preference

Next Steps Jan-Feb 5 First mandatory meeting February 15 FAFSA Completion Deadline Mar-April Second Mandatory Meeting August 1 Community Service Deadline FAFSA Verification Deadline August 15 Eligible Student Roster Transmitted to Colleges

Access & Attainment Gaps Community Colleges have an overrepresentation of Low- Income Students when compared to HS graduation rates Low Income Students have lower success rates than Non-PELL students (Success defined as receipt of Associate, Certificate, or Transfer)

Transfer Pathway Alignment

Program Funding Framework Tennessee Code Annotated § Fund shall be an irrevocable trust that the state treasurer shall administer Trust shall consist of the Tennessee Promise endowment account and the Tennessee Promise scholarship special reserve account More than $300 million from the lottery for education account: “in excess of the sum of the general shortfall reserve sub- account”

Can States Afford What Tennessee is Doing? "...a federal Pell grant, which averages $3,300, to help pay for the average $3,800-per-year (TN) tuition. The state pays the difference: $500 on average. Nationally, in 16 states, the average Pell grant pays for the typical student’s entire community college tuition.” - U.S. Senator (R-TN) Lamar Alexander

Potential Enrollment Impact Institution 2014 Headcount5%10%15% Chattanooga State9, ,400 Cleveland State3, Columbia State5, Dyersburg State2, Jackson State4, Motlow4, Nashville State10, ,0051,507 Northeast State5, Pellissippi State10, ,0101,515 Roane5, Southwest10, ,0181,527 Volunteer State7, ,150 Walters State6, Total Comm Colleges86,1934,3108,61912,929

Challenges Will our current facilities accomodate the increased enrollment? Will we have sufficient faculty to cover additional classes? Will we have sufficient student services (advisors, counselors)? Will we have sufficient volunteer mentors?

Opportunities Community College students are applying to college earlier Tennessee Promise students are enrolled full time (12 hours) Over 68,000 High School Seniors are engaged in college discussions with advisors, counselors, and/or family members College planning now begins in Middle School Every graduating senior can afford college

Questions & Answers Dr. Warren Nichols Vice Chancellor of Community Colleges Michael Tinsley Perkins Grant Coordinator