Gov. BIll Haslam, left, leads a discussion in Nashville in this file photo.NASHVILLE -- Some 22,800 students have registered so far in Gov. Bill Haslam's Tennessee Promise program, which offers "last dollars" scholarships to high school graduates wanting to attend two-year state community colleges or colleges of applied technology, officials say.
"The Tennessee Promise is a game-changer for the state," Haslam said in a statement Friday evening. "It's a clear statement to families that education beyond high school is a priority in Tennessee, and we're excited that so many have signed up to take advantage of this new opportunity."
He noted "there's still a month left for seniors to apply so we encourage everyone who hasn't to visit tnpromise.gov by Nov. 1 and fill out an application."
Tennessee Promise, which has received national attention, is aimed at boosting enrollment of first-time freshmen because they can attend for free at two-year community colleges such as Chattanooga State and Cleveland State as well as post-secondary technical schools.
An important component of the program is its reliance on volunteer mentors who are expected to provide guidance to students, a number of whom are the first in their families to seek education beyond high school. Funded through interest earned off unused Tennessee Education Lottery funds, the program provides "last dollar" money to students who may have other forms of financial aid. But it also picks up the full tuition tab for students who don't.
Earlier on Friday, Mike Krause, executive director of the state's Drive to 55 initiative, cited the 22,800 figure during a presentation to the Tennessee Board of Regents at their quarterly meeting near Knoxville.
Drive to 55, meanwhile, is another Haslam program aimed at increasing the percentage of Tennesseans who have college degrees or certificates to 55 percent of adults by the year 2025. That's good for both the students and for Tennessee, the governor has said, noting manufacturers in particular are clamoring for a better educated workforce in a high-tech world.
At their meeting at Pellissippi State near Knoxville, Regents also discussed and approved a recent performance evaluation of the system's Chancellor John Morgan, according to a release.
In other developments at the meeting:
• Regents also examined systemwide graduation completion initiatives as well as new workforce training programs. Among other actions, Regents gave Cleveland State the OK to begin offering an associate of applied science in paramedic training.
• A report on the system's college completion agenda showed the number of bachelor's degrees awarded in the 2013-2014 school year was 13,665, slightly above the year's goal.
But associate degrees reached 9,858 or 24 percent above the target. Community College certificates reached 5,658, some 212 percent above the goal. And Tennessee College of Applied Technology awards reached 7,801, 6 percent above the set goal.
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.