Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced Monday the 11 colleges and universities selected to receive the Veteran Reconnect Grant, a grant focused on improving the success of student veterans enrolled in Tennessee colleges and universities.
"From 2008 to 2013, we saw a 200 percent increase in the number of veterans enrolling in our Tennessee colleges and universities," Haslam said. "Our Veterans Education Task Force has been working to address the unique needs that our service men and women have when they come home and go back to school, and these competitive grants will help two-year and four-year schools develop initiatives specifically designed for veterans to be successful in earning a degree or certificate."
Haslam included the grant in his FY 2015-2016 budget amendment and the General Assembly approved $1 million for it. A request for proposals was released in May. Proposals were due July 2 and reviewed by a committee of higher education and veteran service leaders.
Recipients of the grant include: Belmont University, $95,000; Chattanooga State Community College, $92,000; Columbia State Community College, $92,797; East Tennessee State University, $95,000; Jackson State Community College, $94,151; Lipscomb University, $80,415; Maryville College, $82,257; Middle Tennessee State University, $90,999; Northeast State Community College, $94,600; University of Memphis, $93,374; and Volunteer State Community College, $89,104.
The Veteran Reconnect Grant is part of the governor's Drive to 55 initiative aimed at increasing the number of Tennesseans with a certificate or degree beyond high school.