HIGHER EDUCATION

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Tennessee on Wednesday as part of her nationwide “Returning Education to the States” tour,.

Tennessee teachers who complete non-traditional pathways to licensure are significantly less likely than traditional degree program graduates to remain in the profession during their early careers, particularly by the start of their fifth year, according to a new study from TERA.

Aspiring Tennessee teachers now have a clearer and more affordable pathway into the classroom. THEC voted this week to revise the TN Future Teacher Scholarship program, cutting the required teaching commitment in half.

Tennessee’s Class of 2026 high school seniors can now take their first step toward tuition-free college through the Tennessee Promise program through Nov. 3.

Supporters say Tennessee is leading the nation with TN Direct Admissions, a new pilot program that automatically accepts eligible high school seniors into in-state colleges and technical schools—no application required.

Tennessee has been selected to join Lumina Foundation’s FutureReady States initiative, a national effort to align short-term credentials with quality jobs and expand access for adult learners. The state will focus on defining and tracking stackable credentials to build clearer, more flexible education pathways.

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance and strategic oversight of the University of Tennessee System, including campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin, Pulaski (UT Southern), and the UT Health Science Center in Memphis. 

The Tennessee General Assembly approved $165.5 million in next year’s budget for the new building, which is the largest investment ever funded for a single higher education project.

According to the Comptroller’s audit, Tucker is inheriting a university that ended the 2022/23 fiscal year in June 2023 with an operating revenue loss of more than $128 million.

Under the proposed budget, tuition will hold steady at $11,560 per semester for in-state students and $30,704 for out-of-state students for the 2025-26 school year.

Nondegree credentials focus on specific competencies and include diplomas, certificates, and industry credentials other than a traditional postsecondary degree.

Bulso’s bill would require restrooms, changing areas, and showers that are multi-occupant to be segregated by sex in residential education programs involving minors.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville, establishes a community schools grant program to benefit public schools, administered by the University of Tennessee. Local districts would be able to opt in and apply for grants to create so-called full-service community schools within existing public schools.

The plan would reduce TSU's budget deficit by $32-37 million over the next two fiscal years through staff cuts, scholarship caps, hiring freezes and other cuts.

Leaders in business and education came together to discuss new pathways for Tennessee students to find success in their journey from the classroom to the workforce during the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) annual Future Forward Summit.  

The Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) announced the launch of a new grant program called the Future Forward Innovation Grant that’s designed to support education, community, and industry leaders as they design and launch innovative education pathway programs.

Explosive program growth and a drop in lottery revenues prompted Tennessee Higher Education Commission officials to warn state lawmakers of a projected shortfall in funding for Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship programs.

Fresh off the passage of his plan to let parents use tax dollars to send children to private school during last month’s special session, Lee used the annual address to unveil multiple new proposals for education that would be funded by the Governor’s proposed $59.5 billion state budget.

The University of Memphis has launched a new year-long initiative to connect research leaders at the university who have seen success in their individual labs to researchers with strategic focuses to create large-scale transformational research ecosystems.

Joshua Tyler, a computational engineering doctoral candidate and electrical engineering research associate at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), has developed the world’s first usable artificial intelligence network that can learn how to encrypt itself.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Mathematics Assistant Professor Dr. Xiunan Wang has gained international recognition for her work in mathematical modeling to forecast the spread of infectious diseases.

The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a jointed resolution Thursday to signal lawmakers’ support for Riley Gaines, a former swimmer known for campaigning against the participation of trans women in collegiate women’s sports.

A new report from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) says students in Tennessee’s primary college coaching and advising program are more likely than others to gain post-secondary credentials.

Two University of Memphis researchers recently received a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Professional Development program to address a “critical need for highly qualified licensed ESL teachers in the Memphis area.”

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s former Chancellor Dr. Steve Angle transitioned from his leadership role to join the faculty on Jan. 1. Officials said his 11 years at the helm marked “a period of significant growth and innovation” that elevated the university’s reputation and prospects for future success.

Researchers at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville will use a $17.8 million grant from the U.S. Air Force to create a wind tunnel to recreate hypersonic conditions for aerospace research.

Tennessee State University officials told state leaders Monday that the university is currently looking for new ways to save money, amid concerns about financial mismanagement.

The Tennessee State University Board of Trustees has selected LEAD Public Schools CEO Dwayne Tucker to lead the university, following Interim President Ronald Johnson’s resignation on Wednesday.

A new poll from Vanderbilt University notes that parents are growing increasingly concerned about not having enough money to support their children’s education, among other findings.