Board of Regents announces colleges earning Postsecondary Aligned Advising Endorsements for 2024

The Tennessee Board of Regents is proud to announce the 10 community and technical colleges earning Postsecondary Aligned Advising (PAA) Endorsements for 2024. The endorsements recognize the outstanding efforts of colleges and their college access partners in providing exceptional support to students through aligned and comprehensive advising practices.

The program aims to establish robust partnerships between Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) community and technical colleges and college access partners, to enhance the overall college advising experience. By fostering collaboration and alignment, the program ensures that students receive the guidance they need for the enrollment process, early career advising, and additional financial support, promoting a seamless transition into postsecondary education.

Recipients of Level 3 (top level) PAA Endorsements for 2024 are:

• Columbia State Community College
• Dyersburg State Community College
• Nashville State Community College
• Northeast State Community College
• Pellissippi State Community College
• Volunteer State Community College
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology Dickson
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology Hartsville
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson

The PAA Endorsement Program evaluates institutions based on a set of minimum standards that support the TBR System’s Relational Advising Program. Key components of the endorsement include regional or local network meetings, clear delineation of advising roles and responsibilities, and professional development for advising staff.

Level I Endorsement requires college-access partners’ leadership to attend network meetings with colleges to develop partnership agreements, define advising roles, and ensure that at least 50 percent of advising staff participate in institution-sponsored advisor training.

Level II Endorsement builds on Level I by incorporating the college’s advising model into college-access partners’ training for all advising staff and ensuring attendance at TBR-sponsored webinars.

Level III Endorsement includes the requirements of Levels I and II and mandates that advising staff attend two TBR-sponsored webinars or TBR’s annual advising academy. Level III Endorsements are the top-level endorsements announced today.

College access partners are nonprofit organizations across the state that encourage college attendance for all students and help students to navigate the college enrollment, admissions, and financial aid process. TBR’s college access partners include the Ayers Foundation, Niswonger Foundation, tnAchieves, Martha O’Bryan Center, SCORE, Peer Power, Advise TN, Gear Up Tennessee, Persist Nashville, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and community vocational rehabilitation services offices.

“The TBR congratulates all endorsed institutions, and their college access partners for their dedication to excellence in advising and student support. This recognition underscores their commitment to fostering an environment that prioritizes student success through collaborative and aligned advising practices,” said Dr. Tiffany Bellafant Steward, assistant vice chancellor for student enrollment and retention services in the TBR Office of Student Success.

For more information about the PAA Endorsement program and a complete list of recipients, please visit https://www.tbr.edu/student-success/academic-advising-reference-guide.