Press Releases

Thanks to the generosity of our campus communities, food insecurity is less of a barrier to attendance for students in need and hunger is less prevalent in our broader communities.

Students, faculty and staff at Tennessee’s public community and technical colleges collected and donated the equivalent of 148,578 food items in the College System of Tennessee’s Annual Food Drive Challenge for 2022. The food and cash donations go to campus food pantries and local organizations, programs and food banks in their communities.

During its quarterly meeting today, the Tennessee Board of Regents appointed Susan L. Hatto as the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Athens and Patrick Wade as the next president of TCAT Murfreesboro.

Chancellor Flora W. Tydings recommended both candidates to the board after reviewing input from the two college communities following campus forums last month, and then further interviewing the finalists. Both were among separate sets of finalists selected by search committees at their respective colleges.

Regina Watkins has been appointed director of veteran enrollment and benefits at TBR – The College System of Tennessee. In this new role, Watkins will work directly with the System’s 13 community colleges and 24 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology across the state to support their School Certifying Officers (SCOs) in administering veteran education benefits. 

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) will hold its next quarterly meeting Dec. 1. The agenda includes consideration of the chancellor’s recommendations for the next presidents of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) at Athens and Murfreesboro, proposed new career and technical education programs, financial reporting, and an update on construction of the new TCAT campus at Ford’s Blue Oval City project.

Four Tennessee community colleges are in the process of implementing self-designed pilot plans for Reimagining the Community College Experience – a Tennessee Board of Regents initiative to improve student success through more extensive career exploration, career advising and a workforce-focused certificate in a student’s first semester.

Tennessee’s community and technical colleges have kicked off their 24th Annual Food Drive Challenge, with campuses competing to collect the most food items and cash donations to help stock student food pantries on their campuses and food banks in their communities.

The colleges, comprising the College System of Tennessee, collected 132,701 items, including cash, in last year’s Challenge. Over the years, more than 1,490,700 food items and funds converted to items have been collected.

As Tennessee’s community and technical colleges honor veterans in their campus communities this week, they’re also celebrating the news that all 13 community colleges are now certified as VETS Campuses, a state program that recognizes their commitment to services that help veterans succeed as they pursue their education.

The Tennessee Board of Regents’ committee chairs will meet Nov. 15, 2022, to receive informational reports and preview items on the draft agenda for the full board’s next quarterly meeting on Dec. 1. The board’s Personnel and Compensation Committee and Audit Committee will conduct business meetings following the committee chairs.

The Board of Regents governs Tennessee's public community colleges and colleges of applied technology.

Tennessee’s community and technical colleges are honoring veterans on their campuses – students, faculty, staff and alumni – in Veterans Day activities this week. One veteran at each college will be awarded the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans, a special recognition launched three years ago by Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.

TBR - The College System of Tennessee has released a second podcast focused on how higher education leaders build and cultivate creativity within their teams during times of disruption. The three-part series this fall is led by Dr. Heidi Leming, Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) vice chancellor for student success, with conversation based on a book she selects and discusses with industry experts and higher education leaders.