Technical College May Now Be Free In Tennessee, But Few Seem To Realize It

A new statewide program called Tennessee Reconnect will let anyone attend one of the state’s 27 technical colleges for free — but the state is facing obstacles getting the word out.

Tennessee Reconnect is 
part of the governor’s initiative to help more adults obtain a degree or certificate. 
It’s a similar initiative to Tennessee Promise,
 the program that lets graduating high school seniors attend community college for free. That one had rousing success: almost every eligible student in the state signed up before the deadline last fall. The state credits huge numbers, in part, to guidance counselors and teachers encouraging students to apply.

But with Tennessee Reconnect, 
eligible applicants aren’t necessary in high school and don’t have a
 guidance counselor advising them on their future
. They could b
e anywhere in the state and may never have
heard of a TCAT.

So the state recently launched a radio advertising campaign to try to
 reach more of those eligible adults. The commercial plays up the job opportunities that a technical degree could bring.

“
I trained to become a welder, and my tuition was free,” one enthusiastic voice says in the ad. “Now I make more than I ever thought I would.”

As part of the promotional campaign, the governor toured TCATs around the state earlier this month. The state also has trained unemployment counselors, as well as counselors with the Department of Human Services, to talk about the program with clients, said 
Mike Krause with the 
governor’s
 office.

So far, Krause said, about 5,600 adults have signed up. That pales in comparison to the more than 56,000 signups last fall for Tennessee Promise. But the state believes a higher percentage of applicants will follow through and attend school in the fall.

The deadline to sign up for Tennessee Reconnect is May 15. As with Tennessee Promise, applicants must be U.S. citizens to be eligible.