Making Opportunity Affordable-
Tennessee Initiative

Objective

MOA-TN is focused on increasing the productivity of state higher education systems -- specifically, increasing the number of degrees and certificates produced within available resources.  Even if Tennessee were to reach the best performing states in the performance of the traditional age population, degree attainment goals will not be reached.  It is only through enrolling and graduating more adult students that the state can meet such goals.  To that end, MOA-TN will incorporate an Adult Strategies Group to recommend a comprehensive set of integrated strategies to address the needs of adult students. 

Members

Elaine Adams Dean, SWCC
Lucille Booker Special Projects Advisor, Shelby County Mayor’s Office
Mike Boyle Dean of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, MTSU
Sherryl Byrd Associate Vice President for Student Services, APSU
Tommy Cates Professor and Coordinator, University Studies, UTM
Miki Craft Director of Crossroads program, Student Services, STCC
Susan Elkins Vice President, Extended Programs, TTU
David Gotcher Director of Academic Outreach and Distance Learning, MTSU
Raylean Henry Executive Director of Operations, Regents Online Degree Program, TBR
Kathryn Johnson Executive Director of Student Services, STCC
Christine Luce Research and Planning Analyst, THEC
Julia McGee Interim Dean for the Center for Extended and Distance Education, APSU
Robbie Melton Associate Vice Chancellor, Regents Online Degree Program, TBR
Dwight Murphy Director, TTC Oneida/Huntsville
Evelyn Nettles Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, TSU
Sharon Peters Director of Off-Campus Programs and Evening Weekend College, TSU
Carol Puryear Director, TTC Murfreesboro
Cheryl Seay Director of Distance Education and Multimedia Services, TSU
Paula Short Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, TBR
Carol Tosh Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management, SWCC
John Townsend Executive Director, Workforce Development Academic Affairs, TBR
Chelle Travis Assistant Vice Chancellor for Instruction at TTCs, TBR
David Wright Associate Executive Director, Policy, Planning, and Research, THEC
Bonnie Yegidis Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success, UT

Meetings

April 13, 2009
The MOA-TN Adult Strategies Group was launched with a conference call for interested participants. The group will meet biweekly over the next several months to create a comprehensive set of adult learner policies in Tennessee.

April 27, 2009
Group members met at the TSU campus and agreed upon parameters for the MOA-TN Adult Strategies Group and identified obstacles for students, administrators, and the state in promoting adult learning in Tennessee.

May 11, 2009
Bruce Chaloux, the director of the Electronic Campus and the Adult Learning Campaign at the Southern Regional Education Board, met with the MOA-TN Adult Strategies Group. Dr. Chaloux discussed adult degree completion programs in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma; best practices across SREB states; and suggestions concerning Tennessee’s progress.

May 26, 2009
The group discussed the value of creating an adult degree completer program and how a Tennessee model would compare to those of other states.

June 8, 2009
The Adult Strategies Group refined a framework for Tennessee’s adult degree completer program.

July 27, 2009
Group members reconvened to review draft of Adult Degree Completion Program.

August 17, 2009
The MOA-TN Adult Strategies Group provided final recommendations for adult student policy and programming in Tennessee.

Resources

MOA-TN Adult Strategies Group Report
Adult Participation Rate by County
Focus on Adult Learners in Tennessee
List of Resources