TDOT Reconnect Program
TDOT Reconnect is a 16-month continuing education program for TDOT employees who have not completed a postsecondary education program. TDOT Reconnect is dedicated to encouraging TDOT employees to learn and develop transportation-related skills that will help provide career advancement opportunities and fulfill lifelong dreams of completing a degree or furthering their education. It is aligned with the statewide initiative, Tennessee Reconnect, which works to ensure adults have access to resources and supports necessary to further their education.
In partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), TDOT Reconnect provides employees a comprehensive overview of Department-related skills such as welding, traffic operations, and transportation skills while also including mathematical concepts, business writing, and computer skills. Employees who complete the TDOT Reconnect Program obtain a Transportation Systems Technology Certificate.
TDOT Reconnect is a 16-month continuing education program, broken into 4 semesters, held in all 4 regions across the state. Classes are held on Tuesdays, 9:00am – 4:00pm at the applicable region location (listed below). Each class is designed to educate participants on various transportation-related topics, with a combination of classroom discussion and hands-on experiential learning.
Region 1: Regional Complex – Building C; 7345 Region Lane, Knoxville, TN 37914
Region 2: Regional Complex - Building C; 7512 Volkswagon Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416
Region 3: Regional Annex Building
Region 4: Regional Complex – 300 Benchmark Pl, Jackson, TN 38301
Over a 16-month period, classes cover the 17 areas shown in the table below:
Orientation & General Safety |
Welding |
Intro to Computer & Office Procedures |
Public/Business Communications |
Intro to Construction Equipment |
Spreadsheet & Database Applications |
Construction & Business Math |
Traffic Operations |
Hand & Power Tools |
Project Planning & Administration |
Materials Management |
Heavy Truck Operations & Maintenance |
Plan Reading & Documentation |
Heavy Equipment Operations & Maintenance |
Site Prep & Basic Foundation |
Capstone Project |
Formwork & Shoring |
|
| Region 1 | Mark Doty | Mark.Doty@tn.gov |
| Region 2 | Craig Phillips | Craig.Phillips@tn.gov |
| Region 3 | Crystal Abbott | Crystal.Abbott@tn.gov |
| Region 4 | Rick Knoll | William.Knoll@tn.gov |
| Headquarters | Kasey Vatter | Kasey.Vatter@tn.gov |
Expand your TDOT knowledge! TDOT Reconnect is dedicated to encouraging TDOT employees to learn and develop transportation-related skills that will help provide career advancement opportunities and fulfill lifelong dreams of completing a degree or furthering their education. Classes are taught by TDOT employees and TCAT employees who are subject matter experts on the topics they instruct. Over 16 months, you will gain a better understanding of the Department, and various transportation-related topics. You will be able to directly apply the knowledge and skills you learn in Reconnect to your job.
When you graduate from the TDOT Reconnect Program, you will:
- Obtain a Transportation Systems Technology Certificate
- 5% raise
- Add 1.5 years to total years of work experience
- Receive college credits
- Receive a Concrete Field Testing Technician Certification
- Receive a Hot Mix Asphalt Certified Roadway Inspector Certification
Grades:
Grades will be recorded on a final transcript. Students will receive skills tests throughout each semester, and faculty will award a passing or failing grade based on performance of a skill. Failure to pass a skill will result in suspension at the end of the semester. Students will be given multiple opportunities to show their skill knowledge, if failure occurs.
Attendance:
Absences are either excused or unexcused. Absences are excused if the following conditions are met: 1. In the case of illness or emergency. Requires documentation such as a doctor’s note. 2. Scheduled use of annual leave. Must be approved by the participant’s supervisor. Unexcused absences will receive one written warning, followed by a formal meeting with the Regional Training specialist and the Reconnect Committee.
Participants must attend 90% of the classes per semester with excused absences. On the absence prior to the 90% attendance rule, the participant will receive a written warning. Once the participant exceeds 10% of absences for the semester, there will be a formal meeting with the Regional Training specialist and the Headquarters Human Resources staff to discuss furthering in the program.
In the case of unavoidable professional conflicts, employees will be counted as absent, but it will not count towards their 90% attendance rate.
If any absence occurs (excused or unexcused), the participant is responsible for making up the material by contacting the Regional Training specialist to schedule a time to do so. If a Reconnect participant is unable to attend a class(es) for a specific reason/situation, the Reconnect participant should notify his/her supervisor and the Regional Training specialist prior to missing class.
TDOT Reconnect is designed for individuals who have not completed a postsecondary education program and are interested in developing their skills and understanding of transportation systems for career advancement opportunities and/or furthering their education. Employees must be committed to attending each class, every Tuesday for 6 hours , for 16-months, including classroom and field experiences.
Pre-Requisites:
Employees must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply for the TDOT Reconnect Transportation Systems Certificate Program:
1. Obtained a GED or H.S. Diploma
2. Completed at least 1 year (12 months) of continuous employment with TDOT
3. Received a "valued" or higher rating on the most recent performance review
4. Have a record free of disciplinary action within the past 2 years
5. No formal post-secondary education
6. Job title must be within the following series:
• TDOT Mechanic
• TDOT Mechanic Senior
• TDOT Regional Garage Supervisor
• TDOT Operations Technician Series
• TDOT Technician Series
TDOT encourages applicants from the following functional areas:
• Garage
• Construction, Maintenance, & Floating Maintenance
• Bridge Inspection & Repair
• Highway Marking
• Materials & Tests
• Traffic
The TDOT Reconnect program is held at all 4 regions across the state. Each one consists of 25 student participants selected through a lottery drawing.
Program schedules are different in each region. Regional leadership will notify all regional employees via email when the application period begins and ends. Interested employees can apply for their region’s Reconnect Program by submitting a FormStack application found on transPORTAL. Employees will be given 5 business days to submit their application. After the deadline for sign-ups has passed, all submissions will be exported and filtered into excel. Any duplicates will be removed.
TDOT HQ HR will verify that all candidates meet the following qualifications to participate:
• 1 year or more of service with TDOT
• Performance rating of “valued” or higher
• No record of disciplinary action for the past 2 years
• No formal post-secondary education
• Appropriate job title
The names of all qualified candidates will be entered into a lottery drawing. Twenty-five (25) names are chosen by a random drawing and announced at the time of the drawing. There will be a limit of two (2) employees per business unit which can be selected to participate (the first 2 randomly selected for each business unit). Lottery winners will be notified within 24 hours by email that they have been selected to participate.
Upon completion of the TDOT Reconnect Program, employees obtain a Transportation Systems Technology Certificate which can then be utilized as a stepping stone for a postsecondary education program/degree. TDOT works with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and partners with local universities to outline academic pathways for TDOT Reconnect employees and. These college partnerships and associated degrees are outlined below.
Those that graduate from TDOT Reconnect, earn up to 18 credit hours towards an applicable degree at MTSU. These credit hours are subject to one’s ability to show proficiency in a subject area.
For additional information about the programs and degrees offered at Middle Tennessee State University, please visit: https://www.mtsu.edu/
Nashville State Community College offers a 65 credit hour Associates of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Architectural, Civil, and Construction Engineering Technology degree with a Civil and Construction Engineering Technology concentration. This degree provides students with a broad education and preparation for a career as an engineering aide in the civil engineering profession. Embedded in the program is an 18 credit hour Civil and Construction Engineering Technology Technical Certificate, which prepares students for the job market in many fields such as civil engineering, building construction, and road construction.
Those that graduate from TDOT Reconnect earn 9 credit hours towards the technical certificate, and ultimately, A.A.S. in Civil and Construction Engineering Technology. This flyer provides additional information about the program. In addition, this advising sheet lays out applicable courses and suggested semesters.
For additional information about the program, technical certificate, and degree please visit Nashville State Community College: Civil and Construction Engineering Technology A.A.S.
Pellissippi State Community College offers a 60 credit hour Associates of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Engineering Technology degree with a Civil Engineering concentration, Construction Engineering Technology option. This degree provides an academic/technical foundation to train skilled individuals to function effectively as assistants to civil engineers, environmental engineers, architects, developers or construction managers. Those that graduate from TDOT Reconnect earn 24 credit hours towards this degree.
For additional information about the program and degree please visit Pellissippi State Community College: Engineering Technology/Civil Engineering Concentration, A.A.S.
Southwest Tennessee Community College offers a 60 credit hour Associates of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Architectural Engineering Technology degree with a Civil/Construction concentration. This degree provides an academic/technical foundation to train skilled individuals to function effectively as assistants to engineers in the planning for, and in the design, construction, and maintenance of residential subdivisions, industrial parks, airports, bridges, highways, dams, pipelines, railroads, and buildings. Those that graduate from TDOT Reconnect earn, at a minimum, 6 credit hours towards this degree.
For additional information about the program and degree please visit Southwest Tennessee Community College: Architectural Engineering Technology, Civil/Construction Concentration, A.A.S.
Once a TDOT Reconnect student has completed theTransportation Systems Technology Certificate, TTU may grant up to 12 hours of lower division credit in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies through the Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio Credit for programs within the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and the School of Professional Studies.
For additional information about the program and degree please visit Tennessee Technological University: https://www.tntech.edu/is/welcome/
Volunteer State Community College offers a 60 credit hour Associates of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Mechatronics in Gallatin and Cookeville. Mechatronics is the blending of engineering fields including mechanical, controls, electronic and computer engineering to automate manufacturing, distribution and complex services through multiple industries. Those that graduate from TDOT Reconnect earn 3 credits towards this degree.
For additional information about the program and degree please visit Volunteer State Community College: https://www.volstate.edu/mechatronics/courses
What is TDOT Reconnect?
TDOT Reconnect encourages TDOT employees to learn and develop transportation-related skills that will provide monetary and career advancement opportunities. It is aligned with the statewide initiative, Tennessee Reconnect, which works to ensure adults have access to resources and supports necessary to further their education.
What is the Transportation Systems Certificate Program?
The Transportation Systems Certificate Program is an 18-month course that provides continuing education for TDOT employees and covers various transportation-related topics.
Who is eligible?
Any current TDOT employee who has not completed a secondary education program is eligible to participate in TDOT Reconnect.
How do I apply?
When available, employees will receive information on how to apply online.
Who do I contact to participate?
Region 1: Mark.Doty@tn.gov
Region 2: Craig.Phillips@tn.gov
Region 3: Melanie.Bumpus@tn.gov
Region 4: William.Knoll@tn.gov
To date, TDOT has eight agreements in place with local colleges to give college credit to employees who graduate from the program. To date, 120 employees have graduated and three classes are currently in session.
On September 12, 2017, the first class of TDOT Reconnect graduated with 22 students in east Tennessee (Region 1).
Region 2 TDOT Reconnect Graduating Class of 2018
Region 3 TDOT Reconnect Graduating Class of 2018
Region 4 TDOT Reconnect Graduating Class of 2018