Tennessee’s Higher Education Master Plan

THEC/TSAC is in the process of developing a new version of the higher education master plan for 2025, which will guide the strategic direction of Tennessee's higher education enterprise for the next decade.

Please continue to monitor this page for updates on upcoming meetings, new materials, and other relevant announcements throughout the development process.

Master Plan Statutory Committee

The Master Plan Statutory Committee is established in T.C.A § 49-7-202(g) to aid in the development or revision of the higher education master plan and funding formula. The committee is composed of representatives across public higher education, the commissioner of finance and administration, the comptroller of the treasury, the chairs of the standing committees on education and finance, ways, and means in the house of representatives and senate, and the directors of the office of legislative budget analysis.

“g)(1) The commission shall establish a review committee to aid in development or revision of the higher education master plan and funding formula. The committee shall include the executive director of the Tennessee higher education commission, the chancellor of the board of regents, the president of the University of Tennessee system, each president of a board of regents state university, the commissioner of finance and administration, the comptroller of the treasury, the chairs of the standing committees on education and finance, ways and means of the senate, the chairs of the standing committees on education administration and finance, ways and means of the house of representatives, and the directors of the office of legislative budget analysis, or their designees.”

Next Public Meeting: 

Higher Education Master Plan Statutory Committee
Monday, October 6
1:00-3:00pm CDT
Location:     Virtual or Room D, 3rd Floor William Snodgrass TN Tower, 312 Rosa L Parks Ave, Nashville, TN 37243
Agenda   | Video Streaming Link (TBD)

Previous Meetings: 

February 20, 2025
Meeting Presentation  
Meeting Minutes   

May 21, 2025 
Meeting Presentation   
Meeting Minutes  
Meeting Agenda   
Video Recording  

August 18, 2025
Meeting Presentation  
Meeting Minutes  
Meeting Agenda  
Video Recording 

Topical Work Group

THEC/TSAC has hosted five topical work groups, which were designed to elevate and sort out some of the most pressing issues facing higher education with a diverse set of stakeholders from across colleges and universities, state government, and education organizations. 

• Defining the North Star: A Unifying Vision for the Master Plan –  Establish a clear, ambitious, and measurable long-term goal that guides all strategic planning efforts.4esources, strategies, and investments needed to support institutions in meeting long-term state goal.'s.
• State Investment and Affordability -   Address the resources, strategies, and investments needed to support institutions in meeting long-term state goals.
• Access and Student Success -  Ensure equitable opportunities for all students to enter, persist, and complete their education.
• Emerging Workforce Needs and Industry Alignment -  Address how THEC/TSAC and institutions will respond to labor market trends and employer demands. 
• Evidence Building to Support TN Higher Education -  Advance a higher education enterprise that elevates data literacy, maturity, and capacity to enable a more data-informed future.

Focus Groups

In addition to the Topical Work Groups, THEC/TSAC will conduct focus groups for several populations, including:

• 18-24-Year Old Students 
• Adult Learners 
  
• Faculty & Staff
  
• Financial Aid Administrators 
• Campus Data Stewards 
  
• Employers