Tennessee’s Higher Education Master Plan

THEC 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.

Green Modern Product Development Roadmap Presentation
Tennessee Higher Education Master Plan 2025-2035 timeline

Illustration Key:  Roadmap Process

  1. Topical Workgroups
  2.  THEC/TSAC All Staff Meeting
  3. Focus Groups
  4.  Writing Phase
  5. Trustees Event
  6. Commission Approval
  7. Launch

Topical Work Group

THEC 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 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 will conduct focus groups for several populations, including:

  • 18-24-Year Old Students 
  • Adult Learners 
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Financial Aid Administrators 
  • Campus Data Stewards 
  • Employers
The goal for these focus groups is to gather perspective from individuals who are connected to the day-day activities of higher education.

Statutory Committee Meetings

Updated as of August 2025