COVID-19 Campus & Financial Aid Information
THEC is closely monitoring the evolving situation of COVID-19. As always, the safety and health of our employees and students are our highest priority. We will continue to evaluate the situation along with higher education partners, the Governor's Office, and the Tennessee Department of Health.
Ultimately, decisions related to higher education instruction and operations belong to the respective institutional governing boards and presidents. However, the state has issued guidelines for colleges and universities based on the current recommendations of the CDC and OSHA. Please call your doctor and stay home if you feel sick or have been exposed to an infected individual in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Accrediting Agency Helpful Links
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS)
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
Department of Veteran Affairs Guidance
The Department of Veteran Affairs guidance for certification of GI Bill® benefits to approved institutions:
3/21/2020, President Trump signed Senate Bill 3503: To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to treat certain programs of education converted to distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related situations in the same manner as programs of education pursued at educational institutions, and for other purposes.
The new law provided guidelines regarding COVID 19. The VA provided FAQs as guidelines for schools to understand how to work with student veteran certifications for GI Bill® due to changes to school programs because of the COVID 19 virus. See Department of Veterans Affairs link for details: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/covid19faqs.asp#NCD The VA is also compiling questions from SCOs. If there are other general questions for the VA, please send your questions to Veterans.Education@tn.gov and the questions will be compiled and forwarded to VA.
Information current as of 4/30/2020
TN Reconnect
THEC/TSAC is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation. Please visit this webpage to find the contact information of your Reconnect Navigator.
Online Resources
- TN Achieves-Team meeting cancellations are happening across Tennessee. Learn about how you can maintain your eligibility for TN Promise.
- Financial Literacy Resources-While you are working with your students to engage in effective educational practices outside of the classroom, the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission is making sure you have access to our free financial literacy programs.
- NEXT Guide- An online resource for seniors, as they navigate the next steps to college, career, and military service.
- CollegeforTN.org- Explore interests inventories and then match up those interests to careers in high demand. Explore all the Financial Aid options in Tennessee as well.
- BigFuture- CollegeBoard.org has pulled together interviews, resources, and lots of other great information on how to navigate the application process and find a career that works best.
- Raise.Me- Ever wanted to get paid for doing the right thing in school and in the community? Well, check out Raise.Me to research the schools in Tennessee and elsewhere.
- Time for Payback- What are the hidden costs and challenges of your first year of college? Play this virtual game to see what it really costs to thrive in college next year.
- Amazing Educational Resources : http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/?usp=sharing
- Shmoop- Online learning solutions in the form of creatively curated content. Shmoop is offering free statewide support to teachers and students in grades 6-12.
- WideOpen School, powered by Common Sense from The Gates Foundation: https://wideopenschool.org/