Veteran Initiatives

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) has many statewide initiatives related to supporting active duty, veteran and military-affiliated students.  Here, you’ll find valuable information and other resources. 

Please review tabs below and on the left for relevant information.

Passed into law in 2014, the Tennessee Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act establishes a program of recognition for higher education institutions which allocate resources for veterans’ successful transition from military service to college enrollment.

An institution receiving VETS Campus certification not only prioritizes outreach to veterans, but successfully delivers the services necessary to create a supportive environment where student veterans can prosper while pursuing their education.

Starting July 1, 2024, ten years after the Tennessee Veterans Transition Support (VETS) Act was signed into law, VETS Campuses now have an opportunity to become a VETS Bravo Campus. VETS Bravo Campuses analyze the annual student veteran survey, invest in a VETS Campus Bravo Liaison by encouraging professional development, have an established peer mentoring or other support program geared toward military-connected students, and helps military-connected students engage with the workforce through a career services initiative. Both the peer mentoring or other support program and tailored career services must be in place for at least one academic year (fall and spring semester).

Veteran Reconnect programs provide seamless support to the state’s suite of student veteran initiatives, including the Tennessee Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act’s provisions of in-state tuition for veterans and dependents, VETS Campus designations, and THEC’s Tennessee Service Member Opportunity Portal (TN-SOP), an interactive database which translates prior military experience to academic credit at Tennessee public colleges.

The primary goal of the Veteran Reconnect Grant program is to accelerate the success of veterans already enrolled on Tennessee campuses, and create favorable conditions to recruit new student veterans.  Ultimately, it is the goal of this program that Tennessee be the premier state in the nation for student veteran success.  Future Veteran Reconnect grant programs are in development.

Click here for information related to the upcoming VETS Reconnect Conference.

VETS Reconnect

Contact:

Kathleen Staple
Director of Veteran Initiatives
Ph: (615) 812-1288
kathleen.staple.@tn.gov