In 2019, Governor Lee launched the Correction Education Investment--a commitment to invest in expanding education and re-entry opportunities inside Tennessee prisons. With this commitment, Tennessee Community Colleges and Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) now offer certificate programs and associate degree programs in the majority of TDOC facilities across the state.

Through this exciting season of opportunity, TPCC partners have worked proactively and collaboratively to continue to expand access for 1) additional cohorts or students, 2) additional degree offerings and pathways, including Bachelor’s Degree programs, and 3) college programs at additional prison locations.  The group has also worked closely with the Office of the Governor to flag legislative priorities that would improve the lives of justice impacted students, like reducing barriers that people with criminal backgrounds face in pursuing professional licensure.

TPCC partners approach the student continuum from pre-enrollment through completion, re-entry and employment to identify opportunities to fill existing support gaps, offer warm handoffs, and meet student needs.

TPCC’s goals to 1) work collaboratively to ensure student support reflects student needs, 2) build guardrails to protect against exploitative or harmful practices, and 3) fill student support gaps across the student continuum are strengthened by the work of the TPCC Professional Learning Community. Learn more about the TPCC Learning Community, join us for Professional Development and community, and find helpful HEP resources here:

TPCC is work that brings together partners and agencies across the state to actively participate in the success of students of HEP programs in Tennessee.  These partners and agencies have largely worked independently of each other prior to the implementation of TPCC but now are working together toward one goal:  the success of students.