Higher Education Grants

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has awarded a total of $1 million in grants to eight Tennessee higher education institutions, including the University of Tennessee Southern. These funds will expand resources, strengthen mental health and well-being support, and help institutions better serve military-connected students and their families.

UT Southern was awarded a $150,000 Veteran Initiatives Designation Grant, allowing the institution to establish a comprehensive support program designed to improve recruitment, enrollment, retention and completion outcomes for veterans and military on campus. With the grant funds, a full-time veterans services coordinator will be hired to establish a hub that will deliver coordinated, student-centered services to address the needs of this unique population. Core components of the initiative include individualized academic advising, mentoring, connecting students with campus and outside resources, and the development of a lounge and gathering space for military-connected students.

The new programs and staffing will strengthen coordination of services, streamline application and transcript review and prior learning assessments, and enhance recruitment, retention and completion outcomes for military-connected students. Building on the efforts of Veterans Coordinator Lt. Col. Cochran Pruett and Certification Officer Emma Hlubb, the additional funding will allow the university to expand its existing efforts, strengthen services and create a more comprehensive support network for military-connected students.

For more information about Tennessee’s VETS Campus initiative and veteran and military-connected student resources, visit www.tn.gov/thec.