2014 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 8 - State University and Community College System
Part 1 - General Provisions
§ 49-8-101 - System established.

(a) There is established a state university and community college system to be composed of Austin Peay State University, Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State Community College, Columbia State Community College, Dyersburg State Community College, East Tennessee State University, Jackson State Community College, Middle Tennessee State University, Motlow State Community College, Nashville State Community College, Northeast State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College, Roane State Community College, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, the University of Memphis, Volunteer State Community College, Walters State Community College, the statewide system of state colleges of applied technology established under chapter 11, part 4 of this title, including the state colleges of applied technology now established and located at Athens, Covington, Crossville, Dickson, Elizabethton, Harriman, Hartsville, Hohenwald, Jacksboro, Jackson, Knoxville, Livingston, McKenzie, McMinnville, Memphis, Morristown, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Newbern, Oneida, Paris, Pulaski, Ripley, Savannah, Shelbyville and Whiteville, and other community colleges and state colleges of applied technology that may be established.

(b) The government, management and control of the state university and community college system shall be vested in a board of regents, called the board in this part.

(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the board of regents, in consultation with the Tennessee higher education commission, shall establish a comprehensive statewide community college system of coordinated programs and services to be known as the Tennessee community college system.

(1) It is the legislative intent that the Tennessee community college system operate as a unified system with individual campuses, teaching centers and teaching sites as necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the system in enhancing student success and increasing the number of college degrees held by Tennesseans.

(2) In order to carry out this subsection (c), the board shall develop a plan to transition from the existing system of thirteen (13) independently managed institutions to a comprehensive statewide community college system managed as a unified system. Such plan shall identify any statutory changes needed to accomplish the transition.

(3) As part of its plan, the board shall identify and implement consolidation of services among institutions and standardization of processes between institutions in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness in all functional areas, including, but not limited to, student services, academic support and institutional support.

(4) The plan shall also incorporate the use of block scheduling and cohort programming as a means of delivering educational programs within the Tennessee community college system. Programs developed pursuant to this subdivision (c)(4) shall be developed in a manner that results in the opportunity for more rapid and significantly higher rates of program completion through structured degree programs that incorporate fixed course offerings that meet the requirements for the degree being offered on a predetermined schedule.

(5) In carrying out this subsection (c), the Tennessee community college system shall pursue strategies to create mutually beneficial relationships with colleges of applied technology such that certificate programs may be offered at community college sites and community college courses may be offered at colleges of applied technology.

(6) This this subsection (c) shall be fully implemented no later than July 1, 2012.