New policy brief finds cost a barrier to creating more credentialed workers in Tennessee
NASHVILLE – Tennessee needs more middle-skill workers, but attaining an associate degree or technical certificate is a challenge for many Tennesseans, finds a new policy brief released today by ThinkTennessee and Tennessee Skills Coalition. The brief includes data on the state’s worker shortage, cost of program attendance, and the impact of post-secondary education on employment and earnings. The report also provides recommendations to improve the state’s preeminent scholarship programs, Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect, through policy modifications that would increase funding levels and flexibility.
“If we want Tennessee’s economy to continue being one of the fastest growing in the country, we need to solve the 58,000-worker shortage in our labor market,” said Erin Hafkenschiel, president of ThinkTennessee. “Specifically, we need policies that help more students access the higher education they need to enter the workforce — almost a quarter of Tennessee’s “in-demand jobs” are for middle-skill workers that have some college education or credentials. Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect are invaluable workforce pathways, and through additional funding and flexibility, they can play a critical role in sustaining Tennessee’s economic growth.”
For over a decade, Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect have successfully helped over 172,000 Tennesseans attain life-changing job skills by providing tuition and fee support for people pursuing their associate degree or technical certificates. Improvements to these programs would mean more Tennessee residents would benefit from the new skills, better job opportunities, and higher wages they offer. Recommended enhancements include:
- Allow Promise and Reconnect to be “first dollar” supports. Both Promise and Reconnect programs are “last dollar” scholarships, meaning that all other grant aid is applied before funds can be used. A shift to first dollar support would better leverage federal funds and help meet student expenses like supplies and transportation.
- Close the age gap between Promise and Reconnect. Tennessee Promise is only available to students directly after high school, while Reconnect is not available to students until they are 23 or older. Reducing the age eligibility for Reconnect would allow the program to support students during a critical stage of early adulthood.
- Expand Promise to part-time students. Promise funding is only available to students enrolled for 12 credit hours or more. Supporting part-time students with Promise funding would allow students who need to work to utilize the program.
To read the full policy brief, Let’s Get to Work: Student Supports Will Help Tennessee Train the Workforce it Needs, visit www.thinktennessee.org.
