Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.09
Liaison DeLayne Miller
Submission Date Dec. 18, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Tennessee Technological University
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.21 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:

Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS)
This scholarship is established and funded by the proceeds generated from the Tennessee lottery and are awarded to freshman who are enrolled at an eligible college institution sixteen months after graduating an in-state high school. For incoming freshman, this program provides scholarship and grant assistance to Tennesseans attending eligible in-state institutions. This gives all incoming freshman in Tennessee the opportunity to pursue a higher education.

Eagle Assistance Grant
The Eagle Assistance Grant Endowment was recently created by President Phil Oldham in 2018. This grant provides help to Tech students with emergency need-based funds that can be applied towards any hardship. The goal of this grant is to ensure that no students have to leave Tennessee Tech University because of financial hardships.

The Judy and Micheal Gunter Initiative
This financial aid will be awarded to students in the political science department who exhibit financial need.

Tennessee Tech Scholarship Application
TN Tech also offers a scholarship application that puts students into consideration for any of the 600+ scholarships that students are eligible for. These scholarships and grants are awarded to students based upon their academic performance, community service, residency, financial need, leadership experience, and other criteria as defined by the requirements of each award.
Website URL: https://www.tntech.edu/scholarships/

TN Tech offers a wide range of programs to help need based students with their educational and living costs, these programs range from grants to loans to federal work studies.
Website URL: https://www.tntech.edu/financialaid/types/


A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
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A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

TN Tech offers several programs for students from low-income backgrounds, these programs include:
-The Student to Career program through the College of Business created a program in 2008 called the College of Business Professional Clothes Closet, making professional clothing available to students to borrow for job interviews, career fairs, and other business events. In 2009, they added Professional Development Week and the Etiquette Dinner. These events allow students to meet and spend time with business professionals from all walks of life – entrepreneurs, managers, financial professionals, executives, to name just a few general areas.
https://cobstudentsuccess.com/

-The TTU Food Pantry was established as a resource for Tennessee Tech University students and employees in November 2012. Since then, it has served over 2,500 meals to our campus community.

-Heatin' Up the Quad, an annual fundraiser for the Tech Food Pantry, features more than 30 cooking teams feeding more than 900 people. The most recent Heatin' Up the Quad brought in $3,500 for the Tech Food Pantry.

Student Orientation
During Student Orientation, students and their families meet with advisors in their department and financial aid is highlighted during this meeting. You will also meet with representatives from Tech's Financial Aid, Bursar (Business Office), and Scholarships Office to discuss tuition and fees.


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

Tennessee Tech University's academic focus is to prepare students for lifelong success. Multiple rankings reflect Tennessee Tech's commitment to uphold quality academic instruction while offering students an affordable choice. Low income students may qualify for additional departmental scholarships. Scholarships like these allow Tennessee Tech to be considered one of the best value schools in the nation.
ScholarWeb is Tech's scholarship database & scholarship application system. The scholarship application is required to be considered for Tech Scholarships. There are many scholarships that are offered at Tennessee Tech which include new student scholarships and grants, transfer student scholarships, departmental scholarships and honors program scholarships to name a few.
https://www.tntech.edu/scholarships/tntech-scholarships-grants/departmental-donor-scholarships.php


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

In order to make attending Tennessee Tech University easily accessible to students from low-income backgrounds that Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step towards getting financial aid for college, career school, or graduate school. The 2019-2020 FAFSA was made available 1 October 2018 so students are given ample amount of time to complete the application before the start of the next semester.
https://www.tntech.edu/financialaid/process/fafsa.php


A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

Tennessee Tech University's academic focus is to prepare students for lifelong success. Multiple rankings reflect Tennessee Tech's commitment to uphold quality academic instruction while offering students an affordable choice. Low income students may qualify for additional departmental scholarships. Scholarships like these allow Tennessee Tech to be considered one of the best value schools in the nation.

Tennessee Tech is ranked #1 public university in Tennessee in "Best Colleges for Your Money" listing. Based on total cost and alumni earnings, Tech provides students with the highest return on investment for any public university in the state and across Tennessee, Tech ranks third overall in the nation.
https://www.tntech.edu/about/rankings.php


Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

Part-time scholarships are available through the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program (TELS). The Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Program provides assistance to Tennesseans attending eligible Tennessee Colleges. The only requirement for part-time students is that they must remain enrolled in at least 6 hours through the end of the term.

Fees Applicable To Disabled or Elderly Students
Permanently, totally disabled persons or persons 60 years of age or older who are domiciled in Tennessee, may audit courses without paying tuition, maintenance fees, or general access fees as long as classroom space is available. Participants must pay the application fee and any special activity fees associated with courses. Program participants may begin to register four weeks prior to classes beginning. Proof of permanent total disability or age will be required at the time of registration and enrollment confirmation.


A brief description of the institution’s on-site child care facility, partnership with a local facility, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:

Tennessee Tech’s Child Development Lab is part of the College of Education and is open to Tennessee Tech students, faculty, and community members. As a university-based laboratory program, one of the important goals is to train Tech students majoring in early childhood / early child special education, child and family studies, and other academic disciplines such as music therapy, nursing, and psychology. The Child Development Lab strives to exhibit the highest standards and best practices in child care and early education professions.
Website URL: https://www.tntech.edu/education/cdl/index.php


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

There are many resources available to non-traditional students. Tennessee Tech offers 100% online degrees through TN eCampus, including two fully online undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies.

There is also a non-traditional student orientation available to all non-traditional students that you are able to schedule online after acceptance. Although not required, it is highly encouraged you complete the orientation. During orientation, students receive a brief introduction to Tennessee Tech and some of the resources they will have access to.
https://www.tntech.edu/nsfp/nontraditional/index.php


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
Yes

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
29.70

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
43.80

On average, the percentage of need that was met for students who were awarded any need-based aid (e.g. as reported to the U.S. Common Data Set initiative, item H2) (0-100):
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The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt or for whom no out-of-pocket tuition is required (i.e. the percentage of graduates who have not taken out interest-bearing loans) (0-100):
47

Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students (0-100):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Part 2 information found at http: //www.socialmobilityindex.org/
Article on all of Tech's rankings: https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/u.s.-news-tech-grads-have-lowest-student-debt-in-tennessee-high-starting-salary.php


The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.