Tennessee Promise kicks off at Jackson State Community College
JACKSON, Tenn. — More than 20,000 students across the Volunteer State were accepted as part of the Tennessee Promise program that covers two years of school at any of the state’s community colleges or schools of applied technology. More than 700 of those students are at Jackson State Community College. School officials said it’s a win for both the students and the community. “From the student’s involvement, it teaches the students to be civic-minded and be involved in their local communities,” Jackson State Community College Vice-President for Academic Affairs Dr. Larry Bailey told WBBJ Monday. Officials at JSCC said they saw about a 5 percent increase thanks to the Tennessee Promise. Freshmen who are involved in the program say the financial impact can be life changing. “Most of my college funds would have come from student loans, so this really, really helps,” Tennessee Promise student Jana Blackmon said Monday morning. Blackmon said she got involved in the program thanks to her high school counselor and is glad to get a head start on finishing her degree. “Everything that I take transfers over to a four-year college, and it’s really helpful to just kind of get your basics in before you have to go,” Blackmon said. School officials said they only expect it to grow with time. Students in the program are required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average and complete eight hours of community service per semester. The application process for next year’s Tennessee Promise participants is currently under way.
