Appeared in: Maryville Daily Times 

Maryville College’s first alumna — and the first woman to earn a bachelor’s degree in the state — was inducted this month into the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association’s Hall of Fame.

Mary Wilson was born in Syria to parents who were missionaries and hoped to serve as a Christian missionary after her 1875 graduation. Health challenges kept her from traveling abroad, so she “made Maryville and the surrounding area her mission field,” according to her biography in the Hall of Fame.

She married William A. McTeer and taught Sunday School in an African American church and supported Freedmen initiatives, including Swift Memorial Institute in Rogersville, Tennessee. She was active in New Providence Presbyterian Church and in foreign missionary organizations. She served in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and her leadership also was part of the effort to form the Blount County Humane Society.

Mary Wilson McTeer spent years working for women’s equality, forming and presiding over the Maryville Equal Suffrage Club. With 25 members in the 1890s, it was one of the state’s largest women’s rights organizations.

The biography says, “She used skills developed and perfected at Maryville College in persuasive writing and debate to advance worthy causes at a time when few women were able to be advocates.”

For the first Hall of Fame class last year, Maryville College submitted its first African American graduate, William Henderson Franklin, from its Class of 1880. He went on to be ordained as a Presbyterian minister and found Swift Memorial, dedicating his life to educating African American children. 

Appeared in: WMC Memphis 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Congrats are in order for Action News 5′s Joe Birch.

The Christian Brothers University graduate has been inducted into the esteemed Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Hall of Fame.

“We launched the TICUA Hall of Fame last year to honor the accomplishments and impact of graduates and the institutions who helped to prepare them,” said TICUA President Dr. Claude Pressnell. “We are proud to once again recognize an astounding group of alumni who have made significant contributions to their institutions, communities, and society. Their stories are worthy of recognition and accolade and, on behalf of our member institutions, we are proud to offer this small token of our appreciation for their achievements.”

Birch is an Emmy award-winning journalist, Tennessee Journalism Hall of Famer, and top fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He joins 24 alumni honored for contributions to the state, country, and world in a variety of disciplines, including singer Pat Boone, MLK strategist Dr. C.T. Vivian, Tennessee’s first female college graduate, Mary Wilson McTeer, and poet Nikki Giovanni.

Congratulations Joe Birch.

Appeared in: Main Street Nashville

The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association has announced its second class of Hall of Fame inductees. TICUA and its member institutions have selected 24 alumni, highlighting their contributions in a variety of disciplines.

“We launched the TICUA Hall of Fame last year to honor the accomplishments and impact of graduates and the institutions who helped to prepare them,” TICUA President Dr. Claude Pressnell said in a news release. “We are proud to once again recognize an astounding group of alumni who have made significant contributions to their institutions, communities, and society.”

The 2021 class of inductees includes civil rights and women’s rights activists; veterans; civic and faith leaders; news, entertainment and business professionals; and philanthropic and humanitarian leaders, all hailing from Tennessee private nonprofit institutions.

Dr. C.T. Vivian, a 1960 graduate of American Baptist College, is one of the civil rights leaders recognized in this year’s class. He earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work alongside Martin Luther King Jr., leading boycotts and marches across the South.

Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni is considered one of America’s foremost and widely read American poets and an outspoken civil rights activist. A 1967 Fisk University graduate, she often returns to campus to engage, teach and mentor Fisk students, including a semester tenure as a visiting distinguished professor.

Joe Birch accepted an internship with WMC Action News 5 in Memphis while a student at Christian Brothers University. In 1978, he accepted a full-time job offer on the day he graduated and just five years later became the station’s news anchor, where he still serves today. Birch is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and a member of the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame.

There are many stories just like these throughout the 2021 Hall of Fame class. Every inductee exemplifies the value of a liberal arts education and how it can be used in a variety of career fields.

Appeared in: The Knoxville Focus 

Knoxville’s Dr. Ted Russell was named today to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) Hall of Fame. TICUA and its member institutions selected 24 alumni, highlighting their contributions to the state, country and world in a variety of disciplines. Russell is a 1962 Carson-Newman University alumnus.

A retired business owner turned philanthropist, Russell’s focus and mission is to financially support charitable, educational, and religious purposes through his organization, East Tennessee Foundation. Russell is credited for representing the highest of Christian values and showcases his Carson-Newman education and Christ-centered mission with excellence through his gifts of time, leadership, encouragement and financial contributions.

After graduating from Carson-Newman, the Morristown native went on to build an automotive empire in East Tennessee. Russell used his business success to give back to his alma mater and his community.

His leadership at Carson-Newman provides an inspirational example for students. In 2009, Ted Russell Hall, the academic home for C-N’s School of Business opened for classes. In 2015, the Drama Russell Nursing Clinical Simulation Lab opened giving nursing students a state-of-the-art learning experience.

On July 9, 2021, Carson-Newman broke ground on the Drama and Ted Russell Center, which will house the University’s nursing department. Russell’s gift enables the construction of a new high-tech center for educational innovation in health sciences. The building is slated for completion in 2023.

“We launched the TICUA Hall of Fame last year to honor the accomplishments and impact of graduates and the institutions who helped to prepare them,” said TICUA President Dr. Claude Pressnell. “We are proud to once again recognize an astounding group of alumni who have made significant contributions to their institutions, communities, and society. Their stories are worthy of recognition and accolade and, on behalf of our member institutions, we are proud to offer this small token of our appreciation for their achievements.”

Appeared in: WBBJ 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Four West Tennessee alumni have been chosen for the second class of Hall of Fame inductees.

The Tennessee Independent Colleges Association announced that 24 alumni had been chosen. From West Tennessee that includes:

• Former representative and civil rights champion John DeBerry from Freed-Hardeman University.
• Army veteran and advisor to President Bill Clinton, Donald Hollowell from Lane College.
• Author, professor, and world-traveler Dr. George Savage from Union University.
• WMC Action News 5 anchor and top fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Joe Birch from Christian Brothers University.

TICUA says alumni are chosen for what they do for the state, country, and the world. They add that they come from a variety of backgrounds like activism, faith, and more.

“We launched the TICUA Hall of Fame last year to honor the accomplishments and impact of graduates and the institutions who helped to prepare them,” said TICUA President Dr. Claude Pressnell. “We are proud to once again recognize an astounding group of alumni who have made significant contributions to their institutions, communities, and society. Their stories are worthy of recognition and accolade and, on behalf of our member institutions, we are proud to offer this small token of our appreciation for their achievements.”

You can see more inductees and their biographies here.

Appeared in: Tennessean

Guest Columnists: Randy Boyd, Dr. Flora Tydings, Dr. Claude Pressnell and Dr. Brian Noland

From business to government leaders to parents, we can all agree that college should be more affordable for every Tennessean. The key is keeping tuition and fees low, and the best way to do so is by doubling the federal Pell Grant — the cornerstone of student financial aid in the United States.

We are grateful to the Tennessee congressional delegation for their commitment to making college affordable through the federal student aid programs. In 2018-19, over 127,000 qualified Tennessee students received $510 million through the existing federal Pell Grant program. The Pell Grant is targeted to those students who have the greatest financial need and equips them with the skills they need to bolster our workforce and expand the middle class. 

Thanks to these programs, Tennessee’s colleges and universities have kept annual tuition increases as low as 2% to 3% percent per year over the past five years. As well, due to the Tennessee General Assembly’s financial commitment, public colleges and universities had no increase this past year. This is why Tennessee is already known as a low-tuition and low-student-loan state. But we are finding this is clearly not enough.   

Too many of our new high school graduates, as well as adults, are still not pursuing the degrees they need after high school, which are becoming vital in finding a living-wage job. 

Next summer, on June 23, 2022, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant program, and fortunately today, there is bipartisan support and recognition that it’s time to expand the program. Congress has authorized the Pell Grant to reach $6,495 per year beginning this fall. President Joe Biden has set a bold goal of doubling the Pell Grant program. Doubling the Pell would put the grant for students most in need at nearly $13,000. That would be a huge step toward restoring the purchasing power that the Pell Grant had when it first started 50 years ago.

During Biden’s April 28 speech to the joint session of Congress he made a down payment to doubling the Pell Grant. In his “American Families Plan” proposal, he is calling for an immediate $1,400 increase to the grant for the neediest students. 

For those students qualifying for the full Pell Grant, it would make attending a public four-year university in Tennessee free. Doubling the Pell Grant would cover the tuition and mandatory fees at all of Tennessee’s public universities, from the University of Memphis to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Students choosing a private, nonprofit campus would see free tuition and fees at many campuses as well. On average, doubling the Pell Grant would cover 50% of the published price among Tennessee’s 35 independent colleges and universities. It is also important to note that institutional aid accounted for nearly 80% of all grant aid given to students attending independent colleges and universities, thus building on the value of the publicly provided Pell Grant. 

Tennessee’s state student aid programs, like the Hope Scholarship program, Tennessee Promise and the Tennessee Student Assistance Award, can also enhance the Pell Grant by providing additional support for books and living expenses.

Doubling the Pell Grant will truly expand and transform our educated workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. It will reduce the loan burden on students and enable them to graduate in a more timely manner.   

Working together, the U.S. Congress, the Tennessee General Assembly and Tennessee’s colleges and universities can truly make a high-quality college education affordable for all.  

The time is now. Let’s encourage the Congress to double the Pell Grant to make college free or affordable for all Tennesseans. 

Randy Boyd, president, the University of Tennessee System; Dr. Flora Tydings, chancellor, Tennessee Board of Regents; Dr. Claude Pressnell, president, Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities; and Dr. Brian Noland, president, East Tennessee State University.

Appeared in: Tennessean

By Dr. Claude Pressnell

Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Pulitzer Prize winner, Newbery Medal recipient, Fortune 500 CEO, Civil Rights leader, member of Congress, NBA coach, and more.  All are titles and recognition for which we are familiar with but may not realize that they belong to graduates of Tennessee’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities.      

To highlight these success stories, the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association recently announced the inaugural class of outstanding honorees for the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Hall of Fame.

Several of the inductees are easily recognized and others less so, but they all have deeply and positively impacted our society. 

Among the 24 individuals honored, the Class of 2020 includes: the late Civil Rights Champion and Congressman John Lewis, proclaimed presidential historian and biographer Jon Meacham, renowned psychiatrist and pioneer of minority mental healthcare Dr. Altha Stewart, and many more. 

Each of the Hall of Fame honorees credits their liberal arts education in Tennessee for helping them to expand their minds, to learn how to think critically, and to eventually tackle some of our nation’s biggest opportunities and challenges. 

Meet the honorees:

Former U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who fought for decades against racial injustice, continued to push for fairness and equality until his death on July 17. Lewis began his civil rights work as a 17-year-old studying Theology at American Baptist College in Nashville. He later returned to earn a degree from Fisk University here where he broadened his work in social justice.

The education he received at these two Tennessee private colleges laid the foundation for him to make incredible contributions to our nation including: leading 600 protestors across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, adding four million minorities to the voter rolls, and ultimately acting as the ‘Conscience of Congress’ in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Jon Meacham graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Sewanee: The University of the South in 1991. He went on to become the youngest Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek, a regular contributor to The New York Times, and most famously, as a prolific presidential historian and biographer. Meacham said of his liberal arts education, “Sewanee gives us the capacity to draw on the lessons of the past in order to understand the present and shape the future.”  

Dr. Altha Stewart was among the first class of women admitted to what is now Christian Brothers University in Memphis. She graduated with a degree in Biology in 1973. That foundation propelled her to Temple University Medical School. Dr. Stewart has dedicated decades to improving public medicine and minority issues in mental healthcare. She became the first black president of the American Psychiatric Association and is an internationally recognized expert in the field.

We invite everyone to take some time to read more about these and so many other outstanding Tennessee graduates who spent their formative years at private colleges and universities in our state. They are as varied as medical professionals, faith leaders, educators, philanthropists, and business leaders. 

While the term “liberal arts education” may have fallen out of favor with some, one only needs to look at how it helped John Lewis, Jon Meacham, Dr. Stewart, and others accomplish their goals.

These distinguished alumni learned about great literature and the lessons of history, how to think critically and analyze problems -- skills that ultimately helped them lead incredibly successful lives and change the world. 

Today, our private colleges and universities are at work preparing the next generation of leaders. As we confront the many challenges of 2020, that is now more important than ever.  

Dr. Claude Pressnell is President of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.

Appeared in: Tennessee Tribune 

NASHVILLE, TN — Congressman John Lewis, a 1961 graduate of American Baptist College, was selected for the Inaugural Class of the TICUA Hall of Fame.

The Congressman was selected for this honor before his passing in July 2020.

Tennessee’s Independent Colleges and Universities have helped shape some of our nation’s most distinguished and impressive citizens – from Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners to faith leaders, entrepreneurs, and elected officials. 

 The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) created the TICUA Hall of Fame to honor the distinguished alumni of its 35 member institutions while highlighting their contributions to our state, nation, and world.

“The inaugural class of the TICUA Hall of Fame features a diverse and incredibly impressive group of citizens that our institutions have helped prepare,” said TICUA President Claude Pressnell, “While you will recognize many of the names, all of these alumni have made significant contributions worth learning about. We are proud to be able to give them just a small portion of the recognition they deserve.” 

“John Lewis came to American Baptist College at just 17- years-old. He credited his education at American Baptist College for helping to mold him into the passionate leader he became,” said Forrest E. Harris, Sr., President of American Baptist College. “There is no better time to honor Lewis’ life and legacy and we are grateful TICUA is recognizing his indelible contributions to our country.”

TICUA engages Tennessee’s private, non-profit colleges and universities to work collaboratively in areas of public policy, cost containment, and professional development to serve better the State and its citizens.  TICUA membership includes 35 member institutions comprised of four-year colleges and universities and professional colleges. In fall 2019, TICUA member colleges and universities throughout the State enrolled over 81,000 students and employed over 20,000 faculty and staff. 

Appeared in: Johnson City Press 

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Hall of Fame recently honored distinguished alumni from its 35 member institutions.

Scott Niswonger of Tusculum University, who currently chairs the East Tennessee State University Board of Trustees in addition to his local philanthropy, was named among the honorees.

Katherine Paterson of King University and Del Harris of Milligan University also received special recognition.

“The inaugural class of the TICUA Hall of Fame features a diverse and incredibly impressive group of citizens that our institutions have helped prepare,” TICUA President Claude Pressnell said in a news release.

“We are proud to be able to give them just a small portion of the recognition they deserve.”

The local alumni were recognized alongside Congressman John Lewis, selected on behalf of American Baptist College before his passing in July.

The civil rights icon was a graduate of two TICUA Institutions — American Baptist College and Fisk University.

Appeared in: Elizabethton Star

MILLIGAN — Legendary NBA coach and Milligan University alumnus Del Harris (’59) was selected as an inaugural member of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association’s (TICUA) Hall of Fame.

Harris has worked with seven NBA teams over a 37-year period and served as head coach of the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2019, he received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious award presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

TICUA created the Hall of Fame to honor the distinguished alumni of its 35 member institutions while highlighting their contributions to our state, nation and world. TICUA’S Hall of Fame recognizes some of our nation’s most distinguished and impressive citizens, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, faith leaders, entrepreneurs and elected officials.
Alongside Harris, the 24 members of the inaugural class include the late civil rights icon John Lewis, former U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Christian Church minister and professor Fred Craddock, and presidential biographer Jon Meacham.

“Del Harris lives out the mission of Milligan University to honor God through servant-leadership,” said Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer. “Whether it be coaching professional athletes on the basketball court, giving motivational lectures or authoring books on how to be an effective member of any team, Harris has dedicated his life to leadership through service.”

With the Houston Rockets, Harris coached the team to the NBA Championship finals in 1981, making him the winningest coach in Rockets history. He was named ESPN Coach of the Year in 1981. With the Lakers, Harris became the 19th NBA coach to earn 500 wins and was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1995.

Last Friday, Harris received the 2020 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association. He is also the 2017 recipient of the prestigious National Association of Basketball Coaches International Lifetime Achievement Award, the 13th recipient and 8th from the U.S.

Harris’ accomplishments go beyond the game. He is an ordained minister in the Christian Church, a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and has had success in real estate and the oil and gas industry. He also has authored three books on basketball coaching theory.

In 1993, Harris endowed a basketball scholarship at Milligan in honor of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Harris of Plainfield, Ind. Harris remembers his years at Milligan with fondness.

“When I think of Milligan,” Harris said, “I remember the warmth of friends and faculty.”
For more information on Milligan, visit milligan.edu.

Appeared in: The Rogersville Review

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Tennessee’s Independent Colleges and Universities have helped shape some of our nation’s most distinguished and impressive citizens — from Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners to faith leaders, entrepreneurs, and elected officials.

The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) created the TICUA Hall of Fame to honor the distinguished alumni of its 35 member institutions while highlighting their contributions to our state, nation, and world.

“The inaugural class of the TICUA Hall of Fame features a diverse and incredibly impressive group of citizens that our institutions have helped prepare,” said TICUA President Claude Pressnell, “While you will recognize many of the names, all of these alumni have made significant contributions worth learning about. We are proud to be able to give them just a small portion of the recognition they deserve.”

For example, American Baptist College selected Congressman John Lewis on behalf of their campus before his passing in July 2020. Lewis was an alumni of two TICUA Institutions: American Baptist College and Fisk University.

“John Lewis came to American Baptist College at just 17- years-old. He credited his education at American Baptist College for helping to mold him into the passionate leader he became,” said Forrest E. Harris, Sr., President of American Baptist College. “There is no better time to honor Lewis’ life and legacy and we are grateful TICUA is recognizing his indelible contributions to our country.”

The honorees exemplify the value of the liberal arts education and how it can be used in a variety of career fields. The inaugural TICUA Hall of Fame Class of 2020 are:

Congressman John Lewis — American Baptist College

Rebekah Lemley — Aquinas College

Anita Vaughn — Baptist Health Sciences University

R. Milton Johnson — Belmont University

Altha Stewart — Christian Brothers University

Cordell Hull — Cumberland University

David Levering Lewis — Fisk University

John and Rosemary Brown — Freed-Hardeman University

Fred Craddock — Johnson University

Katherine Paterson — King University

Thornton Meacham — Lane College

Paul Conn — Lee University

James Bishop — LeMoyne-Owen College

Clayton Hess — Lincoln Memorial University

Michael Adams — Lipscomb University

William Henderson Franklin — Maryville College

Del Harris — Milligan University

John M. Edwards III & Stace D. Dollar — Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia

Jon Meacham — Sewanee: The University of the South

Senator John Boozman — Southern College of Optometry

Scott Niswonger — Tusculum University

Bob Agee — Union University

Carlisle Hanna — Welch College

Photos and full bios on each honoree can be viewed through a link found in the online version of this article.

Appeared in: Johnson City Press 

Graduation and enrollment numbers at Tennessee’s private higher education institutions have increased in the past decade, according to recent data from the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.

Independent colleges and universities awarded 20,356 degrees in the 2019-2020 academic year, up from the 17,127 degrees awarded in 2010-2011. Institutions like Milligan University were among those that witnessed an increase in degrees awarded and enrollment.

At Milligan’s May 2020 commencement ceremony, the university recognized 241 graduates, up 20 from the previous year. The 2020 class included the first graduates with bachelor’s degrees in engineering and master’s degrees in physician assistant studies and humanities.

This fall, Milligan maintained a 93% overall student retention and 81% freshman-to-sophomore retention rate, and graduate students comprised 30% of total enrollment.

Milligan University broke enrollment records this year, according to the association.

Milligan enrolled 1,347 students this fall, surpassing the previous record set last fall by 12 students. Last year’s record marked the first time in the university’s 150-year history where student enrollment surpassed 1,300.

Milligan President Bill Greer said he’s been pleased to see such growth, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Throughout the past several months, we prepared for the real possibility of a decrease in enrollment, a decrease that most experts in higher education expected to occur,” Greer said. “Thanks to the hard work of every single person at Milligan, we managed to keep enrollment and finances stable.”

Tusculum University’s graduation numbers fluctuated during the past 10 years, which officials attribute to the cyclical nature of higher education and periodic academic schedule adjustments.

Tusculum awarded 470 degrees during the 2019-20 school year compared to 543 in the 2018-19 academic year and 486 in the 2017-18 academic year. Tusculum officials did not provide numbers for their fall 2020 enrollment, but enrollment in 2019 stood at 1,717 compared to 1,739 in 2018.

While the pandemic has created some challenges for institutions across the state and country, President Scott Hummel said the university continues to produce exceptional graduates.

“We strongly commend our faculty, staff and students for their excellent work to adjust to unique circumstances presented by the coronavirus since March,” he said. “In spite of that unprecedented situation, about 350 May and summer graduates were recognized in the August virtual graduation.

“We look forward to a strong graduation ceremony for the fall semester.”

Appeared in: WPLN Nashville Public Radio 

Private universities were expecting to bear some of the brunt of the coronavirus fallout this year. They anticipated students would choose less expensive, public colleges instead.

Enrollment data, however, show a few Middle Tennessee campuses are seeing higher than expected interest.

Lipscomb University set an all-time record this fall — attracting students like Alyssa Lewis, who applied to nine other universities, before making the move from Knoxville to Nashville.

“The main ones were like [University of Tennessee at Knoxville],” says Lewis, a freshman in Lipscomb’s nursing program. “Auburn was another big one.”

Lewis says while the coronavirus didn’t have much of an impact on her college decision at the time, Lipscomb’s private, one-on-one atmosphere makes it more conformable going to classes during the pandemic.

“When I made the decision, corona hadn’t even started, luckily,” says Lewis. “But it has been a blessing that I chose Lipscomb before this all happened.”

Lewis is just one of thousands of new students who flocked to private universities this fall. Lipscomb is one of six private Tennessee colleges doing better than they were last year.

Other colleges recording record enrollment numbers include Cumberland University, Carson-Newman University, Milligan University, Tennessee Wesleyan University and Freed-Hardeman University.

This fall, historically black college Fisk University, in Nashville, welcomed its largest student body in two decades.

So far, in Tennessee, enrollment levels are up for both undergraduate and graduate students — by just more than 2%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Nationally, undergraduate enrollment is down 2.5%, while the number of graduate students increased by 3.9%. That makes a 1.8% overall enrollment dip.

Enrollment Change By Institutions Nationally:

Community colleges: down 8%
Four-year nonprofit private colleges: down 3.8%
Four-year public colleges: down 0.4%
In Tennessee, community colleges tend to enroll a large number of minority and low-income students, but have about 10,000 fewer students than the previous academic year — a 11.5% decline. Individually, Black male enrollment is down by 24%.

Almost any way you count it, the community college system is ailing. Dual enrollment dropped 9%. First-time, full-time freshmen is down 19%. Adult enrollment — students aged 25 and up — declined 13%.

So it’s a bit of relief to some that private colleges can be breaking enrollment records.

“It was really difficult to know what would occur once the campuses reopened,” says Claude Pressnell, the president of Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, a membership group for private schools. “But I think one key that you find out about independent higher education is that it’s more relational than it is transactional.”

Generally, private universities credit the success to improved recruitment efforts and prioritizing the safe reopening of campuses.

Pressnell, though, says he also believes some private colleges haven’t seen a huge dip because of their willingness to engage students in conversations about the country’s racial and political divide.

“The second thing that I would mention as a factor on the solid enrollment is how we find ourselves socially,” says Pressnell. “I think one of the greatest social questions of their time is being asked. And that’s about racial justice.”

This is one reason why Fisk freshman Maddyson Barron chose the historically black college instead of a predominately white institution.

“I have always been in predominately Black spaces with the exception of a few years in middle school,” says Barron, who is originally from Houston. “I don’t want to be in an area that won’t support me as a Black woman … I felt I had no choice but to go to an HBCU.”

In recent years, HBCUs have been struggling to recruit. But this year’s racial justice protests are piquing new enrollment interest — and even driving some high-profile student-athletes to choose HBCUs instead of predominantly white institutions.

“Especially given the time of police brutality, racism becoming more and more open, and more aggressive as the days go on, I decided I didn’t want the stress of going to a PWI and having to defend my existence,” says Barron.

By: Claude Pressnell, President of Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA)

As the high school Class of 2020 you’ve been dealt an unfair end to your senior year. No prom, no big graduation ceremony, and not many of the in-person celebrations that most graduating classes enjoy. 

Now, you may also be concerned that you may continue to be short-changed if you start college this fall given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But you need to know that the 35 institutions which make up Tennessee’s Private Colleges and Universities Association are ready and committed to ensure that you will receive the high-quality education that you deserve.

There is little doubt that all colleges may look and feel a little different this fall as campuses work to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of all students, staff and faculty. 

With in-person classes, there may be new rules about how far apart to sit in class or maybe even where you can hangout or walk around campus. And if there is another serious Coronavirus outbreak, some instruction could shift online. But while these adjustments may be inconvenient, we hope most will be temporary. 

You and your parents should consider the positive impact that college will have on your life and career over the long-term.  There is little doubt the education, experiences, and relationships gained during these important years provide an enormous return on your investment.

The value of a 4-year college degree has never been clearer than during this current pandemic. According to Federal Reserve, the April 2020 unemployment rate for those with a high school diploma is 17% whereas those with a four-year college degree is 8%.

Not only are degrees required for many of today’s highest-demand jobs, but also for the emerging jobs of the future. Those with college degrees tend to earn higher incomes and can better withstand the economic ravages of the current crisis. 

So, if you’re thinking, “I may take a gap year and will just go back to college later when everything returns to normal,” please think again and don’t take the risk. This is no time to delay your dream of starting your college career.

Studies show you are much less likely to graduate with a degree if you don’t start college immediately after high school. In fact, a National Center for Education Statistics report found the likelihood of students enrolling in a four-year program declines by 30% among those who wait even a year after high school.

If you are worried that the quality of instruction may suffer if some classes are forced to move online, please know all classes at Tennessee’s private colleges and universities are being taught by highly qualified faculty members. 

Whether it be online or in socially distant classrooms, these professors can still convey the depth of knowledge and breadth of experience that is needed to get the most out of your classes. You will still be able to engage with your peers, work together on projects, and consult the very best and brightest minds on campus.

Finally, be careful to not make your college going decision based solely on sticker price.  There is much more support and funding available at Tennessee’s private colleges and universities than you might think. In fact, 94% of our first-time freshmen receive some form of financial aid. So, talk with the financial aid office at one of our schools to find out how they can help you get started.  Remember that the quality of your college choice will play a key role in determining your future.

We know this pandemic is making some of the normal post-graduation choices dramatically harder. But some things remain the same. The value of a 4-year college degree over the course of your lifetime is still one of the greatest investments you will ever make. 

Again, congratulations on your high school graduation! We know this is the season to reflect and make choices. We wish you continued success as you embark on your next chapter. And we hope to see you on one of our local campuses this fall.

Published on Inside Higher Ed (https://www.insidehighered.com)

Home > Free college programs limit students' choices in a way that could hurt some of them (opinion)

Free college programs limit students' choices in a way that could hurt some of them (opinion)

Submitted by Claude Pressnell Jr. on August 12, 2019 - 3:00am

As the presidential debates heat up, proposals touting free public college seem to capture the candidates’ imaginations on higher education policy.

Positively, this indicates a willingness to increase funding for underfunded federal student aid programs. Critical federal programs, like the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Opportunity Education Grant, have chronically lagged cost-of-living increases, much less the growing cost of higher education.

Negatively, these proposals expose a willingness to limit students’ educational opportunities to state-funded universities that may not be the best option for all students. So, “free” really isn’t free as we understand the diverse scope of the higher education marketplace today. Instead, students’ choices just dropped by over 50 percent.

Having worked with nonprofit colleges and universities for over 30 years, I can attest to the need, and value, of a diverse choice in higher education for student success. Looking across the spectrum, some students flourish in a more intimate/mentoring environment that a private college provides, while other students thrive in a large public university setting.

We need a wide array of campus cultures to ensure all students succeed. A Brookings report [1] indicates that students attending a nonprofit college or university perform well, graduate faster and are more highly favored in the workforce than their public university peers.

Is it really in the government’s best interest to attempt to funnel college-going students to taxpayer-funded universities by promising free education? The most recent data demonstrate the valuable partnership with the nonprofit higher education sector and the importance of public policy that encourages -- rather than restricts -- student choice and access.

On July 10, the National Center for Education Statistics released a study [2] that explored several issues including time to degree for entering college students. First, the study noted that 65.1 percent of students attending private nonprofit colleges and universities graduated in four years or less, compared to 46.4 percent of students attending public four-year campuses. As well, the study reported that the median number of months it takes to complete a baccalaureate degree is 45 months at a private nonprofit college, compared to 52 months at a public university.

The study also provided some revealing findings on student debt. This is one of the few studies that takes into consideration both federal and private loan volumes. The study reported that students attending a private nonprofit college or university graduated with an average total debt of $32,500 compared to $27,900 at a public university. Even with $4,600 more in debt, the private nonprofit university students graduate earlier, and critically, enter the workforce faster.

According to NCES, 51 percent of private college graduates had secured a salaried position within one year after graduation compared to 45 percent of those graduating from a public university. It is worth noting that graduates from either a private nonprofit or public university enjoy exceptionally low (5 percent) unemployment rates one year after graduation. We know going to college makes a difference!

Does this mean that all students should attend a private nonprofit college or university? No. That’s missing the point. Education is not a zero-sum game. Our nation needs the diversity of institutional types that both public and private nonprofit colleges and universities offer. For instance, in Tennessee the private nonprofit sector enrolls 26 percent of the students yet confers 33 percent of the degrees [3]. These institutions are critical partners in providing high-quality degrees in an efficient manner.

Consequently, the strength of the current student aid system is that it focuses on the student -- not the institution. First, the aid follows students so they can attend the institution that they believe best ensures their success. The financial support allows students to critically evaluate their higher education options and choose the one that best fits their academic and social needs. Robust student aid programs targeted at low- to moderate-income families significantly increase students’ opportunities to attain the best education possible, thus narrowing the privilege gap between the haves and have-nots.

Plus, the aid is targeted to those who have the greatest financial need. Some of the free public university models turn a blind eye to the wealthy benefiting from what is proposed to be another taxpayer-funded entitlement. Disregarding financial need will do nothing to address the wealth and privilege gap and will quickly place greater stress on limited funds.

To truly address the opportunity gap in America, we need to remain focused on the student and not manipulate institutional choice. By promoting free public university plans, the government would be restricting opportunity rather than expanding it. These programs would drive the majority of student enrollment to taxpayer-supported campuses with limited capacity -- restricting the freedom of academic choice to a wealthy few.

There’s a brilliance about our current student aid system. Students cannot become dependent upon it because it’s available for a limited time and for a limited purpose. Recipients must continue to perform well enough to meet their college's requirements for making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree to keep the aid in subsequent years. Finally, student financial aid results in a credential that benefits the student, society and the workforce.

Federal and state grant programs should partner with colleges and universities to provide opportunity for students to attend the highest-quality academic institutions for which they qualify. It may be a public university, or it may be a private university, but it should be up to the student to decide.

For example, this year Tennessee’s governor, Bill Lee, secured a $12.3 million increase in the Tennessee Student Assistance Award -- the state’s only need-based aid program. In total, Tennessee provides over $500 million in aid for students attending both public and private colleges and universities -- the key being they can choose the best option for them.

Private nonprofit colleges and universities have significant skin in the game when it comes to making college affordable as well. This past year Tennessee’s private colleges provided 80 percent of the grant aid to their first-time freshman students. Student access is best guaranteed through a partnership among federal, state and institutional sources.

Unfortunately, the myth persists that private campuses are unaffordable and possible only for the wealthy. In Tennessee [4], 11 of the 15 campuses serving the highest percentage of low-income first-generation college students are private nonprofit campuses. These students outperform their public counterparts.

Higher education is strongest when it provides a diverse set of institutional options to choose from. We need public and private nonprofit universities; we need elite and open-access universities; we need research and the humanities. Most of all, we need to enable students to choose the campus that best ensures their success!

Increased education attainment -- not just attendance -- is key to breaking the cycle of poverty in America. It is a good time in our nation when the political discourse is focused on making college affordable for all. The challenge is to be thoughtful and deliberate in developing policies to empower students, not limit them.

Claude O. Pressnell Jr. is president of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.

Section:

Student Aid and Loans [5]

Editorial Tags:

Federal policy [6]

Financial aid [7]

Image Source:

Istockphoto.com/Ja_inter

Source URL: https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2019/08/12/free-college-programs-limit-students-choices-way-could-hurt-some-them-opinion

Links
[1] https://www.brookings.edu/research/dont-forget-private-non-profit-colleges/
[2] https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2019241
[3] https://cdn.ymaws.com/ticua.org/resource/resmgr/advocacy_&_research_files/publications/characteristics2018fall.pdf
[4] https://ticua.org/news/412854/Pell-Eligibility-by-Institution.htm
[5] https://www.insidehighered.com/news/focus/student-aid-and-loans
[6] https://www.insidehighered.com/editorial-tags/federal-policy
[7] https://www.insidehighered.com/editorial-tags/financial-aid-0

President Donald Trump’s proposal to merge the Departments of Education and Labor into the single Department of Education and Workforce may seem more efficient but is actually short-sighted.  The proposal appears to be motivated by the popular notions of reducing government, eliminating program duplication, and an attempt to reduce costs.  But it actually feeds the dangerous reductionist assumption that education is nothing more than job-training.  If approved, the merger will only serve to memorialize that mis-informed assumption into the structure of our federal government.

To be clear, there are operational and outcome differences between training and education.   Training is generally understood as being limited in scope to a particular skill or trade.  No doubt training is important and can to lead to a job with a good starting hourly wage. 

But training has a brief shelf-life.  It quickly becomes obsolete and demands frequent updating.  Too, the jobs secured by training programs may start with good hourly wages but rarely provide widespread opportunities for significant job or salary growth over a lifetime. 

There is a direct correlation between the training received and the job secured.  Welding training leads to a welding job, automotive technology training leads to a position in the automotive field, and so on.  But that is not the case with education. 

Education is different.  It doesn’t focus on a narrowly defined field or practice.  Rather, education exposes the learner to wide range of complementary and competing schools of thought.  It demands that the student consider alternative and integrative approaches to solve immediate and future problems through different ways of thinking.  Exposure to literature, history, economics, science, art, mathematics, are all ways that education challenges students to think differently and value the perspective and input of others.

Education does focus on learning content, but more importantly, it develops the critical skills to use what is learned to innovate and problem solve in abstract and often vague situations.  Essential skills, like critical thinking, knowledge integration, communication, collaborative problem solving, and leadership are all characteristics of an educated person.

Education prepares the learner for a lifetime filled with multiple career options and growth.  It’s intentionally broad and widely applicable in the marketplace.  That’s why you find English majors working in sales, journalism, banking, government, law, health, and other professions.  

Even the oft mislabeled “worthless” History major can be found working in fields like engineering, technology, military sciences, economics, education and, believe it or not, even as a state Governor.  Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam received his four-year degree in history and chose business and politics as his life path.

My point is not to pose training ‘versus’ education.  It doesn’t need to be a zero-sum game.  We need both.  There are jobs that need training resulting in pre-degree certificates and applied science associate degrees.  These degrees help to keep our companies growing and assist our economy at a very important and fundamental level.  They are valuable and are becoming as essential as the high school diploma was a mere decade ago.

But we also need an educated society.  We need those educated with four-year degrees and beyond who can create a culture of success and civility.  When companies make their decisions to locate or expand their operations they don’t simply look at who is trained to fill available jobs, they also want to know who’s ready to lead and solve many of the complex issues of a global economy. 

Corporate executives also want to make sure that there will be an enriching quality of life for their employees and families.  They are looking for a good K-12 education system, quality entertainment and the arts, quality health care, a just government, worship opportunities, a diverse and growing economy, just to name a few.  Those qualities are developed and enhanced by an educated society, not just a trained one.

Recently, the nation’s conversation pendulum has swung hard toward viewing the value of education as merely tool to get a job.   It is time, once again, to broaden our dialogue beyond vocation and career training to promote the role that education plays in creating a culture where civility and democracy flourishes. 

Merging the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education is going the wrong direction.  The move could very well continue the narrowing of the educational conversation toward vocationalism.  Our nation needs more.  Even our economy demands a broader conversation.  The Departments should remain separate but equal, working collaboratively to better serve the nation.

Dr. Claude Pressnell
President
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
1031 17th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 242-6400, ext 201 (Direct Line)
(615) 242-8033 FAX

Tennessee’s Governor Bill Haslam has been making the headlines during his gubernatorial tenure for education reform in Tennessee.  His most notable effort in higher education has been to make community colleges free to all Tennesseans.  This effort has been under the banners of “Tennessee Promise” and “Tennessee Reconnect.”  Haslam’s most recent higher education initiative, however, goes from enabling and encouraging students to punishing them.

Haslam’s “Complete to Compete” proposal requires students to take 30 semester hours in 12 months (30-12) or risk losing up to $500 in scholarship aid the following year.  The fundamental assumption with the proposal is that students don’t want to complete on time; therefore, a threat of taking away future student aid must be made in order to motivate students toward completion.

The most recent data indicate that students utilizing Haslam’s free community college effort have a low 30-12 going rate of 30%.  When it’s free, there must be additional motivators to encourage students to complete. 

However, the state’s private four-year colleges and universities and the University of Tennessee system have a 30-12 going rate of more than 70%.  How is it that these students exceed the goals that the “Complete to Compete” proposal hopes to attain?  Well, it’s not by threats.  There is a better way to create a culture of completion.

First, good preparation.  Adequately prepare students for college work through a strong K-12 program and make remediation accessible and robust.  Haslam is proposing to make the state’s remediation programs stronger, an effort that should enable success.

Second, excellent advisement.  Most four-year campuses have aggressive course advisement support and at-risk student intervention systems.  Haslam is proposing to fund additional academic counselors for the community colleges.  This positive strategy will go a long way toward increasing on-time completion.

Third, ensure proper course sequencing and availability.  Four-year campuses seek to ensure that courses are offered at the times students need them in order to complete on time. Haslam is proposing the adoption of a “set curriculum”, for students attending the state’s community colleges to expedite on-time completion.  This strategy will do more to assist with better graduation rates than the threat of reducing a student’s financial aid.

Fourth, many four-year campuses offer banded tuition.  The tuition charge is the same for students if they take 12 to 15 hours per semester.  The “no cost” additional course offering often entices students to take additional courses to assist with on-time completion.

Fifth, most four-year campuses offer steeply discounted summer courses.  This provides an incentive for students to take additional courses in order to stay on track to graduate in four years.  Educators realize that many students must work full-time in the summer and may not be able to take advantage of these lower tuition offerings, however it does provide a great opportunity for some.  A positive recommendation for Haslam to consider is to partner with campuses by offering a $500 supplemental grant to those students just shy of the 30-hour mark at the end of their spring semester to take summer courses.  Instead of threatening to take student aid away, enable students by offering a small, but significant, supplemental grant.

Sixth, have a strong message of graduating on time.  Tennessee’s private colleges have been promoting this message for decades.  “Graduate in four years or less, and you’ll pay less tuition and get into the job market quicker!”  Haslam should fund a strong statewide messaging campaign highlighting on-time completion.  It could be something like, “30 to finish: Tennessee has a job waiting for you!”  With the state’s current campaigns related to Tennessee Promise and Reconnect, it is obvious that Haslam can message this well.

Haslam’s current Complete to Compete proposal has the ability to positively increase the low 30% 30-12 going rate for community college students.  But, his proposal has the potential to harm between 8,000 and 16,000 students attending four-year institutions who will have their student aid reduced if the proposal is enacted as written.  With this proposal, the Governor and the state seems to ignore the potential harm that may result.  

Looking closer, the resulting harm affects some students more than others.  Data indicate that the students most at risk in this proposal are first generation college goers and those majoring in science, technology, the health fields, engineering, math, business, and art.  One-on-one advising allows campuses to know better than the state which students need to take 30 hours in 12 months and which students don’t. 

Tennessee needs to empower students toward completion by offering them hope not financial hurdles.

++++++++

Dr. Claude Pressnell
President
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
1031 17th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 242-6400, ext 201 (Direct Line)
(615) 242-8033 FAX

Author profile:  http://www.ticua.org/about/staff

All of this has taken place to remain responsive to the needs of the students and families we serve. As
well, these actions are an answer to the call from lawmakers to slow the increasing cost of higher
education while providing access to the college that will make the student most successful.
Now Congress is entertaining tax reform options that threaten the financial stability of private nonprofit
colleges.

There is a proposal to place a tax on private college endowments. The earnings from the endowments
provide student scholarships as well as funding for existing and new academic programs. Cutting this
revenue threatens to reduce scholarship aid to needy students and increase costs for academic
offerings. The current proposal being circulated appears to impact the endowments of Vanderbilt
University (Nashville), Meharry Medical College (Nashville), Rhodes College (Memphis), Sewanee-
University of the South (Sewanee), Johnson University (Knoxville) and maybe more over time.
For example, Vanderbilt University can provide a ‘no loan’ financial aid packages for students because
they use a portion of their endowment earnings to make attending Vanderbilt affordable. Johnson
University restricts funds for student scholarships that might be reduced due to this new taxation.
Student aid and academic programs are greatly enhanced through endowment earnings at Rhodes and
the University of the South, but now these enhancements are at risk. At Meharry Medical College, the
nation’s largest provider of minority doctors, the taxation may jeopardize the operation and expansion
of medical training of those doctors who work in high-need areas.

Contrary to conventional thinking, most faculty and staff at private colleges are paid well below their
public university counterparts. They choose to work at a private college because they want focus on
teaching and mentoring students in a smaller college environment. Consequently, campuses offer
family benefits to offset the low salaries. One such benefit is tuition discounts for employees and their
families. Congress is now considering taxing these discounts. This may hamper the ability of campuses
who serve low-income, first-generation college students to attract highly qualified faculty.
There are other benefits that support students and institutions that are targets of new taxation. Some
of these include removing the student loan interest deduction and crippling the IRA Charitable Rollover.
And the list goes on.

The first rule of tax reform should be: Do No Harm. Especially to those nonprofit organizations that are
providing services for the common good. Chipping away at the nation’s nonprofit higher education
institutions to fund tax reform can have devastating long-term consequences on our nation’s economy.
Congress should seek ways to bolster education opportunities, the future of our nation depends on it.

Dr. Claude Pressnell
President
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
1031 17th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
pressnell@ticua.org

To make this possible, Tennessee is dependent on the Federal Pell Grant.  The Pell Grant serves as the nation’s bedrock grant in making college affordable.  This grant helps fund the Tennessee Promise and the adult Reconnect programs as well as access to four-year universities.  The State’s programs are “last dollar,” meaning that the Pell Grant provides the “first dollar” of aid before the State invests Promise and Reconnect funds.  It’s a great example of a state-federal partnership in making college affordable.

Tennessee students depend on the Pell Grant to make their dreams of attending the college or university that best fits their needs a reality.  The Pell Grant is focused on low-income families.  Whether the student decides to use the free community college option or choose to enroll directly into a university level program, the Pell is there to serve as the first dollars available in paying for college.

The challenge is that the Pell Grant has not kept pace with the cost of living; much less, the cost of higher education.  Senator Lamar Alexander has been a champion of the Pell Grant program. Yet, to date, Congress has not chosen to fund an inflation index for the Pell Grant.  Each year the Pell remains stagnant students lose the purchasing power of the student aid program.  As well, it takes more Tennessee state dollars to fund the Promise and Reconnect programs.

When the Pell Grant doesn’t keep pace with inflation, it not only places a greater burden on the State, it hurts students and institutions.  Consequently, when the Pell Grant lags behind, it costs institutions more in institutional aid and may result in increased student debt. In fall of 2015, ten of Tennessee’s private non-profit colleges and universities had a higher percentage of students receiving the Pell Grant than any of the State’s community colleges.

When Congress returns to Washington after the August recess, we encourage them to keep the Pell Grant robust and strongly consider attaching a permanent inflation index to the grant’s funding formula.  The future of Tennessee’s students depends on it.

Dr. Claude Pressnell, Jr.

President, TICUA

About the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association

TICUA engages Tennessee's private, non-profit colleges and universities to work collaboratively in areas of public policy, cost containment, and professional development to serve better the State and its citizens.  For more information about TICUA, please visit www.ticua.org