COOKEVILLE – State and local officials – including the chancellor for the Tennessee Board of Regents – will formally present the Cookeville Higher Education Campus during an open house event scheduled for Friday, July 24.
The newly minted campus, located at 1000 Neal St., the Nashville State Cookeville campus, is a partnership between Nashville State, Tennessee Tech University and Volunteer State Community College. Twenty-two associate programs and a four-year college experience are offered between these three higher education institutions.
The campus has been touted as an easier way for students to earn job training and college degrees in the Upper Cumberland. It will also provide more opportunities for students in the region to take advantage of the Tennessee Promise, which providing graduating high school seniors two years’ free tuition at state community colleges or a colleges of applied technology (TCAT).
The Cookeville Higher Education Campus became a TBR college and training center July 1.
“The Tennessee Board of Regents is uniquely situated to facilitate this type of center for the people of our Upper Cumberland Region,” Johnny Stites, a member of the TBR and former CEO of J&S Construction in Cookeville, said in a past press release. “I’m pleased that it will help address student demand and at the same time provide support for the workforce needs of our local businesses and industries and more opportunities for local students.”
Friday’s events include a presentation with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who is attending via video conference; John Morgan, chancellor, Tennessee Board of Regents; Mike Krause, executive director of the Drive to 55 and Tennessee Promise initiatives; Phil Oldham, TTU president; George Van Allen, Nashville State president; Jerry Faulkner, Vol State president; and Becky Hull, executive director of the campus.
The open house will take place from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday. A presentation for local business leaders will take place from 7:30-9:30 a.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 8:45 a.m. The public open house will run from 1-4 p.m. The reception will take place in the main atrium.
