Changing Lives. Transforming Communities.

Transcription

1 Changing Lives. Transforming Communities. The mission of tnachieves is to increase higher education opportunities for Tennessee high school students by providing last dollar scholarships with mentor guidance Mentor and Counselor Handbook

2 YOUR TNACHIEVES LETTER M ENTORS: Students will receive their acceptance letter in the mail and their student handbook at their high school in November. They are expected to bring their handbook to all tnachieves meetings. COUNSELORS: tnachieves serves as the partnering organization to Tennessee Promise in 84 counties across the state. In order to access Tennessee Promise funding, students are required to complete the tnachieves program. All Tennessee high school seniors are eligible for Tennessee Promise. However, we seek to give the student the opportunity to attend a post-secondary institution who never believed it was a possibility. Please help us reach first generation students. Please do not sign up every senior as this makes it difficult for those students who really need a mentor to be paired. This year, students must apply online at by November 1, This allows tnachieves to pair students and mentors in a timely fashion. More importantly, it prepares students for post-secondary life where nearly all communication occurs online. If you would like updates on the list of students who meet each requirement, please let us know. We will send you a list in November of the students who met the application deadline this is your chance to let us know if your records differ. Keep in mind, we are always happy to attend any school events to raise awareness about the program. Dear Tennesse Promise Scholar: Congratulations! You have been selected into the Tennessee Promise Class of 2015! While Tennessee Promise provides last dollar tuition and mandatory fee funding for five consecutive semesters at a community college or eight consecutive trimesters at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology, tnachieves will serve as the program you must complete to access the funds in fall In other words, you must complete the tnachieves program in order to receive Tennessee Promise funds. On behalf of the tnachieves Board of Directors, we are excited you made the initial step to beginning a more rewarding life. Tennessee s community and technical colleges offer a wealth of programs that ensure you have the skills to meet 21st century workforce demands. We encourage you to visit the institutions websites and campuses to familiarize yourself with all the benefits these schools offer. In fact, while you are on the website, complete the simple college application to meet the February 15th priority date. As part of tnachieves, you will be assigned a volunteer mentor. This individual is investing in you and your future. It is your responsibility to take advantage of your mentor and/or the program for guidance through the college access and success processes. It is also important to meet deadlines and complete all the requirements. Failure to comply will result in termination of your funding opportunity. Your first task is to read your handbook. This is your tnachieves lifeline. You will find a timeline as well as deadlines and priority dates in this handbook. One very critical deadline to consider is the February 15th Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline. tnachieves will explain how families can meet this deadline at your first mandatory meeting, held in January or early February. You may begin filing your FAFSA on January 1, Visit to complete. See page 8 for additional information. Your next task is to attend your first team meeting. Dates, times, and locations are listed on pages of your student handbook. Please plan to meet your mentor and/or the tnachieves team at this meeting. We also strongly encourage your parents to attend this meeting as the program s requirements and provisions, as well as the FAFSA, will be discussed. You are required to attend two assigned mandatory meetings. In other words, work is not an excuse for missing a meeting. Ask off now! Transportation is also not considered an excusable absence. Find a ride today! See pages in your handbook for a complete list of tnachieves policies. Beginning January 1, 2015, you may complete your first eight hours of required community service. The first deadline is August 1, For all community service details, see page 14. Every Monday, tnachieves will send you an reminding you of critical deadlines, important dates, and necessary requirements. If you are not receiving these consistently beginning December 15th, this means tnachieves has an incorrect address for you. Please send your correct address to amanda@tnachieves.org. And remember, checking s at least weekly is fundamental to your future success with tnachieves, Tennessee Promise and your chosen college. Check your s!! Do it! If you have any questions prior to your first meeting, please feel free to visit our website at www. tnachieves.org. Again, congratulations! We are so proud of your achievements and look forward to celebrating your future accomplishments! We wish you much success! Best regards, 1 Krissy DeAlejandro tnachieves, Executive Director

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acceptance Letter...1 HISTORY knoxachieves began in 2008 as an economic development initiative out of Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale s office. Because of its success, knoxachieves was charged with the task of expanding the program statewide, thus tnachieves began in tnachieves ultimately seeks to build a strong workforce by increasing educational attainment opportunities across our state. More importantly, we hope to improve a student s quality of life, increase the value of education in Tennessee and create more lifelong learners. BY THE NUMBERS SINCE ,012 total applicants 12,132 students enrolled 65% first generation; 69% from families who earn less than $50,000 69% fall to fall retention rate 90% met FAFSA filing deadline 4,997 mentors trained Over 98,000 community service hours performed Over $7 million spent on scholarships P P Purpose of this handbook... 3 Step 1: Become a Tennessee Promise Scholar... 4 Step 2: November 1 Application Deadline...5 Step 3: Be a Good Mentee... 6 Step 4: Attend First Team Meeting...7 Step 5: February 15 FAFSA Filing Deadline... 8 Step 6: February 15 College Application Priority Date... 9 Step 7: Attend Second Team Meeting Step 8: April 18 ACT Priority Date *TCAT: COMPASS Priority Date Step 9: Set Up College Step 10: Attend New Student Orientation (if applicable)...11 *TCAT: Attend New Student Orientation and Receive Award Letter Step 11: Complete Placement Testing Step 12: Be Registered Full Time Step 13: August 1 Completed Verification File *TCAT: October 1 Completed Verification File Step 14: August 1 Community Service Deadline (Fall Semester) Step 15: Attend Post-Secondary Team Meeting Step 16: Begin Class Step 17: GPA/SAP Meeting...17 Step 18: February 15 FAFSA Filing Deadline (Again!)...17 Step 19: July 1 Renewal Deadline Step 20: Complete College! Suggested Mentor Communication Meeting Schedule by County Eligible Institutions Student Information Sheet Policies FAQs

4 PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK CONTACT INFORMATION Executive Director Krissy DeAlejandro ; Director of Operations Jackie Hartmann ; Director of Community Partnerships Graham Thomas ; Director of College Completion Kaci Murley ; Director of College Access Amanda Bolden ; Research and Data Manager Amy Bain ; Finance Manager Maegan Tribble ; Regional Coordinators Ann Massa ; Carrie Garrett ; Claire Brulatour ; Alyce Burdine ; Jennifer Dreis ; TCAT Coordinator Krista Elmore ; Outreach Coordinator Ben Sterling ; This handbook is your resource for tnachieves and ultimately, Tennessee Promise. Remaining tnachieves eligible is very simple. You need to complete each step provided throughout the handbook. There is a wealth of information in this handbook, but it is not meant to be read all at once. You will need to bring the handbook to each of your tnachieves meetings and events. We will be discussing certain steps at each meeting. Every step also has more specific information necessary for a successful transition from high school to a postsecondary institution. First, familiarize yourself with all the steps necessary to complete the college access and success process. Review the steps in the table of contents so you know which deadlines are approaching. There are just 20 simple steps between you and your brighter future! Do not let the process intimidate or overwhelm you. Next, go through the handbook one step at a time. This will help ensure you absorb all the information. When you have completed a step, check the box and move on to the next! This eliminates the I didn t know excuse and keeps you on track. tnachieves understands applying to college is full of deadlines and paperwork. This program exists to assist you with meeting each deadline and completing all paperwork. If you have questions at anytime, tnachieves is available for you. The tnachieves team has worked with thousands of students like you! We want nothing more than to see you reach your potential. Rely on tnachieves and your mentor to guide you through this process. Do not stuff this handbook in your bag or toss it in your car s backseat! Read it! Use it! Remember, it is YOUR responsibility to complete each step by the established deadline. Failure to do so will result in the loss of your scholarship. Monday s Once you have been accepted to the tnachieves program, you will begin to receive Monday s from the program. These s are intended to remind you of upcoming deadlines, encourage you to begin checking your and ensure we have your correct contact information. If at anytime you are not receiving these Monday s, it is your responsibility to inform tnachieves. We can see if you open them! 3

5 P 1. BECOME A TENNESSEE PROMISE SCHOLAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS** Randal Boyd is the Chairman, CEO, majority shareholder and founder of Radio Systems Corporation. He received a degree from the University of Tennessee in Industrial Management in 1979 and a Masters Degree in Liberal Studies from Oklahoma University in Mike Ragsdale is a partner in a consulting company, Tennessee Strategies, LLC. He was elected to serve as Knox County Mayor in 2002 and again in The first in his family to attend college, he completed a doctorate in education at the University of Tennessee where he also received the Torchbearer award as an undergraduate student. Rich Ray is co-founder and CFO of 21st Mortgage Corporation. He is the first in his family to receive a college degree due to the encouragement and support of his parents. Rich is a graduate of old East High School and holds an accounting degree from the University of Tennessee. Tim Williams is co-founder and CEO of 21st Mortgage Corporation. 21st Mortgage is the highest volume lender in the manufactured home industry. In 2003, 21st Mortgage was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Company. Tim holds a BS and MBA from the University of Tennessee. Oliver Buzz Thomas is the President of the Great Schools Partnership. He was formerly the Executive Director of the Niswonger Foundation. He has a M.Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a JD from the University of Tennessee and a LLM from the University of Virginia. **All board members serve as mentors. Combined, they have worked with nearly 150 students since tnachieves is... A partnering organization to Tennessee Promise. This means students must complete the tnachieves program in order to access Tennessee Promise funding. A post-secondary access and success program. This means we help you enter and graduate from a post-secondary institution. As important as it is that you go to college, it is more important to complete. A mentoring program. Once you apply for the program, you are assigned a volunteer mentor to assist you in the college application process. A statewide program. tnachieves began in Knox County in 2008 and now serves 84 of the 95 counties in Tennessee. A workforce development program. tnachieves ultimately seeks to build a strong workforce by increasing educational attainment opportunities across the state. More importantly, we hope to improve your quality of life. In the future, at least 55 percent of Tennessee jobs will require more than a high school education. An individual with an associates degree will earn 500 percent more over a lifetime than his/her peers with only a high school diploma. What is Tennessee Promise? Tennessee Promise is a financial aid program offering Tennessee high school graduates five semesters or eight trimesters of tuition-free community or technical college beginning with the Class of The program provides eligible students a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the scholarship will cover tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the Pell grant, the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS), or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA). While removing a student s financial burden is key, a critical component of Tennessee Promise is the individual guidance each participant will receive from a mentor as the student enters higher education. Local partnering organizations will ensure that all Tennessee Promise students have a mentor. Students must complete the tnachieves program to access Tennessee Promise dollars. Student Eligibility To be eligible to receive a Tennessee Promise Scholarship, a student must: Be a Tennessee resident. Graduate from an eligible Tennessee high school, complete a Tennessee home school program, or, prior to reaching 19 years of age, obtain a GED or HiSET diploma. Enroll in an eligible college and attend full-time the fall after graduation (Students attending a TCAT may enroll the summer following their high school graduation.). Complete the Tennessee Promise application at Meet all deadlines and requirements before enrolling. 4

6 P 2. NOV 1: APPLICATION DEADLINE M ENTORS: Many post-secondary institutions are hosting mentor breakfasts. These are a chance for mentors to get to know each other and to learn more about the college access process. This is also a great time to learn more about the colleges and ask questions about being a mentor. Mentor breakfasts will be held later this fall. Dates, times and locations will be posted on our website at www. tnachieves.org. You are currently being trained to work with students beginning in December. You will receive your students in December via . All mentors receive 5-10 students. Please do not be intimidated by the number of students. This is a program that assists students to and through college. You will not tutor. You will not file FAFSA. We assign 5-10 students because many students apply but never follow through with the program. Your role is to provide guidance and assist the students with meeting deadlines. If you are in a county or a high school with a mentor deficit, students with higher need will be paired first. You are a(n): Resource Encourager Task master You are not a: Person with all the answers Best friend Parent Program Requirements In order for students to participate in the program, they must meet several requirements and deadlines: November 1: Apply for the Tennessee Promise scholarship at February 15: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at Attend your first mandatory meeting (see page 21-26) Attend your second mandatory meeting (see page 21-26) In the spring: Apply to and register for classes at an eligible institution (tnachieves strongly recommends applying by February 15) August 1: Complete 8 hours of community service by specified deadlines (see page 14) August 1: Complete verification file- this means students should submit ALL required documents by June 15th as it often takes the post-secondary institutions three weeks to complete processing. Once in the program, students must do the following to retain their scholarship: Maintain satisfactory academic progress that is the equivalent of a 2.0 GPA at a community college or four-year institution and varies by program at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology Complete the Tennessee Promise application for renewal by July 1 Complete 8 hours of community service prior to each semester or trimester (see page 14) Complete the FAFSA by February 15 every year of the program Complete verification, if selected, by the specified deadline (see page 13) Administration of Funds The Tennessee Promise scholarship will be administered by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC), while the mentoring and community service portions of the program will be coordinated by the partnering organization designated by each county s mayor or executive. Once a student applies for Tennessee Promise at his or her respective partnering organization will be responsible for reaching out regarding program requirements and mentor assignments. Students will never directly receive funds from Tennessee Promise. Once Pell, TELS (e.g. HOPE, Wilder- Naifeh) and TSAA have been applied, TSAC will send scholarship funds covering the remaining costs of tuition and mandatory fees directly to institutions for students who have met all eligibility requirements. Students who receive tuition waiver/discount must complete paperwork necessary. These will be given prior to Tennessee Promise being applied. 5

7 3. BE A GOOD MENTEE M ENTORS: Students and mentors will be paired prior to sending out acceptance letters. You will receive an Excel file with all of your students information on it. Once you receive your list of students, please make initial contact with a parent/ guardian by introducing yourself, then with the student explaining that you will be their resource throughout the college access process. Please make this contact PRIOR to the first meeting. It is important to keep in mind that many parents/guardians will be unfamiliar with the program. Furthermore, not all parents will be engaged in their student s post-secondary journey. COUNSELORS: tnachieves will be visiting each school in November to deliver student handbooks. All students who apply receive a letter in the mail that includes the following: Student Requirements Attendance policy (The program is now enforcing the attendance policy for team meetings.) FAFSA information You should be contacted by your mentor prior to the first meeting! A Mentor is... A trusted counselor or guide. Your mentor will be at each of the team meetings to help you understand tnachieves and the college application process. Applying to college (and everything that goes with it) can be an intimidating process. Your mentor will help you navigate this process. Your resource. Mentors are volunteers that help you transition to college. tnachieves has team meetings with your mentor to answer questions and alleviate concerns. tnachieves mentors attend each of the team meetings with the goal of getting to know you and being there when you have questions about tnachieves and college in general. Someone who cares about you and your education. Reach out to your mentor often. They want to hear about you and your progress! Your mentor wants to make your transition from high school to college as smooth as possible. Your mentor is a volunteer and is donating their time and expertise to YOU! They want you to succeed in college and your career. Your mentor is responsible for providing the best advice and guidance possible. You are responsible for acting on that advice and guidance. Do not be afraid to ask questions! You are expected to tell your mentor when you need help and guidance. Do not be afraid to communicate with your mentor, not only to ask questions, but also to let them know when you have completed a step in the process. They want to celebrate your progress with you! Guiding Principles for Mentees Be responsive. The most important part of being a mentee is responding to your mentor when they reach out to you. Answer your phone! Check your s DAILY! Respond to your text messages! Your mentor s job is to inform you of tnachieves events and deadlines. They should be contacting you frequently throughout your senior year and into your first semester of college. Get to know your mentor. Although it can be intimidating to work with someone you do not know, he/she wants to help. Take the time to get to know your mentor. tnachieves mentors have been in your shoes -- they know what it is like to be a high school senior. Ask them to share their story! Be thankful and kind. Your mentors are volunteering their time and expertise to you because they want you to succeed in college and in your career. Be kind to your mentor! Ask questions. You are expected to tell your mentor when you need guidance and help. Do not be afraid to ask questions and voice your concerns. Check your s daily. In college and the business world, is the prime vehicle for communicating to students and workers. Make sure those who are working with you are aware of any address changes. (You can use a free service, like gmail, that allows you to link new addresses to your gmail. com address.) It is YOUR responsibility to let tnachieves and your mentor know if your or phone number change. 6 Did your mentor contact you via ? CHECK!

8 4. FIRST TEAM MEETING M ENTORS: We certainly cannot force mentors to attend team meetings; however, your students will be expecting you and may feel left out if they do not have a mentor present. The meetings only last an hour. Please make every effort to keep your commitment to your students. If you are unable to attend, please let both your student and tnachieves representative know. You will receive an reminder of team meetings. The first team meeting will cover introductions to the program, FAFSA, and program requirements. Complete your student information sheets and establish communication guidelines. Tell your students to respond to your communication, even if it is just ok or thank you! Many of our mentors get frustrated with their students because they fail to respond. If you set communication guidelines and expectations at the first meeting, they are more likely to get back to you. Have fun getting to know your students at this first meeting. COUNSELORS: tnachieves has confirmed the location before team meetings. Please know that you are always invited to attend the meetings. The students often appreciate a familiar face in the crowd. Counselors who regularly attend also have a greater understanding of the program s processes. Please make announcements one week before and the day before the meeting. It is also helpful to post the meeting schedule somewhere visible in the school. tnachieves and our mentors will also be reminding students of dates, times and locations. If a student has a valid excuse, have them visit the website before the meeting to complete an excuse form. Team meetings are MANDATORY Your mentor is expected to attend the team meetings. If he/she is unable to attend, they are asked to let you know so you are not surprised at the meetings. You can find a complete meeting schedule by high school at and on pages of this handbook. You will receive an reminder as well as school announcement reminders. SNOW POLICY: If your school is cancelled or released early due to snow, tnachieves will reschedule your meeting. It is your responsibility to visit to find the new date for your team meeting. Failure to attend your team meeting will result in the loss of your Tennessee Promise eligibility. The first team meeting will explain... tnachieves and your requirements as a tnachieves Scholar. At the first team meeting, you will sit with your mentor and get to know him/her for the first few minutes. Then, a tnachieves representative will speak to the whole group about what tnachieves is and your requirements as a tnachieves Scholar. Meeting your mentor and establishing the best form of communication. Establishing how you and your mentor will communicate in the future is extremely important in order for your relationship to continue. Tell your mentor the best way to contact you whether it is by phone, text message, , Facebook or anything else! Many of our mentors get frustrated with their mentees because they fail to answer when the mentor reaches out. A simple thanks will often suffice. FAFSA and why it is important to complete it before February 15. The February 15 FAFSA filing deadline is one of the most important deadlines enforced by tnachieves. FAFSA is also one of the most intimidating parts of the college access process. tnachieves tries to eliminate some of the questions associated with FAFSA during the first team meeting. tnachieves will also inform you of FAFSA days held at the community colleges to assist you in filing. Community college and TCAT programs. Representatives from local community colleges and TCATs will be at the first team meetings to provide information on programs offered at the institutions and admissions requirements. Excuse form If you have a documented excuse (see policy #2 on pg. 31), you must complete an excuse form at within 72 hours of your assigned team meeting date. Once your excuse form has been submitted, you will receive an indicating if more information is needed or if your excuse has been approved. If you submit the excuse form PRIOR to your team meeting, you may attend any other team meeting. If you submit an excuse form AFTER your assigned meeting date, you will be assigned an alternate team meeting date based on your geographic location. If you do not submit within 72 hours, you will lose your eligibility. Failure to attend the team meetings will result in the loss of your scholarship! This means work is not an excuse. Ask for the night off! Lack of transportation is also not a valid excuse. Yes, you must attend this meeting if you have already completed your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You must attend this meeting even if you graduated early. Your parents/guardians are welcome to attend as well, but they cannot attend in your place. Only tnachieves staff can approve or deny excuses from meetings. Mentors may not excuse you from a meeting. 7

9 5. FEBRUARY 15: COMPLETE FAFSA M ENTORS: Mentors are not expected to file FAFSA for students. You are not FAFSA experts. Your role is to lessen the intimidation factor often associated with the FAFSA. It is also important to remind your students of the February 15th FAFSA filing deadline and the FAFSA Days that are available for their assistance. These days will be posted on our website. Many high schools also have FAFSA Days that will be posted on our website. When a student asks a FAFSA question that you feel unsure of the answer, always call tnachieves! Remember, the appropriate FAFSA web address is www. fafsa.ed.gov. COUNSELORS: Please let us know if your school hosts a FAFSA Day(s), and we will disseminate information to students and parents. We will send you the list of eligible students following this deadline as soon as we receive it. Students may have questions about FAFSA. Use this handbook as a reference guide, but always feel free to contact tnachieves if the questions are overwhelming. How to file FAFSA The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows you to receive financial aid. Filing the FAFSA by February 15th increases the probability that eligible students receive more aid. This also allows you to remain eligible with Tennessee Promise. It is important to note that the FAFSA is also required for the state s lottery scholarships as well as the Pell grant. You will receive an reminder of the FAFSA filing deadline. There will be several FAFSA Days held at the community and technical colleges. You can find these dates on our website at www. tnachieves.org. 1. After January 1, 2015, you will visit This is the official FAFSA site. DO NOT complete the application at or any other website that asks you for a fee. FAFSA filing will be free. DO NOT submit the FAFSA prior to January 1st, or it will be the wrong academic year. 2. Make sure to select the FAFSA application. 3. You and a parent will need to create a PIN number. This is your password to later return to FAFSA to make corrections or updates. Make sure to write this in a secure location. If you forget your PIN, this will delay your filing date. 4. It is important you enter the correct social security number. If incorrect, this will lead to future complications with receiving your aid. Triple check that this is correct as it can cause major issues down the road. 5. To ensure you meet the deadline, you can file based on an estimation from the previous year s tax returns and later correct. You will select will file. Remember, choosing will file does not complete your FAFSA. You MUST update your FAFSA with the correct year s tax information once you complete your taxes. 6. Even if you are 18 years old, you will need your parents/guardians information to complete the FAFSA unless you are married, have children who receive more than half of their support from you, were in foster care, are a ward of the court, are emancipated from your parents, are homeless and/ or have parents who are deceased. All could require documentation from a court. 7. If you feel lost, click inside the answer box. Information will appear on the right side of your computer screen indicating where to find the appropriate answer. 8. At the end, you and your parent will sign your FAFSA electronically using the PIN number you created. You can create your PIN the same day you file. 9. Remember, tnachieves, your high school and the colleges host FAFSA days in January to assist you and your parents with the filing process. Please make arrangements to attend if needed! 10. You need to make sure you select the community or technical college you plan to attend as your first choice! If you change your mind, you must go back in and change it so the post-secondary institution can retrieve your information. You must also change your institution on the TSAC portal. Check your for FAFSA Day locations if you need help! 8

10 6. FEBRUARY 15: APPLICATION DUE *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: Students are reminded of their application priority date via , but please connect with them to ensure they have completed the application. If you were at the team meeting in January, you know that we covered most of this at the meeting as well. The sooner the student applies, the better as it gives them adequate time to meet all college admissions and financial aid requirements. This is particularly true for students attending a TCAT where a waiting list may exist. If your students have questions about the post-secondary institutions, have them visit the websites. The websites are a wealth of knowledge for prospective students (see page 27 for a list of tnachieves approved post-secondary institutions and their website information). It only takes a few minutes! Most colleges have an easy online application. Take a minute to complete an application. All community college applications can be completed online. If you do not have internet access, most colleges will allow you to complete an application on their campus. TCAT applications must be completed on paper and submitted to the admissions office at the TCAT you plan to attend. You will get an reminder from tnachieves to complete your application! Other Requirements In order to have a complete application packet, you will be required to submit the following items to the college: ACT Scores Official high school transcript (must be sent by your high school after graduation.) MMR vaccination (This can be done at any doctor s office or the health department.) Chicken Pox Vaccine (two doses) or proof of immunity from your doctor or the health department (Your doctor or the health department will need to complete a form.) Hepatitis B vaccination or completed form (This is a form you sign to certify that you elect not to receive the hepatitis B vaccine. Students under 18 must have parent signature.) Vaccination forms can be found at the post-secondary institutions or on their websites. Other forms specific to the college may apply. Why community or technical college? Get a Better Job! The more educated you are, the more employable you are! Pursuing a post-secondary education for your generation is more important than it was for your parents generation. In the future, 80 percent of the fastest growing jobs in the United States will require at least some post-secondary education. Make More Money! College graduates make $22,000 more per year than those who do not have a college education. Meet New People! A college education allows you to meet new people, explore your career interests and take part in new experiences. Easier Transition! College is very different from high school. Community and technical colleges are less of a drastic change than some four-year colleges. They Offer Specialized Degrees and Licensing Programs! Community and technical colleges have special programs in areas such as teaching, automotive technology, nursing, culinary arts and many others that put you on the fast track to a rewarding career. More Affordable! For full-time students, community colleges in Tennessee cost about $4,000 annually compared to $8,000 for four-year state schools. If you complete your first two years at a community college, you can save 50 percent in tuition and then transfer after you have received an associate s degree! You Can Complete Your Basic Requirements! Every college student is required to take several basic classes regardless of your major. Community colleges are a great place to take these courses. Boost Your GPA! Having a good GPA at a community or technical college can increase your chances of not only entering a four-year college but also receiving more scholarship money. 9 tnachieves ed you... did you get it?

11 7. SECOND TEAM MEETING M ENTORS: We see a great deal of drop off in mentor attendance at the March team meeting. Remember, students are disappointed when their mentors do not show up or tell them they will not be able to make the meeting. Please make sure to remind your students of the meeting. COUNSELORS: At this point, tnachieves is making our master list of students. Again, if the student does not attend the team meeting or provide a valid excuse within 72 hours of the meeting, they will be dropped from the program. Although this is a hard policy for our busy students, it is in their best interest to attend the meetings so they are more prepared for the next steps in the college access process. If you have questions about a student s eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact us. Remember tnachieves only asks for two hours of their time during their senior year! YES! You must attend even though you have already applied to college. The second team meeting will explain... The college admissions process. We realize that you have senioritis. We have all experienced the fatigue associated with the end of high school. This is not, however, the time to procrastinate sending all your information to the postsecondary institution of your choice. FAFSA Verification. Many students are randomly selected by the Department of Education for financial aid verification. Students who do not complete this process will lose their Tennessee Promise eligibility. See page 13 for more details. The importance of the ACT. Most of you will have completed at least one ACT during your junior year. If you scored less than an 18 in English and a 19 in reading and math, we encourage you to retake it. The registration deadline is March 13th for the April 18th ACT session. Ask your school counselor for assistance with registration. Although the TCATs do not always require you to take the ACT, a composite score of 19 or higher means you do not need to complete a COMPASS test. 8. COMPLETE ACT OR COMPASS TEST *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: All Tennessee high schools offer the ACT to students their junior year. Students may decide to retake the test to improve their scores. Most colleges place students into classes based on their ACT score. If they do not meet the 18 in English and 19 in reading and math requirements, they are required to take learning support classes which can set students back up to three semesters before they are even earning college credit! Please stress the importance of ACT scores to the students and encourage them to prepare and take the test seriously. Community College Students Visit to register for testing and find the dates, times and locations available in your area. Students are encouraged to take the ACT by April 18th as waiting until June will prevent students from completing other admissions requirements on time. You must register to take the ACT by March 13th. For example, if you do not have your ACT scores, you will not know if you need learning support classes, so you will not be able to be advised or register for classes. Your ACT scores will determine your status as an entering college freshman. Failure to meet the minimum scores required means you will need learning support classes your first and sometimes even second semester. This means you will be in college longer! Minimum ACT scores to not require learning support classes are as follows: Math- 19 Reading- 19 English- 18 Ask your guidance counselor if you are eligible for an ACT fee waiver. Make sure to send your scores to the appropriate college. TCAT Students Most TCAT programs do not require an ACT score, but students may be required to complete the COMPASS. You may schedule this test by calling the TCAT. There may be a fee associated with COMPASS testing. Most TCAT programs require one of the following scores: ACT- math (19) and reading (19) Compass- math (42) and reading (51) Some programs (especially Allied Health programs) may have different requirements. Check with your chosen TCAT to get specific requirements. 10

12 9. SET UP COLLEGE *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: As most of you have probably learned, it takes every form of communication to reach students ( s, text messages, phone calls, Facebook messages, etc.). It is frustrating for us, but this is how we get important deadlines to them! When students enter college, most of the community colleges use for all their alerts. For example, if the student is having an issue with financial aid, they will send several s, but the student will never receive them because they do not check their s. Please encourage your students to set up their school and check it on a regular basis. If they can make this a habit, you may be able to contact them regularly too! Keep up that encouragement. They need it!! Community College Students is the main form of communication for tnachieves and community college students! You will be given an address from your post-secondary institution. Set it up! Although may seem old-school to you, it is the way of communication in college and the real world when you graduate. Your college is the best way your school and your professors communicate with you. tnachieves will continue to communicate with you via the you supplied on your Tennessee Promise application unless instructed otherwise. Be sure to check your at least once a week while in school! Not receiving s does not qualify as a reason to miss a deadline or priority date. TCAT Students Although you may not recieve a TCAT specific , TCAT students must continue to check tnachieves updates and reminders by the you entered on your Tennessee Promise application. 10. ATTEND NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: This is one of the biggest, most intimidating steps to transition from high school to college. This is a great time to discuss all the previous accomplishments and uncover any hesitations and questions your students might be afraid to ask. All colleges approach orientation differently. COUNSELORS: Congratulations on sending another class to college! You will be hearing from us about counselor receptions. This is our time to thank you and get your feedback for ways to improve the tnachieves program. Community College Students Orientation is extremely important because you will learn all the requirements to keep your scholarship, how to be a successful college student and anything you might be missing from the college in order to start school! NOVEMBER Each college has a different way of registering for new student orientations. Please check with your chosen college to see how to sign up! TCAT Students Once you have been accepted to a TCAT program, you will receive an award letter. This award letter will outline your next steps for enrollment. TCATs may have program-specific orientations held prior to classes starting or may consider the first day of class to be your orientation for the program. It is your responsibility to check with your chosen TCAT to determine your orientation dates and when classes begin. 11

13 11. COMPLETE PLACEMENT TESTING *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: Placement testing is different at every post-secondary institution. Some schools require it for every student, some schools only require it for certain ACT scores, some schools just place students based on ACT scores and some schools offer challenge testing if the student wants the chance to test out of learning support classes. During the entire college access process, it is important that students identify themselves as a Tennessee Promise Scholar when calling the post-secondary institutions. You may need to schedule an appointment to take a placement test! If you scored below the following grades on your ACT, you may need to complete placement testing: math (19), English (18), reading (19). Placement testing is different for every community college and TCAT; please contact your school to determine what is required. You can make a testing appointment by contacting the testing services department at your post-secondary institution. If testing is required, you will not be able to be advised until you have completed your placement testing. Be sure to get this done in plenty of time to be advised and registered for classes before the July 1 priority date. Most high schools offer college visit days. This is a great opportunity to take your placement tests! Much like the ACT, these tests can be used to test out of learning support classes. Some schools offer review sessions prior to taking the exam, so look into what your school has to offer! Do not become discouraged if you need a learning support class or two. Tennessee Promise funds these classes and believes in your success! Approximately 80 percent of tnachieves students are required to take at least one learning support class, so you are not alone! your mentor to update them!! 12. JULY 1: BE REGISTERED FULL- TIME *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: We always encourage our students to talk to you about your career. It is helpful for students exploring their career options to learn about how someone else got started in a particular field. Please talk to your students about what you do and how you chose to do it. The community and technical colleges do a great job of offering several specialized fields, so there is something for everyone! Always encourage your students to call their post-secondary institution when they are confused, especially during this time. The schools have all the materials they need, and they are the best people to answer advising questions! Students often do not understand how important it is to register early. It is helpful to discuss a general schedule with them so they have an idea of when they should take classes, when they should work and when they can make the time to study. Because many tnachieves students have full-time jobs when they are in college, it is important to register early so they can coordinate around their work schedule. Remember, July 1st is the class registration priority date, which means students need to begin the process at least three weeks prior to the date in order for them to be able to set testing and advising appointments! Community College Students You must be advised prior to registering for classes!! You cannot register for classes until you have been advised. It is best to complete this as early as possible, so you get the best class schedule. You have to make an advising appointment by calling the post-secondary institution. Do not wait until the last week of June to schedule this appointment-- they will be booked!! It is best to have an idea of what you would like to major in before you are advised. This way your advisor can help plan your schedule for the next two or three years. You will know what classes are necessary to receive a degree! Take at least 12 hours. As a Tennessee Promise recipient, you are required to take 12 hours per semester. If you fall below 12 hours, you will lose your eligibility. Completing 15 hours per semester is necessary to earn an associates degree in two years; however, it is difficult to maintain 15 hours if you have other responsibilities such as a job. Know your limits as a student, and talk to your advisor! Register early! The earlier you register, the better your class schedule will be. Registration opens in mid-april. Keep in mind, you will not be able to register until all your test scores are in the system and you have been advised! Be advised every semester! You are only required to be advised your first semester of college, but tnachieves recommends meeting with an advisor each semester. Tell the advisor that you are a Tennessee Promise scholar. You are marked as a Tennessee Promise scholar in the system, but some advisors may not notice. It is important for the advisors to know you are a Tennessee Promise scholar, so they can advise you correctly. Plan your classes for 2 years. Although your schedule will more than likely change, it is good to have an idea of what you need in order to graduate. Check with the financial aid office or tnachieves before you drop a class! Before you drop a class, be sure you will still have the number of hours you need to receive your financial aid. The HOPE Scholarship, the Pell grant, and Tennessee Promise all have credit hour requirements that you must maintain. If you are planning to drop due to grades, speak with your professor first. Your professor might have suggestions on how to improve your grade. Traditional classes may also have fees that are not covered by Tennessee Promise. Do not register for online classes! Tennessee Promise will NOT pay for RODP classes and strongly discourages online classes. In addition, online class fees are not covered by Tennessee Promise. TCAT Students TCAT students must enroll in a full-time program. 12

14 13. AUGUST 1*: COMPLETE VERIFICATION FILE** M ENTORS: Many of our students are selected for verification by the Department of Education. Completing the FAFSA by February 15 often requires students to file based on estimations from the previous year which could flag students for this process. Verification can be a daunting process for students just starting their college careers. It is confusing and overwhelming to them, so we try to make it less complicated. Students can often panic. No worries! Again, have them contact the financial aid office. They need to identify themselves as tnachieves students. What is verification? You will be notified by your post-secondary institution if you have been selected for verification. Verification is a process used to verify certain information on the FAFSA to ensure its accuracy. You could be randomly selected for verification by the Department of Education because your FAFSA is incomplete or has included estimated information. What do I do if I am selected for verification? If you are selected for verification, contact your school s financial aid office. Sometimes linking your FAFSA back to the IRS website will be sufficient. Other times, you will need to collect copies of the documents requested by the financial aid office (e.g.: W-2, Tax forms, etc.). Once all paperwork is submitted, the financial aid office will make corrections and process your financial aid. Remember, it can take up to 4 weeks for the financial aid office to process this paperwork, and documents may trigger other documents required to be submitted, so begin addressing this immediately. tnachieves strongly encourages students to submit all requested documentation by June 15 to ensure you meet the August 1 deadline. Failure to meet the deadline will result in the loss of your Tennessee Promise eligibility. This includes ensuring your FAFSA is directed to the eligible institution you plan to attend by June 15th. What does it mean to complete the verification process? This means the college has verified all documents that have been submitted and there are no other outstanding requirements in the financial aid office. A student must select an eligible institution as his/her first choice on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as direct his/her TSAC student portal to the eligible institution. It is the student s responsibility to confirm with the post-secondary institution that his/her admissions and financial aid files are verified, processed and ready for award. Other scholarships/aid We understand that some tnachieves students will not need Tennessee Promise funding to pay for college tuition or fees. We ask that these students continue to work with tnachieves by meeting the GPA requirement of a 2.0, filing FAFSA by February 15 and completing 8 hours of community service each semester. If you keep up with your requirements, Tennessee Promise will pick up your tuition if something happens to Pell, HOPE or any other scholarship. Trust us, this happens often, so keep up with your requirements!! You have a new !! *TCAT verification deadline is October 1. **Submit ALL required documents by June 15 to ensure the financial aid office has adequate time to process your file by August 1! 13

15 14. COMMUNITY SERVICE M ENTORS: We are asking our mentors to suggest options for tnachieves sponsored community service events. If you are involved in any sort of project or agency that needs volunteer work, please let us know and we will be happy to send the opportunity out to students. Students may ask your opinion about community service options. If you volunteer for an organization other than tnachieves, you may want to encourage your students to tag along. We encourage students to job shadow in their field of interest for their community service hours. This is a good way for the students to receive some experience in that field to see if they really enjoy it. If you know someone they can contact in their field of interest, you are more than welcome to share that with them! Your first 8 community service hours are due August 1, You may begin to work on your service hours January 1, tnachieves believes it is important for you to give back to the community. Community service is a great way to meet new people and learn about your community. What? As long as you are not helping a family member or receiving money, your activity will be considered community service. Remember, you are required to complete eight hours of community service each semester to remain Tennessee Promise eligible. Try to choose an activity that benefits the community. Babysitting for free is not community service. Mowing your neighbors yard is not community service. Submit! You will need to complete the community service form at prior to each deadline. Semester Fall 2015 August 1, 2015 Spring 2016 December 1, 2015 Fall 2016 August 1, 2016 Spring 2017 December 1, 2016 Fall 2017 August 1, 2017 Community Service Ideas Community Service Deadline Any summer semester will require a May 1 completion date. Only TCAT students may begin the summer directly following high school graduation and must meet the May deadline. tnachieves events tnachieves provides community service opportunities in each county. See for details. Service learning at your post-secondary institution Many post-secondary institutions have service learning groups on campus that can match you to community service activities based on your interests. There is also the potential to earn college credit while doing community service! Your field of interest We encourage you to complete your community service in your field of interest. For instance, if you want to be a teacher, ask one of your former teachers if you can volunteer in his/her classroom for a day! This is a great way to gain experience in your potential career. Sometimes, students realize they do not actually want that career path and switch. Other times, it works out that they really do love it! It is also a great way to get to know someone in that field that might be able to help you get a job one day. Check your local United Way, food pantries, and libraries for community service opportunities! 14

16 15. POST-SECONDARY TEAM MEETING *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: The September team meetings will be held at the post-secondary institutions. Students are able to choose their date, time and location based on their availability with classes. This means that you may have students attending several different events. Because of this, we do not expect you to attend these meetings, but please be sure to continue to contact your students. Sometimes our students just need the extra person asking how everything is going to be able to admit they need help. All dates, times and locations will be ed to students. You will receive an in August with dates, times and locations of the post-secondary team meetings. You will have the opportunity to choose which meeting works with your class schedule. These meetings will begin in September. Post-secondary team meeting will explain... The importance of completing college in a timely manner. As important as it is to start school, it is more important to finish! We will be holding post-secondary team meetings at each post-secondary institution. At these meetings, we will break into groups to focus on the resources available to you. Similar to New Student Orientations, the post-secondary team meetings are held at the postsecondary institutions. Studies show that students who complete the first semester of college are more likely to stay in school. In other words, when you start to struggle, ask for help and persevere. The importance of using resources available to students. You will break out into focus groups depending on the area in which you are having difficulties. Some focus groups include: I struggle in math. (Math Lab) I don t know what I want to major in. (Counseling Center) I do not feel comfortable approaching my professors. (College Professor) I need help writing papers. (Writing Center) I can t find the time to study. (Library) I need help with my school work. (Tutoring Center) I need another student s advice. (Ambassadors) In each of the focus groups, there is a representative from the post-secondary institution that can offer their expertise. Remember, tnachieves and your mentor are always a good resource in addition to all the resources the post-secondary institutions offer! The importance of getting involved on campus. Find something that interests you on campus. You will enjoy your post-secondary experience much more if you have fun as well as study. Visit the student activities office for clubs and extracurricular activities in which you can become involved! Parents and mentors DO NOT need to attend post-secondary team meetings! 15 You should your mentor to tell them how you are doing!

17 16. BEGIN CLASSES M ENTORS: Once your students have started school, please reach out to them to make sure everything is going as it should. Being self-motivated to attend class is a new concept for many of these students so stressing the importance of attendance and knowing professors is helpful to the students. Here you can record which of your students are continuing their education and which post-secondary institution they have chosen: STUD E NT: SCHOOL: NEW STUD E NT: SCHOOL: NEW STUD E NT: SCHOOL: NEW STUD E NT: SCHOOL: NEW STUD E NT: SCHOOL: NEW A successful college student... Asks for help. Many new college students are afraid to ask for help, but it is the only way to get your questions answered! Once you start asking questions, it will become easier. If you do not know who to ask, just look for anyone who works for the school, and they can point you in the right direction. You can also always call tnachieves or your mentor! Goes to class. Although your classes may not have an attendance policy, the teacher still notices if you come to class; not to mention, you will not receive information you need to succeed in school if you do not attend class!! TCAT students grades are based on attendance, so it is absolutely mandatory to attend each class. Introduces himself/herself to your professors or instructors. Professors love to get to know their students, so approach your professor on the first day of class and say, Hi! My name is (your name), and I just wanted to introduce myself and say I am excited to be in this class. It may sound dorky, but it will pay off!! Professors are much more likely to help you out if you get in a bind during the semester if they know who you are. Engages during class. If you are engaged during class by taking notes, asking questions and listening, you are more likely to perform favorably in the class. Your professor will remember you and be willing to help you if problems arise. Reads and understands his/her class syllabus. Each of your classes will have a syllabus. Be sure to read it thoroughly as it includes your expectations, your test dates, assignments and due dates, what books you need to have, attendance policy, and the grading scale. The syllabus will also include your professor s contact information and office hours in case you need extra help outside of class. Manages time and stays organized. College is extremely different from high school; therefore, it is very important to learn how to manage your time and stay organized. Keep a planner of all classes and responsibilities. Make sure to allow time for studying! As a rule of thumb, you should plan to study or do homework for 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour you are in the classroom. Uses resources. Community and technical colleges are full of FREE resources to help you succeed in college. Most colleges have math labs, writing centers, tutoring centers, advisors and counselors. Familiarize yourself with these resources, and use them often. Uses fellow students as a resource. Studies show that when students in cohort groups (a group of students taking several classes together) study together, their grades and completion rates increase. Surround yourself with successful students! Goes to school full time. Take 12 to 15 hours per semester. Studies also show that full time students are 141 percent more likely to receive an associate s degree and 149 percent more likely to earn their bachelor s degree than part time students. Take classes in the summer. Finish your education fast. Begin your career as quickly as possible. Have your professors ed you? 16

18 17. GPA/SAP MEETINGS *PRIORITY DATE M ENTORS: Students can/will lose various funds due to poor attendance and lack of effort. Continue encouraging your students to keep up with their school work, attend class and stay positive! The first semester is always the most difficult! Remember, students should visit the post-secondary institution websites for various resources including free tutoring. Community College Students If you fall below a 2.5 GPA, tnachieves will request a meeting with you. tnachieves will you to establish an appointment at your campus. At your meeting, we will discuss the issues that led to your lower GPA, as well as steps you are taking to improve your grades. We will develop a plan for the next semester. This is for your benefit as tnachieves simply does not want you to lose your Tennessee Promise eligibility due to poor academic performance. TCAT students TCAT students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP). If your grades begin to fall below SAP, you will be required to meet with a tnachieves representative to discuss academic improvement. TCAT students receive numeric grades: 77 is passing for most programs 81 is passing for Allied Health programs If you fall below these passing grades, you may be placed on academic probation and may be asked to take a semester off. Attendance makes up a portion of a student s grades. The max you are allowed to miss each trimester is 9.7% of total enrolled hours. Once you miss 5.5%, you will be contacted by student services for a counseling meeting to discuss. 18. FEB. 15: COMPLETE FAFSA AGAIN! 17 M ENTORS: You will now be working with another group of students, but if you have developed a good relationship with some of your students, please remind them to file their FAFSA again! It should be easier the second time! Refer to step 5 for details. You will receive an reminder. 1. After January 1, 2016, you will visit 2. Make sure to select the FAFSA application. 3. You will still have a PIN from last year. 4. It is important you enter the correct social security number. 5. File based on an estimation from the previous year s tax returns and correct later. 6. Even if you are 18 years old, you will need your parents/guardians information to complete the FAFSA unless you are married, have children who receive more than half of their support from you, were in foster care, are a ward of the court, are emancipated from your parents, are homeless and/ or have parents who are deceased. All could require documentation from a court. 7. If you feel lost, click inside the answer box. Information will appear on the right side of your computer screen indicating where to find the appropriate answer. 8. At the end, you and your parent will sign your FAFSA electronically using the PIN number you created. 9. Remember, tnachieves and the community colleges host FAFSA days in January to assist you and your parents with the filing process. Please make arrangements to attend if needed! 10. Revisit the verification step found on page 13 for all details. It will apply for eligibility the second year as well. 11. If you take advantage of the 5th semester, you will be required to follow these steps for the FAFSA as well. Verification may also be required.

19 19. JULY 1: SUBMIT SCHOLARSHIP RENEWAL Students must log in to their TSAC Student Portal to submit an application for renewal of Tennessee Promise by July 1 each year. The TSAC portal can be found at You will need your user name, password and the answer to your challenge questions to enter. If you have questions, please call COMPLETE COLLEGE! BECOME A TNACHIEVES AMBASSADOR tnachieves Ambassadors are the face of tnachieves! You are eligible to be a tnachieves Ambassador if you have completed at least 12 hours of college coursework and have at least a 3.0 GPA. The Ambassador application is open from January 1 to March 1 each year. You can apply at org. As an Ambassador, your responsibilities are: Serve as a peer to peer mentor to incoming freshmen. Attend at least two team building/leadership activities per semester. The benefits of becoming an Ambassador are: Ambassador events count as part of your community service requirement. You gain leadership experience for your resume. You meet new people and become more involved in your college experience. EXPLORE YOUR CAREER INTERESTS Now that you have some college courses under your belt, you should have a better idea of what type of classes you enjoy. Make a list of your strengths, research careers that interest you, and ask people about their careers. The advising office of most colleges will have information on potential careers as well as interest tests that you can take to help you decide on a career field! Remember, your first semester is typically general education classes that are required for most majors, so this is your time to investigate different career options before you begin taking specialized classes. If you decide to change your major, talk to a faculty advisor to ensure you are taking the correct courses. TRANSFER To make it easier to transfer to a four-year college or university, the colleges have Tennessee Transfer Pathways ( These provide a simple transfer process to a four-year school. The Tennessee Transfer Pathways outline specific courses and letter grades that will transfer from community colleges to four-year schools. They also outline specific curriculums for certain majors. Contact the advising office of your school for more information on the Tennessee Transfer Pathways. GRADUATE In order to graduate from community college or technical college, there are certain requirements that must be met. These requirements are different for each school, so contact your school and ask which department handles graduation. Below are some of the typical things required for graduation: Minimum Residence: To receive a degree or certificate, most schools require that a certain amount of hours are completed at that particular school. Minimum Credit Hours: Each candidate must complete a certain number of hours. Minimum GPA: Usually, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to graduate. Major Studies: Completion of curriculum for specific majors is required. Degree Application: Prospective candidates must file an Intent to Graduate form, and there is usually a fee to graduate. Commencement: Most schools have a commencement ceremony at the end of each semester. Exit Testing: Some students may be required to take one or more tests designed to measure achievement in general education and in the specific major. 18

20 SUGGESTED MENTOR COMMUNICATION These conversation topics and reminders are simply suggested communications between mentors and students. They are not required; however, we do ask that you contact your students at least twice each month. December: Introduce yourself to students and parents/guardians. Please call the parents to introduce yourselves. January 1: Remind students of their team meeting date, time and location; reassure them that you will be there, and if not, establish a time to review. January 15: Remind students of the important February 15th FAFSA deadline; remind them often! And yes, you can file based on an estimation from last year s tax returns. February 1: Did you file your FAFSA? If not, you have until midnight on February 15th! February 15: Where did you apply to college? Today is the priority date. March 1: Remind students of their team meeting date, time and location; reassure them that you will meet them there! Also, remind students of the March 13th ACT registration deadline. March 15: Have you thought about visiting a college campus? April 1: Have you called about your placement test? Call the college to schedule one now! April 15: Have you asked your counselor about sending your official transcript to your chosen community or technical college? May 1: Have you heard from your post-secondary institution about being accepted? Does the institution need additional information from you? May 15: Have you completed your first 8 hours of community service? It is due by August 1. June 1: Happy Graduation! Make sure to schedule an advising appointment at your college so you get in the best classes! June 15: Do you know if you need to submit your verification documents? Call the financial aid office if you are unsure. You need to submit documents prior to June 15th to ensure you meet the August 1 deadline. July 1: Did you complete your New Student Orientation? If not, are you ready to attend? July 15: Are you sure that your college file is complete? Check your college account. August 1: Remember, community service must be submitted by midnight tonight. August 15: Good luck with all your classes! Do not forget to introduce yourself to all your professors! September 1: Remind students to attend their post-secondary team meeting. September 15: Have you used any of the resources available to you at the college like the tutoring or writing center? Do you know these are FREE resources? October 1: Have you completed your community service or thought about what you would like to do? There are suggestions at The next 8 hours is due by December 1. October 15: How are you doing in your classes? November 1: Remember, your community service deadline is just around the corner! You will submit your community service at November 15: Good luck on your finals! December 1: Remember, today is your community service deadline! December 15: Do not forget to file FAFSA again in January! The deadline is February 15th! Thank you for mentoring with us this year! Please complete the mentor survey that will be sent to your . 19

21 MENTOR BEST PRACTICES Introduction to students Seth, OK, I have never been a tnachieves mentor before so we are getting started together. However, I have mentored a number of younger folks through my job as Project Manager on projects around the US and overseas. I am 58 years old so you might say Whoa, what does this old dude know about what I am going through? Well, there are a few things you don t know. I came of age in the late 60 s which was quite the time to be a teenager. I was a hippie and saw a lot of stuff. I also have a 17 year old son who I love dearly, but tries my patience some times. I have been enrolled in four different colleges and know the ropes pretty well. Tennessee Promise is a great deal and getting that piece of paper is even better. I know you have better things to do like looking for girls, driving with your friends, music, etc. I am telling you that you can do that and this deal at the same time. Don t let this go. I promise to help in any way I can. You can get me at this or text or call me at XXX-XXX-XXXX. This is the name I was given for you. Tell me what everyone calls you. Look forward to seeing you. PS: Attached a picture of what I looked like at your age and one from a few years ago that I have on Facebook. Introduction to parents Hello, I wanted to introduce myself. My name is XXX. I work with XXX and will be your tnachieves mentor. I will be sending your child a similar , but wanted also introduce myself to you separately. This is a wonderful program for your child, and it is important that you participate with them throughout this process. It is very important to meet all deadlines and remember important dates coming up for helping your child maintain eligibility in the program. Your child should have received the tnachieves handbook. This is your tnachieves lifeline. It contains all information you and your child needs to ensure that they remain a Tennessee Promise scholar. Please review this handbook as it will help guide you in the process of meeting the requirements. The team meetings are mandatory. The first meeting will be held on January 10th at 5:30 at Campbell County High School in the cafeteria. I will remind you of this date a number of times between now and then. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. We will walk through this process one step at a time. It would be good if you could let me know the best way to contact you (i.e., phone, text, , etc.) My contact information is XXXXX. I look forward to meeting you at the first team meeting and working with you and seeing your child achieve success as they work toward their educational goals. Again, please feel free to contact me with any questions. Follow up on deadlines 20