Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (THEC/TSAC)

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly to achieve coordination and foster unity with regard to higher education in the state. The Commission coordinates and provides guidance to the institutions governed by the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, the six locally-governed state universities, and the community colleges, and colleges of applied technology governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. There are currently nine public universities, two special purpose institutes, 13 community colleges, and 27 colleges of applied technology in Tennessee that serve approximately 250,000 students. The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1974 as a non-profit corporation with the merging of the Tennessee Educational Loan Corporation and the Tennessee Tuition Grant Program. TSAC administers over 20 different state student financial aid programs, including the HOPE scholarship, Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect, Tennessee Student Assistance Award, and the Dual Enrollment grant. TSAC's main goal is to increase awareness and participation in the financial aid programs, the agency conducts financial aid outreach and training to students and staff at every high school and postsecondary institution in the state. Staff also consult with postsecondary financial aid offices to improve program effectiveness, compliance, and efficiency.