During its fall quarterly meeting on Friday, the Tennessee Board of Regents appointed Dr. JacQuene Rainey as the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Jackson, effective October 1, 2024. Dr. Rainey has been with the TCAT system since 2009 and has served as vice president of academic affairs at TCAT Northwest since 2018. She will succeed Heath McMillian, who became president of TCAT Elizabethton in June.
Dr. Jeff Sisk, executive director of the Tennessee Board of Regents’ (TBR) Center for Workforce Development and a former president of TCAT Jackson, has been serving as interim president during the search process. Dr. Rainey holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University, as well as an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Union University.
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The fall quarterly board meeting, held at Dyersburg State Community College on September 19-20, 2024, also included a preliminary report on Fall 2024 student enrollment. The report indicated a 7 percent overall increase across the system compared to Fall 2023, with a 4 percent increase at community colleges and a 21 percent rise at TCATs. Additionally, dual enrollment of high school students in college classes increased by 10 percent from the previous year. Official enrollment numbers will be reported later, but the preliminary data suggests a positive trend.
Further actions by the Board of Regents included:
– Approval of TBR system’s state legislative funding priorities for fiscal year 2025-26, which will be considered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). These priorities include funding for a new customer relationship management system, a workforce pipeline initiative, a short-term training fund, cybersecurity enhancements, a student support network, and a workforce development revitalization initiative.
– Approval of financial aid flexibility legislation to help students balance education with family and job responsibilities.
– Approval of the TBR General Education Core, effective 2025, marking the first major revision since its inception in 2002.
– Approval of annual institutional mission profiles for community colleges, which will be reviewed by THEC.
– Approval of 18 program implementations and replications at various TCAT campuses to better meet student, business, and industry needs.
– Presentation of informational reports on student access and success data, outcomes of the TBR 2024 Statewide Workforce Convening, and other updates on ongoing research and innovation projects.
– Approval of faculty emeriti designations for four retired community college faculty members.
– Setting of quarterly meeting dates and locations for 2025.
– Approval of revisions to six TBR policies.
Details of the Board’s actions, including committee and board agendas and an executive summary, are available on the TBR website at https://www.tbr.edu/board/september-2024-quarterly-board-meeting. Video recordings of the board and committee meetings are also archived for viewing at this link.
Dr. Rainey’s extensive experience within the TCAT system includes roles as student services coordinator at TCAT Whiteville, assistant director of TCAT Northwest’s Covington and Ripley campuses, and vice president of TCAT Northwest. She has taught Administrative Office Technology courses in the systemwide online program and is a graduate of several leadership programs.
TCAT Jackson operates multiple campuses and teaching sites in Brownsville, Henderson, Humboldt, Lexington, Stanton, and Whiteville, and at Jackson State Community College. More information on TCAT Jackson and its programs can be found on its website at tcatjackson.edu.
For further details, contact Richard Locker at 615-366-4417 or visit the TBR website.
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