The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) has appointed 25 educators from across the state to serve as the 2025 HIP Ambassadors. These educators will share information about High Impact Practices (HIPs) with their colleagues, promoting teaching and student-experience activities that support student learning, advancement, and graduation. Details about High Impact Practices can be found here.
For the first time, this year’s cohort includes faculty from universities that were part of the TBR system when the HIP program was introduced 11 years ago. These HIP Pathway Ambassadors aim to enhance the experience of students on transfer pathways from community and technical colleges to universities.
Latest TN News
HIPs at Tennessee’s public community and technical colleges involve practices such as intensive advising, industry certifications, first-year seminars, global cultural awareness courses, honors education, learning communities, service learning, study abroad, and work-based learning. These practices help students become more globally aware, solution-oriented, and workforce-ready.
Ambassadors are experienced with HIPs and undergo training and orientation sessions conducted by the TBR Office of Student Success. They serve as resources and contact points for faculty, lead discussions, share best practices, and advocate for HIPs within the TBR’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. This center assists faculty, advisors, and educators in serving students more effectively.
Dr. Heidi Leming, TBR vice chancellor for student success and strategic partnerships, emphasized the importance of the HIP program as the TBR system enters its 11th year of promoting these practices. She congratulated the 2025 cohort and welcomed the university faculty, highlighting the program’s role in strengthening connections between community colleges and four-year institutions.
The 2025 HIP Ambassadors, listed by their specialties and colleges, include:
– **First-Year Seminars/Experience**: Jessica Rabb, Nashville State Community College; T. Parish Akin, Southwest Tennessee Community College.
– **Global/Cultural Awareness**: Stuart Lenig, Columbia State Community College; Amber Sullivan, Volunteer State Community College; Audie Black, Tennessee State University (HIP Pathways).
– **Honors Education**: Sharon Grigsby, Columbia State Community College; Angie Wood, Chattanooga State Community College.
– **Learning Communities**: Tabetha Garman, Northeast State Community College; Iris Johnson Arnold, Tennessee State University (HIP Pathways).
– **Service Learning**: Jessica Mills, Walters State Community College; Christine Rowland, TCAT Jackson; Deidra Rogers, East Tennessee State University (HIP Pathways); Jennifer Thayer, Austin Peay State University (HIP Pathways).
– **Study Abroad**: Emily Naff, Nashville State Community College; Cynthia Elliott, Southwest Tennessee Community College; Sergie Markov, Austin Peay State University (HIP Pathways).
– **Technology Enhanced Learning**: Brooks Ziegler, Pellissippi State Community College; Maria Smith, TCAT Dickson; Carrie McCleese, Tennessee State University (HIP Pathways).
– **Undergraduate Research**: Elvira Eivazova, Columbia State Community College; Gracie Rossie, Walters State Community College; Carol Swayze, Middle Tennessee State University (HIP Pathways).
– **Work-Based Learning**: Nicole Neely, TCAT Pulaski; Jonathan Brigner, Chattanooga State Community College; Karen Russell, Tennessee State University (HIP Pathways).
Further details about the Ambassadors program are available here. The College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, is the state’s largest public higher education system, serving approximately 140,000 students.
Source: Read Original Release
TSSAA Board of Control January 2025 Meeting Recap
The TSSAA Board of Control’s January 2025 meeting in Hermitage discussed and approved various contracts for upcoming sports championships, including renewing agreements with Chattanooga and Knoxville for hosting specific events. Sevierville and Murfreesboro were selected to host the state golf and volleyball tournaments, respectively, while Memphis will host the cross country bid for 2025-2026. The meeting also covered updates on the Student Services program, financial reports, and co-op requests, with certain appeals concerning disciplinary actions being denied.