Structuring State Policy for Student Success - Applying Incentives in the Volunteer State

Abstract

This report focuses on Tennessee’s experience in responding to the college completion imperative by implementing an array of policies and programs representing incentives to either institutions or students. The Tennessee experience is pertinent to other states because: with only 36 percent of its adult residents holding a postsecondary certificate or higher (ranked 42nd nationally), Tennessee has a long way to go in terms of educational attainment; it has made substantial strides in a short time; and it shares enough characteristics with enough states to make its experience relevant across a variety of state contexts.