South College is partnering with local school systems to offer tuition assistance to educators pursuing competency-based higher education programs.
The college’s competency-based education programs have grown rapidly since launching in October 2021, reaching more than 2,000 enrolled students by the end of 2025.
Michael Patrick, vice president of competency based education and academic improvement at South College, said the model allows students to move at their own pace, completing coursework online rather than following a traditional semester schedule.
He stressed the partnership is especially meaningful for educators in rural Tennessee communities, where access to advanced degree programs can be limited.
“There’s a lot of educators out where maybe they don’t have access to attend an on-ground institution to earn their EdS, their master’s, or their doctorate,” Patrick explained. “Our program provides that, right? Basically, wherever there’s internet.”
The new partnerships with Metro Nashville and McMinn, Meigs and Polk counties offer grants to educators pursuing competency-based education programs at South College. They add to the institution’s existing relationships with school systems in Anderson, Blount, Cumberland and Loudon counties.
Patrick pointed out the programs offer flexible, six-month online enrollment with no set deadlines. The community partnerships include a $1,000 tuition grant per six-month term.
He argued the model can make graduate education more affordable and accessible for working professionals balancing careers and family life.
“What I think the grant does is it reduces the amount that a teacher’s going to pay to get their degree,” Patrick observed. “And because of our model, I think it allows students to sometimes ultimately finish faster and more cost-effective with us than they do with other programs.”
Patrick added South College’s Doctor of Education program, launched in 2021, is now the college’s largest. The Doctor of Business Administration program is close behind, with each enrolling more than 1,000 students.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
Source: Public News Service
