Free Non-Credit College/Vocational School Classes for Seniors & Persons w/Total Disability in TN

AKA:

CJC Senior; TN Board of Regents Free Classes for Seniors&Persons w/Total Permanent Disability; THEC

Description:

The TN Board of Regents provides free classes (no credit) for TN residents 60 and over, persons with a permanent, total disability or persons who have retired from state service with 30 or more years of service at any of the community colleges or TN Colleges of Applied Technology in the TN Board of Regents (TBR) system; the University of TN and other six state universities which used to be part of TBR have a similar system of free classes coordinated by the TN Higher Education Commission, including Austin Peay State University, East TN State University, Middle TN State University, TN State University, TN Technological University and The University of Memphis. TN residents 65 or over may take credit courses for a reduced fee. Apply for this program through your local participating school. Free classes are subject to space availability on an individual classroom basis.

Participating schools include: Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State Community College, Columbia State Community College, Dyersburg State Community College, Jackson State Community College, Motlow State Community College, Nashville State Community College, Northeast State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College, Roane State Community College, Southwest TN Community College, Volunteer State Community College, Walters State Community College and any TN College of Applied Technology.

The Tennessee Board of Regents is the governing board for Tennessee's public community colleges and colleges of applied technology. (The University of TN is a separate system with its own board of trustees but does participate in a similar program, as do the six other state universities governed by their own separate boards). The State Statute guiding these tuition discounts and fee waivers for persons who are older or disabled is T.C.A. 49-7-113.

Hours:

Hours vary by school

Intake Process:

Apply at one of the schools listed in the description. Enrollment depends on available class spaces, so registration must be no earlier than four weeks prior to the first day of classes. Each school may have specific requirements (such as proof of disability, age, etc.) prior to enrollment.

Program Fees:

For audit courses, no fee is required for persons with a permanent, total disability, persons 60 years of age or older who are residents of Tennessee, and persons who have retired from state service with 30 or more years of service, regardless of age.
For credit courses, a fee of $70.00 per semester or $60.00 per trimester may be charged to persons with a permanent, total disability and to persons who will become 65 years of age or older during the academic semester in which they begin classes and who live in Tennessee. (Note: This fee includes all mandatory fees; it does not include course-specific fees such as all miscellaneous course fees, materials fees, application fee, online course fees and parking fees.) This only applies to enrollment on a space available basis, which permits registration no earlier than four (4) weeks prior to the first day of classes.

Eligibility:

TN residents who are seniors 60 and older, persons with a permanent, total disability or persons who have retired from state service with 30 or more years of service are eligible for the free audited courses

Handicap Accessible?

Yes

Is Shelter?

No

Date of Official Change:

April 18, 2024

Address Listings

Contacts

Phone Numbers

Legal Status:

State