Oak Ridge Today

Roane State launches office, website to help parents stay engaged with students

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State’s new parent portal is online at www.roanestate.edu/parents. The portal offers parents access to campus news and deadlines, personalized newsletters, alerts, and insights into students’ progress and financial details. (Submitted image)

Roane State’s new parent portal is online at www.roanestate.edu/parents. The portal offers parents access to campus news and deadlines, personalized newsletters, alerts, and insights into students’ progress and financial details. (Submitted image)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

There’s a new office promoting family involvement and providing ways for families help their students succeed at Roane State Community College.

It’s called the Office of Parent and Family Engagement. An integral part of this new office is providing a “parent and family portal” developed by CampusESP. The portal is online at www.roanestate.edu/parents.

The portal, available on any device, allows parents to learn more about their children’s college experience, from campus news and events to notices about tuition and grade-point averages.

Students will be able to determine what access is given to parents or guardians through the new portal. [Read more…]

Roane State Tennessee Promise students lead state in persistence

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Data recently presented to the Tennessee Board of Regents indicated Tennessee Promise students are outperforming their peers in various success measures, and Roane State’s students are leading the way, a press release said.

The first class of Tennessee Promise students entered college in the fall of 2015. Through the spring semester of 2017, 56.2 percent were still enrolled, have earned a college credential, or transferred to a four-year university, the press release said.

At Roane State, the persistence rate was 65 percent, the best among Tennessee’s 13 community colleges, the release said.

“We are proud that Roane State’s Tennessee Promise students have shown the grit and determination to stay in school and complete,” Roane State President Chris Whaley said. “I also greatly appreciate the efforts of our faculty and staff to make sure students have the support they need to be successful.” [Read more…]

Roane State Tennessee Promise student ready to take next step after graduation

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Shelley Edwards (Submitted photo)

Shelley Edwards (Submitted photo)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

For Roane State’s Shelley Edwards, the Tennessee Promise scholarship and mentoring program came along at just the right time.

Edwards was among the first group of students to take advantage of Tennessee Promise, a last-dollar scholarship that allows students to go to community colleges tuition-free.

“With the HOPE Scholarship and Tennessee Promise, I haven’t had to pay anything for my education,” said Edwards, 19, the daughter of Michael and Linda Edwards of Rockwood.

She’s maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average at Roane State.

She received an associate of science degree in chemistry in May, setting the stage for her transfer next fall to Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. She plans to major in chemical engineering with a concentration in bio-molecular engineering. [Read more…]

High school seniors invited to Roane State’s Scholarship Saturday on Oct. 1

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

High school seniors can sign up for the Tennessee Promise, complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and fill out their college application as part of Scholarship Saturday on October 1 at Roane State Community College’s Roane County campus in Harriman.

The event will last from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Eastern, and refreshments will be served. Visitors are welcome to drop in anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Check-in will be in the lobby of the Dunbar Building.

Roane State financial aid and admissions staff will be available to help students and their families complete their forms.

The deadline to apply for the Tennessee Promise is November 1. [Read more…]

Roane State to host special Welcome Back events for students

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College Greets Students

Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley greets students in the library on the main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Roane State Community College will offer a “sunny” welcome to both new and returning students with special celebrations to kick off the start of fall classes.

Under the theme “My Future’s So Bright,” students will be invited to participate in a variety of activities during the college’s annual Welcome Back celebrations. An event will be held on Roane State’s Roane County campus on Monday, August 22, from 10 a.m-2 p.m. in the courtyard. A celebration on the Oak Ridge campus will be held on Tuesday, August 23, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the atrium.

Students will be invited to write down their visions of their futures on a special banner and take a “future selfie” dressed in graduation attire or other gear associated with their future careers. A limited number of sunglasses will also be given away to attendees.

“We are excited to welcome students back to campus,” Roane State President Chris Whaley said. “A lot of exciting initiatives are happening at Tennessee’s community colleges with Tennessee Promise for high school students and Tennessee Reconnect for adults. The future is bright for Roane State students, and we want to show them how much we appreciate them and are committed to their success.” [Read more…]

High school seniors: Get help with your Tennessee Promise application

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

RSCC Coffey McNally Building Oak Ridge

The Coffey/McNally Building is pictured at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Community College is hosting four evening sessions to help students sign up for the Tennessee Promise and complete their college applications.

Sessions will be held on the following dates:

  • October 8—Roane County campus, Room O-201, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
  • October 19—Oak Ridge campus, Goff-118, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
  • October 26—Roane County campus, Room, T-306B, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
  • October 26—Oak Ridge campus, Goff-118, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

The sessions are designed to encourage students to enroll in Tennessee Promise, Governor Bill Haslam’s program to provide two years of community college or technical school tuition-free. Tennessee Promise is part of the Drive to 55 initiative to increase the number of Tennesseans with some form of postsecondary credential, such as a college degree or technical certificate.

The deadline to apply for the Tennessee Promise is November 2.

For more information, contact Karry Hamby at [email protected] or (865) 882-4555.

Scholarship Saturday at Roane State campuses in Roane, Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tennessee Promise Logo

High school seniors can sign up for the Tennessee Promise and fill out their college application as part of Scholarship Saturday on September 26 at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus and at the college’s Roane County campus in Harriman.

Each event will last from 9 a.m.-noon, and refreshments will be served.

Students who attend the event at the Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue will meet in Room 118 in the Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building. Students are asked to reserve a spot by contacting Jim McDaniel at (865) 354-3000, ext. 2362, or [email protected]. [Read more…]

Roane State Community College to host free Summer Bridge Program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College will host a free Summer Bridge program for Tennessee Promise students July 13-31 at the college’s main campus in Harriman.

The free three-week program prepares students to potentially test out of learning support (remedial) courses and start their freshman years college-ready.

Roane State has 60 openings for its Summer Bridge program. The deadline to apply is June 15. Spots can fill up quickly. [Read more…]

Education: A path out of poverty

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Chris Whaley

Chris Whaley

“Education: A Path out of Poverty,” will be the theme of an interfaith luncheon at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge at noon on June 5. Chris Whaley, president of Roane State Community College, will be the guest speaker.

The cost of the noon luncheon is $5, payable at the door. The luncheon is open to the public.

Admission to the talk is free. To make a reservation, call the church office at (865) 482-1318 or send an email to [email protected].

In the international development community, it is well-known that education is one of the most effective ways to improve the economic growth and potential of a country, a press release said. UNESCO reports that an additional year of schooling will raise income by 10 percent. [Read more…]

Roane State hosts Tennessee Promise day in its Community Garden

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Promise Garden

Front from left, students Shelley Edwards, Angelo Ferrante, and Jeremiah Johnson work to get Roane State’s Community Garden ready for its next crop. Food grown in the garden is donated to local charities. In back from left, Roane State President Chris Whaley and alumni relations director Tamsin Miller also pitch in. (Submitted photo)

 

Service is becoming an important part of Jeremiah Johnson’s education.

“You do not really think about all the needs in the community until you serve in the community,” said Johnson, a Roane State Community College freshman. “It has opened me up to things. It has helped me as a person.”

Johnson receives the tnAchieves scholarship, which offers two years of community college tuition-free. The statewide Tennessee Promise program was based on tnAchieves. [Read more…]

TN Promise students can earn community service hours in Roane State garden

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Promise Garden

Roane State student Georgette Boozer works in the college’s Community Garden near the main campus in Harriman. Tennessee Promise students are invited to work in the garden April 25 from 8 a.m.-noon to earn some of their required community service hours. (Submitted photo)

 

Tennessee Promise students can complete up to four hours of their required community service by working in Roane State’s Community Garden on April 25.

The college is hosting a special Tennessee Promise Day in the Community Garden from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 25. The garden is located near the college’s main campus in Harriman.

Half of the bounty from Roane State’s Community Garden is donated to local charities to help feed the needy. During the spring, help is needed to clear the garden for this year’s crop. [Read more…]

U.S., Tennessee, community college officials react to president’s education proposal

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, U.S. senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, and U.S. representatives Chuck Fleischmann and John J. Duncan Jr., all Republicans, released statements or commented on the East Tennessee visit by President Barack Obama, a Democrat, on Friday and his proposal to make the first two years of community college free to responsible students. Pellissippi State Community College President Anthony Wise and Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley also released statements or commented on the visit and education proposal.

The president’s proposal, America’s College Promise, will be proposed in his State of the Union on January 20, and it is modeled after the Tennessee Promise.

Here’s what the officials from Tennessee said:

Bill Haslam during Presidential Visit at Pellissippi State

Governor Bill Haslam was among the Tennessee leaders who received praise from the president during Obama’s 5.5-hour visit to East Tennessee on Friday. (Photo by Rob Welton)

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam

The president recognizes that good things are happening in Tennessee. We are proud of the Tennessee Promise. It is changing the culture of expectations in Tennessee by encouraging more students to pursue a certificate or degree beyond high school. The Tennessee Promise is focused not just on access but success in terms of making certain that students actually attain their degree. We think having a mentor available for the students is an important part of achieving that success.

Regarding the specifics of the president’s plan, we look forward to seeing more details in the coming days about the cost of the program and how it will be covered. [Read more…]