2.6  

The institution is in operation and has students enrolled in degree programs.  (Continuous Operation)

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Nashville State Technical Community College is in operation and has students enrolled in degree programs.  In 1963, the Tennessee legislature authorized a statewide system of technical institutes and area vocational-technical schools.  Nashville State originally opened in 1970 as a technical institute, and only offered the A.A.S. degree.  In 2002 the mission of the college was expanded to that of comprehensive community college, and A.A. and A.S. degrees were added to the curriculum.  In that year, the name of the college was also changed to Nashville State Technical Community College in order to better reflect the institution’s updated mission.

Nashville State began with 398 students, and as of Fall 2006 has grown to an unduplicated headcount of 7,246 students in 32 degree and certificate programs.  The college also enrolls students each year in continuing education programs.

Nashville State Technical Community College is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities [1].  Nashville State’s enrollment is monitored by the Tennessee Board of Regents staff [2] and by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission [3].  Both agencies require regular submission of student enrollment data, and both agencies report on degrees and certificates awarded.  As an institution participating in Federal financial assistance programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [4], Nashville State Technical Community College’s enrollment data are also submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), as mandated by 20 U.S.C. 1094, Section 487(a)(17) [5,6].

Nashville State Technical Community College holds graduation ceremonies once a year in the Spring; at that time degrees, diplomas and certificates are awarded to students completing their programs of study [7].