UPPER CUMBERLAND ADULTS GET READY FOR
TUITION-FREE COLLEGE WITH VOL STATE
Press Release
Tennessee Reconnect is a unique
opportunity for adults who don’t
have a college degree to earn one
tuition-free. The program starts
in August with the fall semester.
Volunteer State Community
College is encouraging adults
in the Upper Cumberland to
get ready now. The TN Reconnect
application just became
available.
“We expect quite a number
of folks to take advantage
of this opportunity,” said Vol
State president, Jerry Faulkner.
“Starting now helps to make
sure you have a cushion of time
in the process.”
12 Healthy Living | Spring Issue | 2018
While free-tuition college
classes might solve money issues
for adult students, it doesn’t
address all of the challenges
they may face. Faulkner knows
from experience. He returned
to college in East Tennessee in
his thirties, after a poor start in
higher education earlier in life.
“I was afraid I couldn’t perform
academically,” he said.
“There was fear about fitting
into a classroom of 18 and 19
year-olds. You have to be brave
enough to take that first step.”
George Shifflett of Portland
knows those feelings well. He
too came back to college in his
thirties, attending Vol State.
“I wanted to take care of my
family,” Shifflett said. “That was
my motivator. I was working all
of these jobs and not making
much money. I had a wife and