March 18, 2021

Dear Chattanooga State Family,

I hope your spring break was restful and you were able to recharge. The end of the semester is just around the corner. Only a few more weeks of focus, and you will be finished for the semester. We will start enrolling for the summer and fall semesters in early April. Be on the lookout for registration announcements.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) Eligibility During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program—Assistance Paying for Internet Service
CARES ACT Email Clarification
Looking Ahead—Fall 2021
Important Financial Aid Deadlines
Applications for the Student Research and Creative Symposium deadline extended
Student Voices Initiative (SVI)
Bond Arts & Culture Women's History Discussion
Virtual Career Fair
Library Appointments
Student Resources
CETAS Café Evening Hour
Student Life Events & Activities
College Exit Exam
CCSSE Now Open

We are resilient. We are innovative. We are united. We are ChattState.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Ashford, Ed.D.
President

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) Eligibility During the Covid-19 Pandemic

As a college student, you may be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a federal program that provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of individuals and families in need.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, temporarily expands SNAP eligibility to students who either:

Are eligible to participate in work study employment during the 2020-2021 academic year (students eligible for federal work study are notified by the Financial Aid Office), or

Have an expected family contribution (EFC) of 0 in the current academic year. The EFC is based on a student’s data entered on a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

APPLY: You can apply for SNAP benefits at your local Department of Human Services county office or online at the Department of Tennessee Department of Human Services SNAP website.

Emergency Broadband Benefit Program—Assistance Paying for Internet Service

Households with at least one member receiving a federal Pell Grant during the 2020-2021 academic year may be eligible to receive up to $50 per month to help pay for broadband internet service. Other low-income households may be eligible for discounts on internet access through the Lifeline Program. Students should contact their internet service provider to determine if they are a participating provider and the process in place to apply for the benefit.

CARES ACT Email Clarification

The email(s) you received from CARES ACT (caresact@chattanoogastate.edu) with the Subject: HEERF II Emergency Grant Funds – Disbursement Options, were official emails from Chattanooga State’s Bursar’s Office requesting that you log into your TigerWeb account to update direct deposit information and mailing address, if needed prior, to disbursement of additional HEERF II Emergency Grant funds.  More information regarding the HEERF II Emergency Grant funds disbursement will be forwarded to you as it becomes available. We apologize for any confusion regarding the CARES ACT emails that were previously sent to you.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CARES ACT emails, please contact the Bursar’s Office at 423-697-4732 or caresact@chattanoogastate.edu.

Looking Ahead—Fall 2021

7-Week Classes Update

We continue to work with all areas of campus to get ready for our campus shift to the 7-week format. Based on information we have received in student listening sessions, we are addressing concerns regarding financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and faculty professional development. Deans and Department Heads are busy creating a master schedule for the fall, while employees in Student Affairs are working on the student registration logistics. Our own data and national data show that students who participate in 7-week classes are more likely to complete the class and to graduate on time. Also, success rates for all students are higher in 7-week classes which will aid in closing equity gaps.
We plan to offer courses primarily in a face-to-face format, but there will be virtual, hybrid and online options, too. We have a lot of work to do in the next month, but we are excited about what this change will mean for our students. For more information see our LibGuide.

Important Financial Aid Deadlines

Tennessee Reconnect Grant Program 2020-21 FAFSA filing deadline for the extended from February 1, 2021, to May 15, 2021.
Dual Enrollment Grant application deadline for the Spring 2021 term extended from February 1, 2021, to May 15, 2021.
Dual Enrollment Grant application deadline for the Spring 2021 term at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) from March 1, 2021 to May 15, 2021.

Applications for the Student Research and Creative Symposium deadline extended!

Applications due on 3/22/2021!  

Our revamped application for the Symposium takes only a few minutes to complete. Once we process applications, you'll be paired with a mentor. This mentor will guide you and cheer you on throughout the semester and during the showcase. For more information, please visit our guide.

Student Voices Initiative (SVI)

Chattanooga State faculty, staff, and administrators want to learn more about what it means to be a Chattanooga State student. In order to learn more about student experiences, we are conducting student focus groups (guided discussions), which are designed to gather perspectives from a diverse array of students.  We invite you to participate in these focus groups to help us. To participate, please sign up. Compensation of $25 is offered to students who complete the focus group survey.

Bond Arts & Culture Women's History Discussion

Friday, March 18, 11AM–12PM: The discussion will be about the parallels and intersections of the womanist, black feminist, and white feminist movements. Join the discussion on Zoom ID: 987 4670 9759 Passcode: 411699

Virtual Career Fair

Career Services is holding several information sessions about the virtual Career Fair which be held the week of March 29. Information sessions will be available through Webex at the following times:

March 22 10:00AM–11:00AM 
March 23 2:30PM–1:30PM 
March 24 2:00PM–3:00PM 
March 25 5:30PM–6:30PM
March 26 3:00PM–4:00PM

Library Appointments

The library computer lab is now open for immediate appointments Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. Need to use a library computer in the evenings? No problem just plan ahead! The library computer lab is open for evening appointments made 24 hours in advance, Monday - Wednesday, 5pm - 7pm. Headsets with microphones are available, which are sanitized after each use.

Student Resources

Tutoring: Virtual tutoring services are available to you.

Emergency Aid: The Student Support Center is available to assist students struggling to meet their basic needs. Please use the Wellness Check on TigerWeb to let us know if you need assistance.
Technology Support: Devices (laptops, hotspots, etc.) are available through the College. To request a device, complete the technology request form.
Support Services: Chattanooga State is dedicated to delivering support services and resources to assist our students. Visit the virtual Student Support Center to learn more about the many services offered.
Academic Resources: Visit the Spring 2021 Update page for a listing of academic resources, including links to the Math Center, Andrews Reading and Writing Center, the Testing Center, Kolwyck Library, and more.
Student Assistance Library (Lib) Guide: We now have a Lib Guide for students to provide assistance with eLearn / Virtual Classes / Proctoring / Accessibility / etc.

Career Services Center: The Career Services Center is available to provide services online or by phone to Chattanooga State students, alumni, faculty and staff. Services include career counseling & assistance with selecting a major, job search planning, resume writing assistance, interview skills, and more. Visit JOBlink to view job and internship opportunities. To schedule an appointment for any service, please call 423-697-4421 or email careers@chattanoogastate.edu. The Career Services Virtual Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Food: The Tiger Cupboard provides supplemental food and other necessities for students in need. Visit for more information.
Tennessee Board of Regents Student Resources: We know that the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has been causing a great deal of uncertainty, anxiety, and stress for students across Tennessee. The closing of many places of employment and moving college courses and services to a virtual environment can lead to emotional and financial strain in addition to the physical health risks presented by the virus. Please know that you are not alone.

CETAS Café Evening Hours

The CETAS Café is open Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday evenings from 5:00PM–7:30PM.

If you are working/taking evening classes or just love our entrees, stop in and grab a plate.

Student Life Events & Activities

All students are welcome to join! Check out your Student Life Calendar of Events.

College Exit Exam

For students who will complete associate degree requirements in May or summer months of 2021 and who have an intent to graduate form on file with Records, information about completing the required College Exit Exam was sent this week to your student email (TigerMail). The exam is online, takes approximately 45 minutes and can be taken at your convenience by May 1, 2021. The results from the College Exit Exam are used for institutional improvement planning as well as an indicator of the learning within the required general education courses.

CCSSE Now Open

The Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) is now open for degree-seeking students enrolled in credit courses. All eligible students received the survey link and access code through TigerMail this week. Hint: The access code is the student’s TigerMail address without the “@my.chattanoogastate.edu". Results from the survey guide ChattState to make improvements to the student experience and also serve as an indicator of student satisfaction in the state-wide funding formula. Please have your voice heard!