August 25, 2022 (Chattanooga, TN) --- Chad Jaynes, recently named dean of Business & Industry at Chattanooga State Community College, was selected as one of 32 leaders for the seventh cohort of Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute (CTLI), a joint initiative of the State Collaborative On Reforming Education (SCORE) and the Hunt Institute.

“I am grateful to be selected as a member of the latest cohort and look forward to furthering the goals centered on students and their success,” stated Mr. Jaynes. “The strategy combing excellent educators with high expectations leading to career and life success is what I hope to learn more about and be able to utilize upon completion of the program.”

“In light of the recent drop in Tennessee’s college-going rate, the leadership of this next cohort is more important than ever in ensuring more Tennesseans are prepared for the workforce and a life of economic independence,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said.

The focus of the 2022-23 cohort will include mapping a path to college access and success for Tennessee students. The one-year program equips community and state leaders from across Tennessee with the strategies, tools, and knowledge enabling them to provide a leading role in eliminating barriers to postsecondary education and completion in Tennessee.

A SCORE community college overview for 2021 revealed several key takeaways:

Half of all community college students are enrolled part-time.
More than half of students of color and students from low-income backgrounds are academically underprepared by the K-12 system when entering community college.
White students are twice as likely to earn 24 or more credits in their first year compared to Black students.
Despite completion rates increasing by 10 percentage points over the past five years, less than one-third of community college students are completing within three years for all student groups.

During the next 12 months, the 2022-23 cohort will explore the data concerning higher education access, attainment, retention, and completion to build actionable alliances, while pursuing innovative solutions for student success.

“Chad Jaynes is an excellent choice to participate in the next Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute cohort,” stated Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State president. “Chad’s experience bridges the non-credit and the credit educational opportunities at the College. This non-credit to credit bridge is increasingly important in providing educational pathways for students to earn credentials that lead to family-sustaining wages. Not only will Chad learn from others, but his experience will also enrich the experience for other cohort members.”