Provost updates trustees on SACSCOC fifth-year interim report and lists 17 low-producing programs under THEC review

Provost Melton told trustees March 13 that Tennessee State University is on schedule preparing its SACSCOC fifth-year interim report and that the SACSCOC steering committee is working toward a final submission in March 2026.

Melton said components of the interim report include signatures attesting to the report—s integrity, an institutional summary form listing degrees and program accreditors, a compliance certification narrative with supporting documentation, and a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) impact report describing the Cadence QEP initiatives and effects.

On program productivity, Melton presented a comprehensive five-year review, conducted in accordance with Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) expectations, that identified 17 programs meeting low-producing criteria (graduation counts under THEC thresholds over the five-year measurement window). She said that program-level recommendations differ by discipline and circumstance and will return to the board as action items after department- and college-level processes are complete. Proposed outcomes across the identified programs include continued operation with an explicit strategic plan, program consolidation, placing a program inactive (stop admitting new students) pending restructuring, and sunsetting/termination with a formal teach-out for enrolled students.

Melton gave specific program examples discussed in committee:

- Architectural engineering: flagged as low-producing under the five-year metric but noted as a unique program among HBCUs. Enrollment in spring 2025 was listed at about 92 students for the architectural engineering programs; the dean reported historical faculty staffing shortages (as few as two faculty several years ago) that limited course offerings and contributed to student attrition or program transfer. The dean reported that faculty lines have been filled (to five faculty) and that a larger graduating cohort is expected this semester (the dean cited roughly 16 expected graduates this term). The provost and trustees emphasized the program—s strategic value and asked for a five-year enrollment and graduation data series.

- Dental hygiene: recommended for termination ("sunset" in the presentation terminology) with a teach-out plan; the program includes an associate-level option that remains active and is used by many in the workforce. Trustees asked for clarity on teach-out implications, cost equivalents and how faculty will be redeployed if the baccalaureate termination proceeds.

- Early childhood/teacher education programs: cited testing and gateway exam pass rates as drivers of low graduation in licensure-based fields; the provost said these programs will include strategic retention/progression plans tied to teacher licensure gates.

Melton said the low-producing-program review is informational at this March meeting; formal action items will come back to the board in June after completion of curricular and governance steps. Trustees requested additional detail in the materials to support decision-making, including: five-year enrollment and graduation trends for flagged programs, program-level strategic plans (including marketing and employer demand analysis), cost-to-maintain estimates (faculty and support costs), and the expected length and mechanics of teach-outs where termination is proposed.

Retention and progression plan: Melton also presented an updated retention, progression and graduation plan. The provost highlighted a reported improvement in first-year retention under the new advising model: spring-to-spring first-year retention was reported at 79% for the most recent cohort (up from a 51% figure cited for an earlier baseline). The plan includes a 2+2 advising model (first and second year advising centralized before hand-off to major faculty advisors), targeted admission and student-support interventions, identification of high-failure general-education courses for redesign, and a multi-year target of a 5% annual increase in retention metrics over the next three years.

Summer semester and schedule changes: Melton confirmed the university will offer Maymester and summer sessions both online and on-ground (departments will set minimum enrollment thresholds, and scholarships are not being offered for Maymester this year). She also announced a recommendation to return to a five-day schedule (restore Friday classes) for fall 2025; trustees asked for the analysis that led to the change (Melton and staff committed to provide a full report and comparative data).