THEC unveils 2025–2035 master plan to align Tennessee higher education around credentials

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission presented a 2025–2035 master plan to the House Education Committee, describing a 10‑year framework to align institutions, programs and capital projects so that “every Tennessean can earn a credential that leads to lifelong success,” Executive Director Steven Gentile said.

Gentile told members the master plan, approved by his commission last Friday, was developed with stakeholders across the state and is required by statute. “This master plan is for them,” Gentile said, pointing to students and adult learners. He framed the plan around three cornerstones — alignment, achievability and agility — and said it aims to make transitions from K–12 to higher education and from higher education to work more seamless.

Amanda Clefane, THEC’s chief strategy officer, described concrete objectives under those cornerstones, including a credential registry and stronger connections between experiential learning and academic programs. Clefane said the plan seeks to reconcile the proliferation of short-term credentials and certificates with traditional credit-bearing programs, while ensuring programs map to durable career skills.

Committee members asked for more detail on metrics and implementation. Gentile said THEC will align capital projects and program approvals to the master plan and review it regularly to ensure institutions respond to statewide workforce needs. He also noted THEC has begun a statutory review cycle of the outcomes‑based funding formula tied to the master plan.