Community
Service
COMMUNITY SERVICE
REQUIREMENT UPDATE
As of June 2, 2025, THE TN Promise community service requirement has been updated to be more streamlined.
To complete your community service requirement over the next academic year, you will have two options. The graphic outlines the two options and the total community service hours required for each.
Class of 2024 or earlier: Regardless of the option you choose, you can submit any hours completed between December 3, 2024 and July 1, 2025 for the upcoming July 1 deadline.
Class of 2025: Regardless of the option you choose, you can submit any hours completed between August 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025 for the upcoming July 1 deadline.
Remember, your next community service deadline is July 1, 2025.
Along with a change to the community service deadline date, there are a few other changes to note!
Community service hours can now be rolled over! For example, if you choose option 1, any hours submitted in excess of 16 by July 1, 2025 will carry forward to the August 1, 2026 deadline. Or, if you choose option 2 and you submit 9 or more hours by July 1, 2025, 8 hours will be counted towards the fall term, and the hours over 8 will be counted towards the next deadline.
You can view a total of 16 virtual community service webinars during your TN Promise eligibility. Once you have viewed 16 virtual webinars, your remaining hours will need to be in person.
We know this is a shift from what you have been doing when it comes to community service. We will continue to communicate with you regarding your community service requirement for the TN Promise scholarship!
We encourage you to make it a priority to complete and submit at least 16 hours of community service by July 1, 2025, so you are not required to complete and submit any additional hours until next year (August 1, 2026).
The Community Service requirement ensures that students give back to their communities while developing skills and experience that can benefit their future careers.
Explore these sections for details on deadlines, eligible activities and tips for completing your hours successfully.
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Community Service Requirement Options
Students have two options to meet the TN Promise community service requirement. You can choose to complete your hours all at once or spread them out over multiple deadlines.
Option 1: Two Deadlines
July 1, 2025: Complete at least 16 hours (you may submit up to 32 hours)
August 1, 2026: Submit 16 additional hours for a total of 32 hours
Hours in excess of 16 submitted by July 1, 2025, will carry forward to the 2026 deadline.
Option 2: Four Deadlines
July 1, 2025: Complete at least 8 hours
December 1, 2025: Submit 8 additional hours (16 total)
April 1, 2026: Submit 8 additional hours (24 total)
Required only if attending South College, a TCAT, or William R. Moore College of Technology, or if enrolling for summer with TN Promise.
August 1, 2026: Submit final hours:
32 total hours if not enrolling in summer
40 total hours if enrolling in summer
Hours in excess of 8 submitted for each deadline will carry forward to the next.
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Community service involves contributing your time to a nonprofit or public service organization, with the goal of benefiting the community through your efforts.
As a college student, you can also volunteer in your field of interest to gain valuable experience. This means that job shadowing related to your career path may count toward your community service requirement, allowing you to develop professionally while fulfilling this important obligation.
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Tasks in which you are paid for your service. This includes working at your job off the clock.
Volunteering for an individual (e.g., helping a neighbor with yard work)
Listing a family member as your supervisor
Proselytizing (sharing faith)
Donating items or goods
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All community service hours must be submitted through the community service online form found here. After submitting your community service hours, you will receive a confirmation email. Keep in mind, it is YOUR responsibility to submit your hours. Your supervisor is not responsible for submitting your community service hours.
Community Service Guides
tnAchieves' Community Service Resource Guides are county-specific resources designed to help students find local volunteer opportunities. These guides provide a curated list of organizations and events where students can complete their required community service hours. Each guide is tailored to the specific needs and opportunities within a county, making it easier for students to engage in meaningful service that benefits their local community.
CLick here to view a list of Short-Term community service events
events are posted here from around the state!
Are you an organization that would like to be included on your county’s resource guide? Follow the link below to submit your opportunity! If you need to edit a community service opportunity, please email us.
Virtual Community
Service Webinars
Virtual community service webinars are designed to introduce a variety of topics to students. From job shadowing discussions focused on specific career fields to personal finance recommendations from SoFi, these webinars are meant to enrich a student’s college experience.
Students can view up to 16 virtual community service webinars to be counted towards their TN Promise community service requirement. Each webinar will count as one hour of community service. Once a student has viewed 16 webinars, they will no longer have access to this resource. We hope that these webinars and interviews will provide you with insight into career paths, college success and general life skills.
Click the link below to log in and view a community service webinar. You must watch a webinar in its entirety and click “submit” to be credited an hour of community service. Duplicate viewings of the same webinar will not be counted as an hour of community service. You may only receive credit for viewing each webinar once!
***You DO NOT need to submit tnAchieves virtual community service separately. After viewing each webinar and hitting the "submit" button, your one hour of community service will be credited to your account***
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Becoming a Great Leader: Insights on hard work, learning from failure and guidance from tnAchieves Board members and the Executive Director.
Perspectives of a TN Promise Student: Personal experiences and practical tips from tnAchieves alumni.
Connecting with Your tnAchieves Mentor: The importance of mentor relationships for TN Promise students.
Working with Your COMPLETE Coach: Advice on leveraging COMPLETE coach support for effective college navigation.
Why TCAT?: An overview of Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, their benefits and job placement rates.
College Resources: Understanding and utilizing college resources for a better academic experience.
College Professors Aren't That Scary: Tips on building positive relationships with professors for academic success.
Transferring to a Four-Year College: The process, benefits and available resources for transfer students.
University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business: Insights on pursuing a business degree and exploring career opportunities.
Social Media Etiquette and Careers: Proper use of social media to enhance career prospects.
Preparing for the Workforce: Career entry advice from tnAchieves staff at various career stages.
A Conversation with tnAchieves Students: Current students share insights on transitioning to college life.
A Conversation with tnAchieves Graduates: Perspectives from graduates on post-college life and career advancement.
A Conversation with tnAchieves Mentors: The significance of mentorship from active mentors.
#FindYourWhy: Breaking Family Cycles: Stories of first-generation college students overcoming barriers.
#FindYourWhy: Better Career, Brighter Future: Motivations for pursuing higher education to enhance career prospects.
In-Demand Careers: Discussion on current job market demands and how to prepare for them.
Careers in Engineering and Manufacturing: Pathways to accessing jobs in these high-demand sectors.
Careers in Healthcare: Exploring diverse career paths within the healthcare industry.
Careers in Hospitality and Entertainment: Opportunities in Tennessee's hospitality and entertainment sectors.
Careers in K-12 Education (Parts 1 & 2): Insights into education careers from experienced educators.
Careers with a Law Degree: Exploring various legal career paths and receiving professional advice.
Careers in Law Enforcement: Entry points and guidance for pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Careers in Local Government: Leadership roles and the impact of careers in local governance.
Careers in Media: Diverse media career paths and tips for job searching in the industry.
Careers in Sports: Opportunities within Tennessee's professional sports teams.
Careers in State Government: An overview of job opportunities in state government.
tnAchieves Summer Programs: Preparing for college success through participation in summer programs.
#FindYourWhy: Pursuing Your Passion: Stories of individuals pursuing their passions through higher education.
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
Have questions or need help? Connect with the tnAchieves team by clicking the link below. Our team is always here to help.
General Questions
tnAchieves@tnAchieves.org
Phone
(833) 435-7862