Summer Institute

Hosted at Southwest Tennessee Community College, Summer Institute is a six-week program placing students in credit-bearing and learning support courses. Successful students finish the program with 9 college credits and eliminate the need for learning support.

Program Details

Throughout the program, you will participate in corequisite courses along with three college-level courses. If you successfully complete the program, you will earn nine college credits and build lasting relationships! Summer Institute provides you the opportunity to experience college before you begin classes this fall. You will work with college professors and take college courses in a small and supported setting. Last summer, 96% of students found success in the Summer Institute!

Registration will open in Spring 2025. If you are planning to attend Southwest Tennessee Community College this fall, do not miss this exciting opportunity!

  • Simply click below to register for Summer Institute. Space is limited, so please make it a priority to register as soon as possible if you are interested!

    Registration Deadline: TBD

  • Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Whitehaven Center (1234 Finley Rd, Memphis, TN 38116)

  • Program dates will be available in Spring 2025. Lunch will be provided and will be FREE to you! It is important to make arrangements to attend the entire six-week program – repeated absences will not be tolerated.

  • Participants report feeling more prepared academically and socially after participating in the program. Summer Institute gives you a great sense of what college may be like for you in the fall. If you successfully complete the program you will begin college with NINE college credits which is an awesome head start toward your college degree!

    Please see below for the classes you will take throughout the program!

    • Credit Courses

      • Academic Success 1100

      • English 1010

      • Math 1530

    • Learning Support Courses (pass or fail)

      • Reading 0810

      • English 0810

      • Math 0530

     

  • To be eligible for Summer Institute, students must want to begin college more prepared and:

    • Be eligible for the TN Promise scholarship.

    • Require corequisite courses in reading, math AND English.

      • This means below an 18 on the ACT in English AND below a 19 on the ACT in reading and math.

    • Graduate from a high school in Shelby County.

    • Commit to the entire program. Repeated absence is not tolerated!

    • Meet all program deadlines outlined below!

    Requirements

    You are required to meet all program deadlines outlined below to participate in the program!

    • Be admitted to Southwest TN Community College for the summer 2025 term and complete all admissions requirements (including sending high school transcripts) by the registration deadline. To be admitted:

    • Complete the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at StudentAid.gov by May 2, 2025. This is different from the 2025-2026 FAFSA that you are required to complete for TN Promise eligibility.

      • You and your parent will need your FSA ID to log in and complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA (you created your FSA ID when you completed the 2025-2026 FAFSA).

      • You and your parent will need your 2022 tax information

    • Attend a mandatory orientation session at Southwest TN Community College.

    • Complete verification (if selected) by May 28, 2025.

Summer Institute FAQs

  • Yes! The program is free to students. We provide all of the necessary supplies and lunch each day!

  • As a Summer Institute student, you will be enrolled in six classes, including Academic Success, Reading 0810, English 0810, English 1010, Math 0530 and Math 1530.

  • The exact courses you will take will be determined by your ACT scores and final high school transcript!

  • A corequisite course is a course that students must enroll in if they score below a college-level threshold on the ACT or placement test prior to college enrollment (college-level  scores: reading/math = 19, English = 18). Corequisite class credit hours will not count towards the number of hours needed for a student’s degree but the student is required to take the class and pass it to be considered college level in that subject.

  • Students who participate in the program are not required to attend Southwest in the fall; however, we strongly encourage students to verify with their intended institution that any college credits earned during the program will transfer to their college of choice.

  • No. You are required to need all three corequisite courses to participate in the program.

  • Students who are currently eligible for the TN Promise scholarship at the start of the program can participate, even if they do not plan on using the scholarship in the fall, but college credits earned are not guaranteed to transfer to institutions other than Tennessee community colleges.

  • Students are only allowed a total of three absences for the duration of the six-week program. If your summer plans exceed the three absences, you should consider participating in our 14-day Summer Bridge Program. Absences are only allowed with an accepted documented excuse!

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
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Phone
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