Summer Institute

The tnAchieves Summer Institute is a FREE, six-week program that allows students to get a head start on college. Register for the 2023 Summer Institute by May 12, 2023 to participate!

Students will participate in learning support courses along with three college-level courses the summer before they enroll in college. Successful students complete the program earning nine college credits and building lasting relationships! The tnAchieves Summer Institute gives students the opportunity to experience college before they begin their fall semester. Students work with college professors and take college courses in a small and supported setting. Last year, 96% of students found success in the Summer Institute.

If you are a student planning to attend Southwest Tennessee Community College this fall, do not miss this exciting opportunity. Please see below for more program-specific information!

Program Details

The registration deadline to sign up was on 5/12/22. The registration form has now closed.

Location: Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Whitehaven Campus (1234 Finley Rd, Memphis, TN 38116)

Daily Time Commitment: The six-week program runs from May 30, 2023 – July 7, 2023, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. 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.

Advantages of the Program: 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!

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

Eligibility

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

• Be eligible for TN Promise
• Require learning support courses in reading, English AND math in college
• This means students have 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!

Deadlines

• Be admitted to Southwest TN Community College for the summer 2023 term and complete all admissions requirements (including sending high school transcripts) by May 12, 2023. You can apply here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu/apply-online.php
• Ask your high school counselor for your unofficial high school transcript and email it to gist@tnAchieves.org.
• Provide tnAchieves with your ACT scores by May 12, 2023. You can email your score report to gist@tnAchieves.org.  
• To retrieve your ACT scores, sign in to view your scores here: https://my.act.org/account/signin?location=https://my.act.org
• Click on “Your Test Dates And Scores” then “View Your Scores”
• Download score report and email to gist@tnAchieves.org.
• Complete the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at StudentAid.gov by May 12, 2023. This is different from the 2023-2024 FAFSA that you recently completed for TN Promise eligibility.
• You and your parent/guardian will need your FSA ID to log in and complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA (you created your FSA ID when you completed the 2023-2024 FAFSA).
• You and your parent/guardian will need your 2020 tax information
• Attend a mandatory orientation session at Southwest TN Community College on May 23, 2023 or May 24, 2023. Further details will be sent to you via email soon!
• Complete verification (if selected) by the first day of classes (May 30, 2023)!

FAQs

What classes will I be taking? 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.

I took SAILS math in high school; do I still have to take the math support class? The exact courses you will take will be determined by your ACT scores and final high school transcript!

What is a learning support class? A learning support class is a class that students must enroll in if they score below a specific threshold on the ACT or placement test prior to college enrollment. The class credit hours will not count towards the student’s major but the student is required to take the class and pass it to be considered college-level in that subject.

Do I have to attend Southwest in the fall or can I transfer to a different institution? 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 college that any college credits earned during the program will transfer to their college of choice.

I only need to take one support class based on my ACT score. Can I still participate? No. You are required to need all three learning support courses in order to participate in the program.

Can I still participate if I plan on attending a college in the fall that does not accept the TN Promise scholarship? 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 credits are not guaranteed to transfer outside of the TN Community College system.

I have a summer vacation planned and I will miss several days of the program. Can I still participate? 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 three-week Summer Bridge Program. Absences are only allowed with an accepted documented excuse!

Is the program free? Yes! The program is free to students. We provide all of the necessary supplies and lunch!