Summer Institute

The tnAchieves Summer Institute is a FREE, six-week program that allows you to get a head start on earning your college degree. Held at Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Whitehaven Center, the Summer Institute gives you the opportunity to gain college experience, earn college credits, meet professors and make new friends!

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!

The deadline to register is May 3, 2024. If you are planning to attend Southwest Tennessee Community College this fall, do not miss this exciting opportunity!

Program Details

How to Register: The registration process is super easy – it will only take a few minutes! 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!

Register Here!

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

Daily Time Commitment: The six-week program runs from May 28, 2024 through July 3, 2024, Monday – 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 toward your college degree!

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

Eligibility

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 2024 term and complete all admissions requirements (including sending high school transcripts) by May 3, 2024. To be admitted:
• Apply for admission to Southwest here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu/apply-online.php
• Ask your high school counselor for your unofficial high school transcript and email it to [email protected]. 
• Send ACT scores to [email protected].  
• 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” to access your score report. 
• Download score report and email to [email protected]. 
• Complete the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at StudentAid.gov by May 3, 2024. This is different from the 2024-2025 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 2023-2024 FAFSA (you created your FSA ID when you completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA).
• You and your parent will need your 2021 tax information
• Attend a mandatory orientation session at Southwest TN Community College prior to May 28, 2024. Orientation will be held on May 22 and 23 from 5 - 7 PM.
• Complete verification (if selected) by May 28, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

What is a corequisite course? 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.

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

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

Can I still participate in the program 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 college credits earned are not guaranteed to transfer to institutions other than Tennessee community colleges.

I have a conflict 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 14-day 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!