Tennessee Higher Education Initiative

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Tennessee Higher Education Initiative THEI provides access to high-quality, degree-bearing college education inside TN prisons. To this end, THEI partners with the Tenn.

Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI) funds and coordinates on-site degree-bearing college programs in prisons in Tennessee. Department of Correction and local colleges like Nashville State Community College and Dyersburg State Community College to offer the opportunity for incarcerated individuals at two prisons -- Turney Center Industrial Complex in Middle Tennessee and Northwest Correctional Complex in West Tennessee -- to earn General Ed. Certificates and AS degrees in Business Administration and/or Political Science. Further, THEI encourages and helps formerly incarcerated students continue their academic pursuits upon release should a student be released prior to degree completion. Credits earned behind bars are recognized by and transferable to any Tennessee Board of Regents college or university, as well as SACS accredited private and public colleges and universities outside of Tennessee. The academic program is rigorous and integrates technology with a liberal arts curriculum. There are currently 115 students enrolled in college through THEI.

THEI's work depends on a wide group of people: instructors who teach inside correctional facilities, partner colleges th...
10/15/2026

THEI's work depends on a wide group of people: instructors who teach inside correctional facilities, partner colleges that grant real degrees, community organizations working alongside us on reentry, and donors who fund this work year after year.

If you're already part of that group, thank you. If you want to get involved, reach out to us today: https://thei.org/get-involved/

Reentry isn't just a singular event. It's an ongoing process that encompasses housing, employment, family, and education...
10/13/2026

Reentry isn't just a singular event. It's an ongoing process that encompasses housing, employment, family, and education, often all at once.

THEI supports people through every stage of it. Help us supporting those as they experience reentry: thei.org/donate

On Indigenous Peoples' Day, THEI honors the history and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities in Tennessee and...
10/12/2026

On Indigenous Peoples' Day, THEI honors the history and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities in Tennessee and across the country. At THEI, we recognize that the land we live and work on in Tennessee was home to Indigenous Peoples long before it was known as Tennessee or the United States. Nashville is built on the ancestral lands of the Shawnee, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Yuchi tribal nations.

Learn more and support Native communities in Tennessee: naiatn.org

Mental health support is part of THEI's work, not an afterthought. Our Transitional Programs address housing, employment...
10/10/2026

Mental health support is part of THEI's work, not an afterthought. Our Transitional Programs address housing, employment, family reunification, and mental health together — because reentry is emotional as much as it's logistical.

Help support the whole person: thei.org/donate.

THEI's Circle of Faith brings together faith-based organizations supporting justice-impacted individuals as they pursue ...
10/09/2026

THEI's Circle of Faith brings together faith-based organizations supporting justice-impacted individuals as they pursue education and navigate reentry.

We're looking to grow that circle. If your congregation or faith community wants to get involved — volunteering, hosting events, or just learning more — reach out to us at thei.org.

Save the date: THEI's Holiday Card Party is Saturday, November 21st.For some of our students, a holiday card is the only...
10/08/2026

Save the date: THEI's Holiday Card Party is Saturday, November 21st.

For some of our students, a holiday card is the only mail they'll receive all year. Come write one and join in on one of our favorite days of the year!

Details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2001271054597?aff=oddtdtcreator

At THEI, dignity is something that comes up a lot. And it isn't something that's reserved for after release. It shows up...
10/08/2026

At THEI, dignity is something that comes up a lot. And it isn't something that's reserved for after release. It shows up while someone is still incarcerated — in College On-Ramps workshops that prepare new students for college life, and in weekly course coordination that empowers students to make informed decisions about their own education, despite limited access to communication and technology.

That same principle continues after release, when every alumnus is paired with a Coach who visits during their first week home to share a meal and deliver resources, rather than opening with paperwork.

Support the work at thei.org.

Save the Date! The Path Forward Luncheon returns April 27, 2027, at The Fisher Center at Belmont University.Our signatur...
10/06/2026

Save the Date! The Path Forward Luncheon returns April 27, 2027, at The Fisher Center at Belmont University.

Our signature annual event brings together alumni, staff, board members, and supporters. Individual tickets are available now and sponsorship opportunities are open for organizations that want to invest at a deeper level.

Learn more at thei.org.

THEI brings real, accredited degree programs inside Tennessee prisons, and has for over a decade. Swipe through for what...
10/05/2026

THEI brings real, accredited degree programs inside Tennessee prisons, and has for over a decade. Swipe through for what that actually looks like. 👉

Support the work: thei.org/donate

Tasha Reagon has spent more than 15 years doing social justice work across Nashville, directing over 25 residential retr...
10/02/2026

Tasha Reagon has spent more than 15 years doing social justice work across Nashville, directing over 25 residential retreats for students at the Oasis Center, building a professional development series for Metro Nashville Public Schools to address discipline and racial disparities, and leading programs at Salama Urban Ministries.

At THEI, she's bringing that experience to our Navigating Forward resources.

"In the face of harmful systems, it is my calling to be on the frontlines of harm reduction and liberation," Tasha says. "THEI gives me the opportunity to be connected to the work that I was called to do."

We're so glad to have Tasha on Team THEI. 💙

Address

1006 Shelby Avenue
Nashville, TN
37206

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

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