News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
TCAT McMinnville has seen an enrollment increase of 49 percent from the previous year due to providing accelerated workforce opportunities.
TCAT McMinnville Vice President Jennifer Wright said she believes the enrollment increase comes from more dual enrollment programs being offered at the high school level. Wright said technical skill trades like automotive, welding, and nursing provide a straight path to a well-paying job.
“Students begin their program of choice at the high school level,” Wright said. “They complete a large portion of their program while in high school and then they transition to the adult program here after graduation which allows them to finish the program a little earlier than if you started here.”
Wright said she believes students attend TCAT schools to receive hands-on experience as for some people that is the best way for them to learn.
TCAT McMinnville Admissions and Records Specialist Amanda Anderson said students get a one-time free online enrollment application and then are added to a waitlist and will be chosen once a seat is available. Anderson said at TCAT McMinnville the schedule for classes is more similar to learning on the job rather than attending a university.
“Our full-time students unless they unenroll here at TCAT have a continuous enrollment,” Anderson said. “They don’t get that three months off for summer or anything like that. Our full-time students come Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM.”
Wright said the school does teach Math and Writing but it is much different than what a four-year university would teach.
“They do math specific to their field,” Wright said. “They do have reading and writing skills that they do, but it is more industry-related reading and writing so they are prepared to go out and read documents and instruction manuals in that kind of thing.”
Anderson said the school has created an enrollment schedule that allows them to have a constant amount of applicants ready to start classes. The school does six enrollments each every academic year. Anderson said halfway through an academic term if someone leaves the program then the school will fill that seat with a new applicant.
