How to Find the Right Resources on tbr.edu for Your Situation

Updated

tbr.edu is organized around who you are, not around a single search box. The fastest route is to start from the audience label that matches your situation — Future Students, Adult Learners, Online Learners, or Military & Veterans — then move to the specific program or office page you need. If you already know which college you want, skip the audience menus and go straight to the Colleges section.

Start With Your Audience

The site's navigation is built for self-selection. Pick the label closest to your status:

  • Future Students — first-time college students, recent high school graduates, and anyone exploring enrollment.
  • Adult Learners — people returning to school after time away from education.
  • Online Learners — students looking for fully online or hybrid course options.
  • Military & Veterans — service members, veterans, and their families.

Each entry point leads to the programs and next steps relevant to that group, so you do not have to know TBR's internal structure before you begin.

Find a Specific College

TBR is a system, not a single campus. The Colleges section splits into two types:

Type What it covers Count
Community Colleges All two-year public institutions in Tennessee; each has a specific service area 13
Colleges of Applied Technology Technical training for workers seeking job-market skills and professional advancement 22

If you are choosing a campus, use your service area for community colleges — that determines which one is yours. For technical training, browse the Colleges of Applied Technology list by program rather than by location.

There is also TN eCampus, which works with partner institutions to offer over 400 courses and 500-plus certificate and degree options through fully online and hybrid online/classroom combinations. Use this if you need flexibility rather than a physical campus.

Check Financial Aid Programs

If cost is your main question, the site lists several aid routes directly:

  • TN Promise — a "last dollar" scholarship and mentoring program covering tuition and mandatory fees.
  • TN Reconnect — a "last dollar" scholarship aimed at adults returning to complete a degree.
  • Hope — listed alongside the above as a state aid program.
  • Wilder-Naifeh Grants — listed under the same aid heading.
  • PELL, Military, and FEDERAL — federal and military-related aid options grouped together.

"Last dollar" means these programs apply after other aid is counted, so the amount you receive depends on what else you qualify for. Check each program page for eligibility rather than assuming coverage.

Use the Functional Sections

Beyond students, the site serves several other purposes. These are the sections worth knowing:

  • Apply — the application entry point.
  • Data and Research — system data and research resources.
  • Policies and Guidelines — board policies and procedural rules.
  • Job Seekers — employment opportunities.
  • How to Do Business with the TBR — purchasing and vendor information.
  • Faculty & Staff — internal resources for employees.
  • Offices — board offices including Facilities Development, Business and Finance, Campus Safety and Security, Human Resources, Information Technology, Purchasing, External Affairs, Center for Workforce Development, Government & Public Relations, Strategic Advancement & Athletics, General Counsel, System-wide Internal Audit, Policy and Strategy, Academic Affairs, Strategic Enrollment Management, and Student Success.

If you need to contact a specific function rather than a campus, the Offices list is where to look.

Read News and About for Context

The News section carries system announcements — for example, recent items on ribbon cuttings, recognition of Gov. Bill Lee for service to Tennessee, and a TCAT Shelbyville Machine Tool student project. The About and Contact pages explain the organization and how to reach it.

There is also a TBR 2035 strategic plan page, which is useful if you want to understand where the system is heading rather than what it offers today.

A Practical Order of Operations

  1. Identify your audience label and open that section.
  2. If you need a campus, go to Colleges and pick Community Colleges or Colleges of Applied Technology — or TN eCampus for online.
  3. If cost is the blocker, read the aid programs and confirm eligibility for each.
  4. If your question is administrative, use Policies and Guidelines or the relevant Office.
  5. If you just need to reach someone, use Contact.

The site rewards knowing your own category first. Decide which label fits you, and the rest of the navigation narrows quickly from there.