Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI)

Program Description: 

The Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI) provides education, support, and advocacy services for justice-impacted individuals. Their mission is focused on dismantling systems of harm and creating successful, economic opportunities through three main portfolios: Educational Programs, Transitional Programs, and Student Voice.  

THEI works directly with Tennessee prisons and partners providing higher education to incarcerated individuals by coordinating degree-granting programs and providing technical assistance. To better support these individuals, THEI also provides wraparound reentry services, addressing housing, mental health, family reunification, and more. THEI is deeply committed to providing justice-impacted individuals with autonomy and success, leading to their Student Voice portfolio which is meant to empower currently impacted individuals and alumni.  

Impact:  

Since its inception in 2011, THEI has enrolled nearly 600 students with six active partnership sites, providing re-entry and educational support services to over 1,200 individuals. Through their support of these individuals and partner sites, fewer people are incarcerated in the state of Tennessee, leading to healthier and safer communities.  

Specifically, THEI has impacted justice-impacted individuals in the following ways:  

• The number of people earning college credentials has increased 

• The number of people enrolled in postsecondary education programs and receiving essential skill-building has increased 

• The number of postsecondary, non-vocational degree-granting programs in Tennessee prisons has increased 

• Life satisfaction has increased 

• Collateral consequences of incarceration are mitigated 

• The number of people recidivating has reduced 

• The diversity of professional career trajectories has increased 

• Individuals experienced belonging, community care, and feeling valued 

Population Served:  

THEI works with justice-impacted individuals in the state of Tennessee, and their affected families and communities.  

Learn more here. 

Page last updated in August 2026