At Scale Newsletter: July 2026
Welcome to the latest edition of the At Scale Newsletter,where we highlight the impactful programs and initiatives falling into one of our three priorities — all designed to drive our mission to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce.
Scroll down or click to read each section!
Students First
Summer Institute Concludes
Summer Institute has wrapped for another year. This free, six-week, credit-bearing program is hosted exclusively at Southwest Tennessee Community College and gives eligible Tennessee Promise students a chance to strengthen academic skills, complete corequisite support coursework and start earning college credit before fall classes begin. Successful students gain nine credit hours, gaining a head start before fall enrollment.
This summer, a record 88 students took part, spending six weeks in college coursework while building the skills and confidence they will need for the semesters ahead.
The impact goes beyond the classroom. Students got to know campus resources, built relationships with faculty and peers and understood what college expects of them, all before the academic year officially starts. They will arrive on campus this fall with real momentum and nine college credits already on the books.
Community Centered
MemAccess Officially Launches with MSCS
Earlier this month, tnAchieves officially launched MemAccess in Memphis.
This fall, tnAchieves is partnering with Memphis-Shelby County Schools to bring college access support directly to students across the district. MemAccess connects students with coaches, clear next steps and wraparound supports designed to help them move from high school to college to career. It's built on the same model tnAchieves has used across Tennessee: students first, community partners at the table, and a focus on completion, not just enrollment.
This work is possible because of strong partnership. Thank you to Slingshot Memphis, MDRC and MSCS for helping build MemAccess from the ground up, and to FedEx, Kresge, JPMorgan and Sylvamo for the investment that makes this launch possible.
A special thank you to Sylvamo for hosting the July 16 kickoff event, and to Dr. Roderick Richmond, Superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, for speaking and encouraging district staff to lean into this work for Memphis students.
Memphis students are about to have more people in their corner. tnAchieves is proud to be one of them, and looks forward to getting started this fall.
Workforce Focused
2026 Job Shadow Days
This July, tnAchieves students across the state spent a day inside the workplace, not just hearing about careers, but seeing them firsthand.
More than 20 partner organizations hosted Job Shadow Days this month, giving students a close-up look at careers ranging from healthcare and banking to manufacturing, logistics, energy and hospitality. Students toured production floors at Nissan, DENSO and Pfizer, learned about nuclear careers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and explored healthcare pathways at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, West Tennessee Healthcare and UT Medical Center. They also connected with professionals at First Horizon Bank, Axle Logistics and more. In Nashville, students had a rare chance to meet with three leading employers in one day at tnAchieves' Career Connections Day, featuring Deloitte, Amazon and HCA Healthcare.
Want to learn more about what job shadowing looks like from an actual host? Listen to the latest episode of At Scale:
Each visit gave students a direct look at day-to-day work, the skills employers value and the pathways available right here in Tennessee, while earning community service hours toward the August 1 deadline.
Job Shadow Days work because employers across the state were willing to open their doors. Thank you to every partner organization that hosted a student this month, and to the coaches and mentors who helped students make the most of the experience.
If your employer would like to host a tnAchieves Job Shadow Day in the future, reach out to Vice President of Workforce Tyler Ford to learn more.
