The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) today (Tuesday) released a comprehensive report addressing the critical issue of food insecurity among students at
public institutions of higher education. This report sheds light on the challenges faced by students and presents key interventions to address this pressing concern.
The report offers a holistic perspective on food insecurity in higher education, divided into three sections:

1. Overview of Food Insecurity in Higher Education: The report defines food insecurity and
   explores its far-reaching implications on students’ academic success and overall well-being.
2. Survey Results on Interventions and Services: A summary of results from a survey administered
   by THEC to campus administrators highlighting the current landscape of interventions and
   services in place to combat food insecurity.
3. THEC’s Recommendations for Policy, Practice, and Research: The report culminates a set of strategic recommendations for policy, practice, and research to address and alleviate food insecurity among higher education students.
   Some key recommendations from the THEC report include:
   Improving Communication on Existing Resources
   • Recurring Convenings of Stakeholders: THEC recommends establishing regular convenings of stakeholders to facilitate the sharing of best practices and resources, fostering a collaborative approach to tackling food insecurity.
   • Training on Federal and State Resources: Campus personnel should have training opportunities on available federal and state resources to enhance their ability to support students facing food insecurity.
   • Promoting Interagency Partnerships: THEC emphasizes the importance of building interagency partnerships to create a seamless network of support for students in need.
   Dedicating Resources to Support Student Basic Needs Security
   • Assessing Financial Needs of Interventions: Institutions should assess the financial needs of current interventions, ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to effectively address food insecurity.
   • Utilizing Institutional Budgets and State Allocations: THEC recommends determining how current interventions can be funded through existing institutional budgets or state allocations, maximizing the impact of available resources.
   Exploring the Adoption of a Tennessee Hunger Free Campus Bill
   • Identifying Standard Practices: THEC suggests exploring the adoption of a Tennessee Hunger Free Campus bill, which would establish standard practices to promote food security and awareness on college campuses.
   • Allocating Financial Support to Institutions: The state could also could contemplate financial support, in the form of grants, to institutions, empowering them to implement innovative and sustainable solutions to combat food insecurity.
   Supporting Research and Evaluation
   • Statewide Survey of Students: THEC advocates for the development of a statewide survey of students on basic needs security to gather comprehensive data for informed decision-making.
   • Incentivizing Research Participation: Institutions are encouraged to participate in existing research opportunities, and THEC proposes incentives to motivate active involvement.
   • Competitive Request for Proposals: THEC recommends generating research through a competitive Request for Proposals, fostering innovative approaches to address food insecurity.
   The Tennessee Higher Education Commission remains committed to advancing policies and practices that promote student success and well-being. This report serves as a crucial step toward creating a more secure and supportive environment for higher education students across the state.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly. The Commission develops, implements, evaluates postsecondary education policies and programs in Tennessee while coordinating the state’s systems of higher education, and is relentlessly focused on increasing the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential.

Road construction won’t delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for construction on Tennessee roadways beginning at 6:00 a.m. Friday, December 22, 2023, through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. 

AAA expects an estimated 2.7 million Tennesseans to travel between December 23 and January 1 with most of them driving.

“Safety is our top priority and with so many people expected to travel Tennessee roadways during the holidays, we want to keep traffic moving and get everyone to their destinations,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “As always, please wear your seatbelt, reduce your speed, avoid distractions, and move over for emergency vehicles.”

Except for a few long-term closures that must remain for safety, all construction-related closures will be suspended during the holiday period.  Workers may still be on-site in some construction zones.  Drivers should obey all posted speed limits, particularly in construction areas.  Slower speeds are necessary in work zones due to the temporary layout of the roadway and will be enforced.  Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possibly increased insurance premiums. 

Get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras from your desktop or mobile device at https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic?position=-85.970767,35.88416963,7&features=incidents,traffic Travelers can also dial 511 for statewide travel information.  As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination.  Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is now soliciting comments on the 2024-25 hunting season dates and regulations. The comment period is open Dec. 15 through Jan. 15, 2024.

This is an opportunity for the public to share ideas and opinions about hunting seasons and regulations with TWRA. Public comments will be considered by Agency staff and may be included in proposed regulations. Comments can be made by accessing the website: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/wildlife-survey.html.

 A preview of the Agency’s recommendations for the hunting seasons will be made at the March meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission and the final recommendations made at the April meeting.