New initiative will help students earn bachelor’s degrees while gaining work experience in their communities
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee System is partnering with HopeNation and the Cocke County Cradle-to-Career Coalition (C5) to create new opportunities for rural Tennesseans to earn a bachelor’s degree while preparing for high-demand careers close to home.
The initiative, known as the Cocke County Work-to-Learn model, has received a $75,000 Future Forward Innovation Grant from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE). The grant is part of a statewide investment supporting innovative education-to-career pathways that connect students with opportunities in growing industries.
Through the program, learners will have access to more flexible pathways that combine college coursework, prior learning, work-based experiences and industry-recognized credentials. The model will support pathways in fields including education, engineering technology, nursing, management and information technology.
“For too many rural learners, education and work have been treated as separate paths when they should go hand in hand,” said Erin Crisp, assistant vice president for learner success and workforce pathways for the University of Tennessee System. “Through the Cocke County Work-to-Learn model, we’re connecting bachelor’s degree pathways with meaningful work experiences so more students can build the skills needed for high-demand careers, employers can develop local talent and rural communities can thrive.”
The initiative builds on the work of local partners committed to supporting students from early learning through career success. C5 uses a collective impact approach to bring together community organizations, educators, employers and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for students throughout Cocke County.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to see a pathway from education to a successful career,” said Jennifer Ellison, director of C5. “Through the Cocke County Work-to-Learn model, we are bringing together community partners to create new opportunities for learners to earn credentials, gain experience and build their futures right here in Cocke County. This partnership is an important step toward ensuring our students and our community continue to thrive.”
The Cocke County Work-to-Learn model is designed to help remove barriers that can make earning a degree difficult for working adults and rural learners. By connecting education with real-world experience, students can build skills, earn credentials and prepare for careers while remaining connected to their communities.
The UT System is one of nine organizations selected for SCORE’s 2026 Future Forward Innovation Grant. In addition to funding, recipients will participate in SCORE’s Tennessee Pathways Incubator, which provides expert advising, collaboration and support to help strengthen and expand innovative education-to-career models.
For more information about SCORE’s Future Forward Innovation Grant recipients, visit SCORE’s website.
