As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Commission” means the Tennessee higher education commission;
(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of economic and community development;
(3) “Department” means the department of economic and community development;
(4) “HBCU” means and includes any historically black college or university located in this state, namely Fisk University, Knoxville College, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Meharry Medical College and Tennessee State University;
(5) “Tennessee HBCU consortium” or “consortium” means an organization or association comprised of two (2) or more HBCU institutions, the purpose of which is to facilitate and implement the strategic plans and objectives developed by and between the consortium and the Tennessee HBCU technology partnership; and
(6) “Tennessee HBCU technology partnership” or “partnership” means an organization or association formed pursuant to the terms of a memorandum of cooperation by and among the department, the commission, the institutions participating in the consortium and participating organizations from private industry, the purpose of which is to develop certain strategic plans and key objectives to leverage the collective resources of each partnership participant to achieve superior economic growth in this state.
