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About Us

The Office of Flagship Communities

 

Empowering Tennessee’s Future Through Education

The Office of Flagship Communities at the University of Tennessee creates pathways for K-8 students across Tennessee to envision and achieve their college dreams. Through innovative programs and community partnerships, we’re building bridges between elementary and middle school students and higher education opportunities.

Our Impact Across Tennessee             
  • Supporting students in East, Middle, and West Tennessee
  • Partnering with 252 elementary and middle schools
  • Connecting to 52 Flagship High Schools
  • Creating college pathways through four strategic pillars

Discover how our signature programs prepare students for success through academic preparation, career exploration, family engagement, and college readiness.

Creating Generational Change Through Education

Our Mission: To enhance educational access and community engagement across Tennessee by transforming opportunities for K-8 students, addressing achievement gaps, and inspiring future Volunteers.

Our Vision: To eliminate barriers to college preparation and attainment by creating positive learning spaces that empower students and communities and foster academic achievement across Tennessee’s 95 counties.

Our Values:

  • Equity: Ensuring equal access to educational opportunities
  • Empowerment: Building confidence and capability in students and families
  • Education: Helping students understand the value of their education and building pathways to higher education

Strategic Framework

Our work is guided by four strategic priorities:

    1. Embrace high-impact best practices that facilitate learning and promote a growth mindset.
    2. Eliminate barriers to college preparation, connection, and attainment
    3. Create positive learning spaces to foster academic achievement and growth
    4. Leverage UT and Flagship community resources
      through collaboration
Priorities and Goals

The Office of Flagship Communities prioritizes embracing high-impact best practices that facilitate learning and promote a growth mindset. It focuses on eliminating barriers to college preparation, connection, and attainment while creating positive learning spaces to foster academic achievement and growth by subject matter expertise. Goals include:

  1. Leveraging UT and Flagship community resources.
  2. Collaborating with UT campuses and alumni.
  3. Increasing stakeholder investment and engagement.
  4. Igniting student curiosity about UT.

The Flagship Communities team partners year-round with campus departments, alumni, and regional community stakeholders to deliver fun, inclusive academic programs, mentorship, and campus visits for students at K–8 Flagship Community schools.

Regional Focus

The office focuses on west, middle, and east Tennessee regions across 95 counties. The team develops Flagship Community programs for schools in these areas to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. By partnering with nonprofit agencies, schools, and families in each region, they can identify barriers for middle school students to access college and address these needs.