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.
Your Journey to College Starts Here
Why Start Early? Research shows that early exploration and exposure to educational opportunities can motivate and empower students with the tools to achieve success. Elementary and middle school is the perfect time to begin aligning students with college pathways.
What We Offer Your Student:
- Hands-on academic experiences that make learning engaging
- Career exploration opportunities to discover future possibilities
- Campus visits and college experiences
- Mentorship from UT students and alumni
- Test preparation support for future success
- Leadership development opportunities
Supporting Families We understand that family support is crucial to student success. Our family engagement programs provide:
- Resources for college planning and preparation
- Information about financial aid and scholarships
- Strategies for supporting your student’s academic journey
- Connections with other families on similar paths
The Flagship Scholarship Advantage Graduates from our 52 designated Flagship high schools who are admitted to UT Knoxville receive scholarships that cover tuition and mandatory fees when combined with the HOPE scholarship – making college more affordable and accessible.
Get Started Today Contact your regional coordinator to learn about upcoming programs and opportunities in your area.
Partnership Opportunities
The Office of Flagship Communities fosters university-community partnerships that inspire K-8 students to consider the University of Tennessee as their primary choice for post-secondary education.
How We Support Schools We engage and support students, families, school counselors, teachers, administrators, and community members on their educational journeys by providing valuable information and resources to create more informed and engaged communities.
Partnership Benefits:
- Access to UT resources and expertise
- Professional development opportunities
- Curriculum support and enhancement
- Student engagement programs
- Family and community outreach support
- Connection to UT faculty, staff, and students
Becoming a Partner We work with elementary and middle schools that feed into our 52 designated Flagship High Schools. Flagship High Schools are evaluated every three years based on socioeconomic metrics set by the state.
Available Resources:
- Comprehensive presentation materials
- Workshop kits for educators
- Student success programming
- Alumni speaker networks
- Campus visit coordination
- Grant and funding information
- PathwayU is a quick, user-friendly tool that measures your interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences.
- Go to PathwayU to create your account. Once logged in, utilize the “Assessments” feature to explore.
- Next Guides: Next Guides are interactive workbooks that are designed to help K-12 students across the state of Tennessee prepare for each step of their journey and explore opportunities.
Contact Your Regional Coordinator Connect with us to explore partnership opportunities and learn how we can support your students’ success. FlagshipCommunities@utk.edu