Our office focuses on supporting select Flagship Communities across west, middle, and east Tennessee by developing programs to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. By partnering with campus partners, community organizations, and schools in each region, we seek to identify and remove college access barriers for middle school students.
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 UTK 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 meet the requirements and are admitted to UT Knoxville receive a scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees when combined with the HOPE scholarship – making college more affordable and accessible.
Partnership Opportunities
The Office of Flagship Communities fosters university-community partnerships that inspire K-8 students to consider the UT Knoxville 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 UTK resources and expertise
- Professional development opportunities
- Curriculum support and enhancement
- Student engagement programs
- Family and community outreach support
- Connection to UTK 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
External Resources
-
-
- 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.
- PathwayU is a quick, user-friendly tool that measures your interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences.
-
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Office of Flagship Communities
UT’s Office of Flagship Communities (OFC) is a team within the Division of Access and Engagement dedicated to fostering university-community partnerships that inspire middle and elementary school students to consider post-secondary education. We ensure that students have access to the resources they need to succeed. Through programs and partnerships, the office raises awareness that an education at UT Knoxville is available, accessible, and within reach for all students.
We provide programming focused on academic preparation, career exploration, test prep, and family engagement to help students succeed on their path to higher education. We identify and remove barriers to post-secondary opportunities.
Our Vol Ready Program addresses achievement gaps, builds college awareness, and supports pathways to the University of Tennessee. Our comprehensive signature programs prepare K-8 students for success through academic preparation, career exploration, family engagement, and college readiness.
A Flagship Community is a designated community area that contains elementary and middle schools that feed into one of the designated 52 Flagship High Schools. With the addition of 14 high schools in 2024, there are now a total of 52 Flagship high schools in Tennessee.
The Flagship designation, scholarship, and program was created to facilitate UTK’s commitment to making higher education more affordable and accessible to Tennesseans. This program is part of the UT Tri-Star Scholarship Initiative, which is specifically designed to help Tennesseans achieve an affordable education at the university.
About the UT Flagship Scholarship
The Flagship Scholarship program ensures that graduates from Flagship high schools who are admitted to UT Knoxville receive scholarships that cover in-state tuition and mandatory fees in combination with the HOPE scholarship. The Flagship Scholarship is 1 of 3 Tri-Star Scholarships which aims to alleviate financial barriers and make higher education more attainable for students across the state.
This scholarship is managed by the Office of Financial Aid. Reach out to them to learn more! Phone: 865-974-1111 | Email: [email protected]
To retain the Flagship Scholarship, you must consistently participate in the four-year Rocky Top Scholars program. This program provides a structured, four-year journey designed to transform high-potential students into confident, career-ready leaders.
Questions about your pathway and how to pay for college?
Contact your Flagship Regional Coordinator. Connect with us to explore partnership opportunities and learn how we can support students’ success on their path to higher education. [email protected]
⇒More information about additional UT scholarship opportunities can be found here.
Looking for additional external scholarships?
Here are a few places to start (not affiliated or endorsed by the UT Knoxville):
- Fastweb Scholarship Database
- Big Future | College Board Scholarship Search
- Community organizations in your area
- Check with your high school counselor, principal, or in-school college & career advisor
Educators, community leaders, families, and students can participate in OFC programs, events, and partnerships. Contact your regional coordinator or use our contact form to learn more: [email protected]
Additional Information
Yes. Data shows that early exploration and exposure to developmental opportunities can motivate and empower students with the tools to achieve success. Elementary and middle school is not too early to begin introducing students to pathways to higher education by providing college awareness, alignment, and experiences.
We focus on the 250+ elementary and middle schools that feed directly into the 52 high schools designated as Flagship schools. These high schools are evaluated every three years based on state and socioeconomic metrics. Please feel free to reach out to us to inquire: [email protected] .
Questions about your pathway to college?
Contact your Flagship Regional Coordinator. Connect with us to explore partnership opportunities and learn how we can support students’ success on their path to higher education. [email protected]
UT College Admissions Overview
The University of Tennessee- Knoxville, is committed to educational equity and offers scholarships to help students cover the costs of their education. If you are an incoming first-year, transfer, or continuing education student interested in a degree at UT Knoxville, find your high-school or hometown specific Office of Admissions Counselor here.
What is an Admissions Counselor?
An admission counselor is a professional UTK staff member who guides students through the college enrollment process. From the time that you decide to apply to the University in your senior year of high school to the day that you step foot on campus, Admissions Counselors are here to help you with your application and answer questions about life as a UT student.
Questions or Suggestions?
Contact Us at [email protected]