FUTURE Act

The Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (F.U.T.U.R.E) Act

In 2019, The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to fund historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and eliminate paperwork for income-driven student loan repayment plans. Tennessee State University received a portion of this funding to initiate a project that addresses the retention, persistence, and graduation needs of all first-generation students. This project is the first large scale attempt at assisting first-generation TSU students from matriculation (first-year) to degree completion date and beyond.

Bridging the Graduation Gap for First-Generation Students at TSU: The You First Project (You First Project)

The You First Project aligns with TSU's aspiration for academic excellence. Depending upon the years, between twenty-seven percent (27%) to forty percent (40%) of TSU's first-time freshmen are first-generation students. These are students whose biological parents did not have the opportunity to earn a four-year college degree. Their academic success is therefore critical for TSU, their families, but also to the larger society. First-generation students, however, have specific needs that cannot be left to chance. Efforts deployed to assist these students need institutional commitment, sound and research-based programmatic initiatives, and a dedicated staff. Bridging the Graduation Gap for First-Generation Students at TSU: The You First Project, is designed to acknowledge the intersectional experiences of first-generation students at Tennessee State University in order to improve their retention, persistence, and graduation rates. High-quality educational support services, evidence-based practices, a network of University partners, and professional development, are incorporated within all activities proposed to advance the success of first-generation students at TSU.

Over the next five years, HBCU Title III-Part F (the F.U.T.U.R.E Act) funding will be used to implement five independent, but interrelated projects. The projects include (1) Program Administration , to ensure the proper management of the grant according to university and federal guidelines (2) Journey to 120: Preparing Students for Success in Health Sciences and STEM to increase the number of TSU students entering and graduating from Health Sciences and STEM degree programs; (3) Facilitating Access to the Other Careers in which Blacks are Underrepresented to prepare students for timely completion and various occupations in areas where blacks are underrepresented according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, (4) Completion and Beyond to increase the number of 2020 juniors and seniors equipped to graduate timely, and (5) Enhancing the Library's Holdings to Support Academic Programs leading to the Other Careers in which Blacks are Underrepresented to enhance students and faculty's access to relevant and innovative instructional materials to increase knowledge and academic success.

The initiative addresses the DoE Focus Areas of Academic Quality and Student Support Services Outcomes. The Legislative Allowable Activities supported are (a.) Academic instruction in disciplines in which Black Americans are underrepresented, (b.) Purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material and (c.) Other as specified in the legislation pertaining to HBCU Title III-Part F (F.U.T.U.R.E) Act).
Cognizant of the fact that retention and student progress and success ever remain a University-wide endeavor, academic departments as well as various student-focused University offices will be solicited to assist with the successful implementation of this initiative.

For more information, visit: https://www.tnstate.edu/youfirst/index.aspx

The Team

Sessi S. F. Aboh, Ph.D.
Director: The You First Project
Tel: (615) 963-4969
email: saboh@tnstate.edu

Ashanti Chunn, Ed.D.
Assistant Director The You First Project
Activity Director Journey to 120 Credits: Preparing Students for
Success in Health Sciences and STEM
Tel: (615) 963-2288
Email: achunn@tnstate.edu

Glenda Alvin, MSLS
Activity Director: Enhancing the Library's Holdings to Support Academic Programs leading to the Other Careers in which Blacks are Underrepresented
Tel: (615) 963-5230
Email: galvin@tnstate.edu

Robert Buggs, M.B.A.
First-Generation Student Specialist/Success Coach
Tel: (615) 963-6876
Email: rbuggs@tnstate.edu

Brandon Haskins, Ed.D.
First-Generation Student Specialist/Success Coach
Tel: (615) 963-6340
Email: bhaskins@tnstate.edu

Donald Perkins, M.Ed.
First-Generation Student Specialist/Success Coach
Tel: (615)-963-6338
Email: dperki12@tnstate.edu