About Us

Our Mission, Goals, and Values

 

Mission Statement

The You First Project, a success care network, supports all Tennessee State University’s first-generation students in their aspirations to earn a degree and pursue their desired careers. The project provides students with opportunities to realize who they are, discover their life purpose, and identify how they want to serve the world. In building collaborations across departments and units, this initiative promotes the University’s goal of academic excellence and success, by creating a safe, intellectual, and forward-looking environment for first-generation students to grow and thrive.

Goals

Foremost, The You First Project seeks to improve the graduation rate and career success of all first-generation college students by supporting those students as they determine their motivations and purposes in life. Our first-generation specialists recognize the courage needed to be a first-generation student, and we want to enhance every part of the college experience for those students so that they can get the most from their experience.

We do this work with evidence-based programs and initiatives implemented by our dedicated staff. Specifically, we use the Life Design Catalyst program, which allows students and specialists to work together in elevating the students' understanding of themselves, their goals, and how to achieve those goals.

We encourage you to learn more about the LDC program in the Our Tools & Framework section and the individual activities on their respective webpages.

Values

Integrity - Accountability - Diversity - Teamwork - Service Leadership

These are our five essential values, and they are the foundations upon which we conduct ourselves every day and the expectations we hold for ourselves and our students.

  • We value Integrity because we believe in honesty and sound moral principles. We embody this value by requiring of ourselves and our students: excellence, trust, candor, and consistency.
  • We value Accountability because we believe that we and our students perform best when expectations are placed on our actions. We embody this value by requiring of ourselves and our students: sincerity, self-assessment, and productivity.
  • We value Diversity because we believe in the strength that comes from the intersections of our culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse experiences and environment. We embody this value by requiring of ourselves and our students: inclusivity, acceptance, respect, and availability to assist anybody.
  • We value Teamwork because we believe that a successful and meaningful life is made through connections with and support from others. We embody this value by requiring of ourselves and our students: ethical collaboration, honor, commitment, and kindness.
  • We value Service Leadership because we believe that purpose and meaning comes in large part from selflessly serving others. We embody this value by requiring of ourselves and our students: empathy, charity with time and service, cooperation, openness and ability to change.