Tennessee Tech is an institution with real staying power. Just ask the 61 African-American students who were entering freshmen last semester.

Each of those students chose to return to campus for another semester of study, making this the first time in our history to have a 100 percent success rate in retaining African-American freshmen.

“In the past few years, that rate of retention has been increasing, but this is the first year for it to hit 100 percent,” says Jamie Mells, director of Minority Affairs.

Ashley Thompson, a basic business major from Memphis, says part of the reason she chose to return to TTU this semester is because Minority Affairs and other campus sources introduced her to so many helpful, positive people on campus.

“I like TTU because people just seem willing to stick together here,” she says. “It’s hard for freshmen just starting college, coming together from all different places, but you just can’t give up or go somewhere else after one semester. You have to give yourself time to adjust, and I’ve met a lot of great people here who’ve helped me do that.”

Mells attributes the success, in part, to his office’s thriving partnerships with our Admissions and Student Orientation offices.

“We include letters and other information about Minority Affairs in admissions packets, and we participate during freshman orientation and pre-registration each summer,” Mells says. “That way, we can introduce students and their families to Minority Affairs in the beginning of their academic career.”

Minority Affairs also makes a practice of presenting a significant amount of programming, activities and social events in the beginning weeks of each fall semester.

“Those are just some of the ways we’re working to show our campus, our alumni and our community that we are serious about increasing minority enrollment at TTU,” he says.

Statistics show those efforts are working. In addition to the retention success of this academic year, we received the first-ever Tennessee Board of Regents Spirit of Geier Award last year. It recognizes institutions or individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to implementing the intent of the Geier Consent Decree, which calls for equal opportunities in higher education for African-American students.

There are 375 African-American students currently enrolled on our campus.