NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University is set to embark on an extensive recruitment and enrollment initiative called “Tigers on Tour,” which will travel to 18 cities across 11 states, including Washington, D.C. The tour kicks off on February 27 and runs through April 30. Its primary goal is to engage with admitted students, prospective applicants, and families who have shown interest in TSU but have yet to commit or visit the campus.
“Tigers on Tour is exactly what the name suggests – we’re taking TSU to the students,” said Dr. Eric Stokes, vice president of Enrollment Management. “Our goal is simple: we want students to come to campus, to experience our beautiful university firsthand. However, we understand that the journey often doesn’t start there. Many need that personal interaction to connect with the university before making a life-changing decision.”
Among the cities featured on the tour are Chattanooga, Tennessee, Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Cincinnati, as well as Jackson, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama. These locations were selected based on data indicating high concentrations of admitted students and the presence of active TSU alumni chapters, enhancing the authenticity of the engagement.
This innovative approach recognizes that numerous prospective students, especially those who have been admitted to multiple institutions, may have questions about their options and what TSU has to offer. The recruitment team, which includes Stokes, Charlie Folsom, director of Recruitment and Orientation, and TSU President Dwayne Tucker, will set up interactive engagement hubs in popular local venues across the nation like Topgolf and Fitz’s Delmar in St. Louis, known for its famous cream sodas.
“We are meeting students and families where they are,” said Folsom. “This tour is about building trust and providing a welcoming atmosphere where they can ask questions and connect with us personally. For many, this will be their first real interaction beyond an acceptance letter, and we believe these connections can decisively influence their decision to enroll.”
The recruitment efforts will feature casual, yet engaging environments designed to encourage meaningful dialogue. Each venue is strategically chosen to foster interaction, support mingling, and provide comfort – essential elements in making relationships more personal.
“This outreach is not just about recruitment; it lays the foundation for retention and confidence in the TSU experience from day one,” Stokes said. “We want families to see TSU not as a collection of emails or brochures, but as a community they can trust.”
As the Tigers on Tour initiative unfolds, TSU aims to build excitement and deepen connections with prospective students and their families, ultimately guiding them from the decision-making phase to enrollment.
For more information about the Tigers on Tour and specific event details, please visit www.tnstate.edu/visit.
Featured Photo: Nearly 600 prospective students and their families from more than eight states, including Illinois, California, Missouri, Georgia, and Oklahoma attended last year’s Preview Day in. Kean Hall on the main campus. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public land-grant university offering 41 bachelor’s degrees, 15 graduate certificates, 27 master’s degrees, and nine doctoral degrees. TSU’s campus spans 500 acres. The university is committed to academic excellence, providing students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders. Visit tnstate.edu for more details
