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Purpose First Scholars Learning Community

NASPA Silver Award Badge

In 2023, Purpose First Scholars was awarded the NASPA Silver Excellence Award for First-Generation Student Support: "This award seeks to highlight innovative initiatives that relate to the programs, policies, procedures, best practices, or services supporting first-generation undergraduate or graduate students."

“Beginning college with a clear sense of purpose is a critical step to ensuring an investment in higher education pays personal and financial dividends for a lifetime” (Complete College America). 

Summary poster of Purpose First Scholars


Purpose First Scholars is a career-focused learning community dedicated to helping incoming freshmen align their major to career goals during their first year in college. 

Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in exclusive academic and career exploration experiences and leave the learning community ready to achieve their career goals. From Fall 2022 to Spring 2023, Scholars were retained at a rate of 94.6% compared to roughly 82% of their non-PFS peers.

Participation in the learning community begins with an exclusive overnight GO (Governors Orientation) experience on May 31st - June 1st and continues throughout the fall semester in a UNIV 1000 section specifically designed for Purpose First Scholars. Additionally, Scholars living on campus will have the ability to participate in our living community and stay in Governors Terrace South with other participants. The program is externally funded, meaning there is no cost for students to participate!  

We are now accepting applications for our Fall 2024 cohort of Scholars!

Apply Now!

Extended deadline is March 29, 2024.

PS Addresses the following student needs: Community, Purpose, Employability, Recognition, & Stability.

Meet with our Coordinator for more info!

Schedule an Appointment


Frequently Asked Questions

The Purpose First Scholars Learning Community guides success by helping students to form connections in a peer group with like-minded students. This learning community helps students build important connections with campus resources, faculty, and staff to foster personal and academic success.

Students in the Purpose First Scholars Learning Community will benefit from: 

  • Exploring their major and career goals while participating in experiences that prepare them for their future.
  • Participating in an exclusive overnight GO (Governors Orientation) experience where they will engage in fun activities that are meant to inspire early career exploration and introduce them to life at APSU. 
  • Enrolling in a special section of UNIV 1000 in the fall semester designed to help Scholars find a pathway to careers and engage in meaningful career experiences outside the classroom. 
  • Living in the same residence hall if they live on campus. 
  • Enrolling in a section of UNIV 2100 in the spring semester as a expansion on the career exploration started in UNIV 1000. Scholars will develop soft skills, practice networking, and map academic plans to career goals.
  • Receiving a full year of special guidance from staff, faculty, and peer leaders. 
  • Get trusted guidance for first-generation challenges from a National Award-winning program.NASPA Award Badge

Learn more about the perks and benefits of APSU's living learning communities here!

Below are the eligibility requirements for the Purpose First Scholars Learning Community.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you might have about these requirements. 

  • First-generation college student (neither parent/guardian graduated from a four-year college) OR eligible to receive the Pell Grant 
  • Traditional, incoming first-time freshmen admitted for fall semester 
  • Live on campus or commute
  • Attend overnight GO (Governors Orientation) on May 31st - June 1st. Details about the orientation experience will be sent to students who are accepted into the learning community. 
  • Attend career readiness and community-builder events throughout the fall semester.
  • If living on campus, you must live in Governors Terrace South with other Scholars. This is meant to help you build relationships with peers while participating in programming for the learning community, which is located conveniently in the residence hall.
  • If commuting to campus, you will still be required to participate in programming for the learning community and will be given access to the residence hall to attend events. 
  • Register and stay enrolled in the special Purpose First Scholars section of UNIV 1000 (freshman seminar) in the fall semester.
  • Register and stay enrolled UNIV 2100 (career preparation seminar) in the spring semester.
  • All Scholars must participate in a full academic year of program activities and meet once per semester with the Student Success Coordinator for the learning community, Savannah Longo. 

Scholars who have selected to live on campus will be living together in Governors Terrace South. This residence hall is where some events and activities for the Purpose First Scholars Learning Community will take place. 

All Commuter Scholars will have access to the residence hall's meeting rooms to participate in events as well. 

Requirements for Scholars living on campus: 

  • If living on campus, you are required live in the same residence hall with the other Purpose First Scholars. This is required of all Resident Purpose First Scholars. 
  • Your roommate will also be in the Purpose First Scholars Learning Community. Since this is a living community, we want you to build strong relationships in your first year with other Scholars. The Student Success Coordinator can help address any questions you might have about the Living Learning Community and roommate requirements. 

We are currently accepting applications for Fall Semester 2024.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements listed above are invited to apply to the learning community and can click on the link below to be taken directly to the application. 

Apply Now

The application extended deadline is March 29, 2024. Students who are accepted into the learning community will receive an email via their APSU email address.

Students and their families/support network are encouraged to contact the Student Success Coordinator for the Purpose First Scholars Learning Community, Mrs. Savannah Longo.

Email: LongoS@apsu.edu

Text or Call: 931-221-7735

You may also schedule a phone or Zoom appointment to address any questions you might have about the learning community. 

Schedule an Appointment