Under Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative, the state has focused on helping more youth and adults seek out higher education. Tennessee 4-H has partnered with the University of Tennessee Admissions Office to provide 4-H’ers from around the state with the Next Chapter Program. The Next Chapter Program is designed to help 4-H’ers to be successful in both college and career endeavors.
Students who participate in the five-year program, modeled after the University of Nebraska’s ‘Next Chapter,’ take part in career exploration activities, designed to help them better understand career pathways such as trade school, community college and four-year 
institutions.
Beginning at the start of their eighth-grade year, students will learn study skills, time management, how to avoid procrastination, communication skills and various independent living skills all designed to help them be as successful as possible after graduating high school.