The University of the South, popularly known as Sewanee, is located on a 10,000-acre campus atop Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau between Chattanooga and Nashville.

Founded by leaders of the Episcopal Church in 1857, Sewanee continues to be owned by 28 Episcopal dioceses in 12 states and is committed to an academic curriculum which focuses on the liberal arts as the most enlightening and valuable form of undergraduate education. The University consists of a College of Arts and Sciences which offers 31 majors for approximately 1,300 undergraduate men and women and a School of Theology which includes about 80 graduate students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees.

The Franklin County School System provides an Adult Basic Education Program for adults who are interested in completing their elementary and secondary education. In order to best meet the individual needs of the participants, the program is divided into three levels.

Adults who have little or non-existent reading and writing skills are provided with Level I trained volunteer tutors, with privacy assured. Upon achieving a fifth grade reading level these adults are encouraged to participate in the Level II Adult Basic Education classes. When students reach ninth grade reading level, they are eligible for Level III to concentrate on preparing themselves for the GED test. After the students successfully pass the GED test, a general education diploma or GED test, will be granted.