The UNITUS Project initially functioned as a Bulletin-Board/Telecommunications resource for aspiring young musicians. The project began as a research program designed to mentor forty African-American male music students in the Memphis City Schools. It was funded by the University of Memphis as a research project Students in the project improved their skills in "ear-training" an average of 33 percent over a year's time. The following year, "Unitus" was awarded a Goals 2000 grant by the Tennesses State Department of Education. The bulletin-board system became a website in 1995.The UNITUS Website focuses on student achievement in music and academics. It champions LINUX and DOS based programs as a cheap way to support learning in academics and the arts.