KNOXVILLE — During its fall meetings on Oct. 23–24, the UT Board of Trustees reviewed the University of Tennessee System’s proposed five-year strategic plan.
The Be One UT 2030 Strategic Plan focuses on strengthening access, driving research and innovation, fueling Tennessee’s workforce and building stronger communities. Grounded in the UT System’s Be One UT values, the plan aligns priorities across all campuses and institutes to support the needs of students and the state.
“The UT System is not just planning for the next five years, we are building on the momentum of the greatest decade in our history while preparing for the future of Tennessee,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “This plan ensures we continue to deliver a high-quality education, produce groundbreaking research and provide leadership that benefits every Tennessean.”
Over the past five years, the UT System has achieved record enrollment, retention and degrees awarded. In 2025, the first-year retention rate reached 85.8%, up 4.5 points from five years earlier, while the four-year graduation rate rose to 57.7%, more than 10 points higher. UT awarded 15,156 total degrees in 2025, including 15.4% more bachelor’s and 18.6% more graduate and professional degrees than five years ago. These outcomes underscore the impact of efforts to expand access, strengthen student support and increase completion rates while maintaining a commitment to quality and affordability.
The 2030 Be One UT Strategic Plan, which solicited feedback from more than 500 stakeholders, identifies four key priorities:
- Accelerate Access, Academic Excellence and Student Success – Expanding access, driving academic quality and improving learner outcomes.
- Drive Research and Innovation – Positioning UT as a global leader in research with tangible benefits for Tennessee and the world.
- Fuel the Workforce of Tennessee and Beyond – Leveraging UT’s unique role as a workforce engine to meet state and national needs.
- Advance Community Engagement – Transforming communities through partnerships and outreach
Supporting these priorities are four strategic enablers: Develop Talent to Advance UT’s Mission, Administrative Excellence, Advocacy and Investment and Infrastructure Modernization
UT Board of Trustees Chair John Compton said the proposed plan reflects the university’s continued momentum. “The University of Tennessee is stronger than ever — fiscally, strategically and operationally,” Compton said. “This plan positions us to support our students, faculty, staff and the state for decades to come. The board looks forward to continued dialogue and approval at a future meeting.”
Also during the meeting, the board approved — pending final approval from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission — elevating the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s School of Nursing to the College of Nursing, effective January 2026. The change recognizes the growing impact of UTC’s nursing programs and supports Tennessee’s health care workforce needs, with the state projected to face a shortfall of 8,500 registered nurses through 2035.
Trustees also received an update on a new debt financing policy designed to accelerate academic growth and strategic investment. The policy creates a new method for UT to fund important academic projects and facilities by allowing the Tennessee State School Bond Authority to issue bonds that can be repaid with regular operating funds, a flexibility previously limited to revenue-generating facilities.
In other business, trustees:
- Approved a UT Knoxville lease for administrative offices on Sutherland Avenue;
- Approved a UT Health Science Center property acquisition to support campus expansion;
- Requested $3.1 million (recurring) for a new Tennessee Center for Agricultural Innovation at the UT Institute of Agriculture, pending state approval for the next budget;
- Approved an affiliation agreement between the UTHSC Graduate School of Medicine and Starr Regional Medical Center in Athens to launch a Family Medicine Rural Track Residency Program; and
- Reviewed campus strategic enrollment plans for UT Chattanooga, UT Southern and the UT Health Science Center.
Archived video of the committee and board meetings can be viewed here. View and download photos from the Oct. 23–24 meetings at this link here.
