Advocating for UT
At the University of Tennessee System, we are committed to advocating for UT by raising public awareness of its value, increasing engagement among key stakeholders and securing greater state and federal support to lead higher education in Tennessee and address the state’s most pressing challenges.
Goal 5.1
Elevate public understanding of UT’s value to the state, nation, and world
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 5.1.1
85% of Tennesseans can identify one or more systemwide impacts of UT in their life.
The Impact of the UT System on the Lives of Tennesseans
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 66% agreed that research, outreach, and other programs conducted at UT make a difference in their life (2018) | 85% agree that research, outreach, and other programs conducted at UT make a difference in their life (2025). |
Objective 5.1.2
Visible UT presence in all 95 counties by 2030.
“Everywhere You Look, UT” Murals by County
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 19 murals (August 2021) | 50 murals |
Objective 5.1.3
Systemwide communications and marketing campaign that showcases how UT is addressing grand challenges.
Visual Coming Soon
Goal 5.2
Increase engagement and participation of diverse advocates, donors, and alumni to advance the UT System
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 5.2.1
Expand the number of donors and generate an increase in the amount of total private support over the five-year period.
UT System Donors
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 67,300 (FY20) | 75,000 |
UT System Private Support
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| $196 million (FY20) | $1.25 billion ($250,000 million per year) |
Objective 5.2.2
Increase the number of engaged alumni.
UT System Engaged Alumni
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 210,740 (FY20) | 310,000 |
Objective 5.2.3
Build advocacy network to 10,000.
UT System Advocacy Network Members
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 6,905 (FY20) | 10,000 |
Objective 5.2.4
Identify and proactively engage systemwide volunteer leadership groups that represent every grand division, campus and institute, as well as urban, rural, and suburban regions.
Total Alumni Volunteers
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| New initiative | Expand the participation of volunteer leadership groups to ensure over a 5-year span, each group has had representatives from every grand division, campus and institute, as well as urban, rural, and suburban regions. |
Goal 5.3
Increase state and federal support of UT as the state’s higher education leader and solver of grand challenges
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 5.3.1
Achieve 100% of our legislative agenda as the state’s higher education leader and solver of grand challenges.
Percent of Legislative Agenda Achieved
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 100% (FY21) | 100% passage of agenda each year until 2025. |
Objective 5.3.2
Develop a comprehensive government relations policy and training for UT employees to protect UT’s voice on legislative issues.
Visual Coming Soon
Objective 5.3.3
Strengthen UT relationships with state agencies and entities, resulting in new partnerships benefitting the University and the state.
Partnerships and Funds Secured by GR&A
| Metric | Baseline |
|---|---|
| Partnerships Facilitated by GR&A | 100% passage of agenda each year until 2025. |
| Partnership Funds Secured by GR&A | $640,396 (FY21) |
| 2025 Outcome: | Annually meet with leadership of 100% of state agencies; 5 partnerships facilitated by the Office of Government Relations and Advocacy each year until 2025; create trend of increased funding from new and continuing partnerships benefitting the University and state. |
Objective 5.3.4
Increase engagement and visibility of UT among federal government partners to build trust in UT’s capacity to address grand challenges.
Engagement Opportunities with Federal Government Officials Initiated by UT System Office of GR&A
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 12 GR&A-initiated engagement opportunities (FY21) | Triple GR&A-initiated engagement opportunities with federal officials. |