Expanding Research Capabilities
At the University of Tennessee System, we are committed to elevating UT’s global reputation in discovery and innovation, increasing participation of faculty, staff and students in research, and expanding the impact of our research on the lives of Tennesseans and communities around the world.
Goal 2.1
Elevate UT’s global reputation in discovery and innovation
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 2.1.1
Increase annual total research expenditures to $600M.
Annual Total Research Expenditures to $600M
| Baseline | Outcome |
|---|---|
| $431M (FY20) | $600M |
Goal 2.2
Increase participation of demographically diverse faculty, staff, and students in research
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 2.2.1
Increase the number of UT faculty, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students participating in research activities (paid from research accounts, assumes 100% participation of tenure and tenure track faculty).
Faculty, Postdocs, and Students Participating in Research at the UT System
| Metric | Baseline (FY20) | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty | 1,883 | Faculty: Increase by 10% |
| Postdocs | 230 | Postdocs: Increase by 25% |
| Graduate students | 1,894 | Graduate students: Increase by 25% |
| Undergraduates | 1,248 | Undergraduates: Increase by 25% |
Objective 2.2.2
Increase the participation of diverse faculty, postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students in research. (Diverse are those that identify as American Indian or Alaskan native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or multi-racial. Participation in research includes those paid from research accounts and assumes 100% participation from tenure and tenure-track faculty.)
Count of diverse faculty, postdocs, and students engaged in research at the UT system.
| Metric | Baseline |
|---|---|
| Faculty | 7.9% tenured 14.1% tenure-track 10.8% non-tenure |
| Postdocs | 11.3% |
| Graduate Students | 11.4% |
| Undergraduates | 12.2% |
| 2025 Outcomes: | Progressively increase the number of diverse tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure track faculty; postdocs; graduate students, and undergraduate students that participate in research. |
Goal 2.3
Expand the impact of UT’s research on the lives of Tennesseans and beyond
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 2.3.1
By 2025, increase commercial licenses for UT technologies by 50%.
University of Tennessee Commercial Licenses for UT Technologies
| Baseline | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 43 (FY20) | 65 |