CHATTANOOGA — The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees officially welcomed its new leaders, Lori Bruce as chancellor of UT Chattanooga and Melinda Arnold as chancellor of UT Southern, during its annual meeting held in Chattanooga. Both bring extensive experience and a strong commitment to advancing student achievement, community engagement, and academic excellence.
Over the past decade, UTC has steadily expanded its reach and impact. The university has welcomed record-breaking freshman classes, completed more than 80 campus projects totaling over $700 million and seen philanthropic support exceed $240 million. These investments have strengthened academic facilities, student housing and athletic infrastructure, while advancing UTC’s leadership in key research areas such as quantum science and mobility through partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This strong foundation positions the university to build even greater momentum under new leadership.
“This direction reflects our overall intent to be bold and seize the opportunity to strategically innovate and grow in order to better serve our students and our state,” UT System President Randy Boyd said.
The Board also approved the FY 2025-26 operating budget, which included carefully measured tuition and mandatory fee adjustments for the academic year. The changes, which vary by campus and range from 0% to 3.1%, are intended to address rising operational costs and continued investment in academic programs, student services and other inflationary costs. The adjustments position the UT System among the most affordable public higher education options in the state. To view campus-by-campus tuition information, as well as other operating budget information, please click here.
Across the UT System, more than 80% of undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid or scholarship support. Through the UT Promise scholarship program, after other financial aid—such as Pell Grants, HOPE Scholarships or other institutional aid—is applied, the scholarship covers any remaining tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Tennessee residents.
Boyd said the decision reflects efforts to keep tuition increases minimal while protecting the affordability of a UT education.
“We don’t take increases lightly,” Boyd said. “These adjustments are necessary to sustain the high-quality instruction and support our students deserve. Even with this adjustment, UT remains one of the best values in higher education.”
In other business, trustees:
- Approved resolution honoring Steven Angle, serving UT Chattanooga as chancellor from July 2013 to December 2024;
- Announced record-breaking fundraising;
- Approved capital outlay and maintenance funding requests for FY 2026-27 through FY 2030-31;
- Approved master plan for UT Southern;
- Announced projection of a 4.8% increase in systemwide enrollment, with fall enrollment to exceed 65,000; and
- Approved annual presidential performance review.
Archived video of the committee and full board meetings can be accessed at https://trustees.tennessee.edu/.