FRANKLIN, Tenn. — University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd opened the 10th annual State of the University with remarks and a panel discussion with chancellors and institute leaders, sharing how UT is delivering on its promise by expanding opportunity, strengthening communities and preparing the state for the future.
The Singing Mocs, a UT Chattanooga student a capella choir, kicked off the event, which also launched UT’s Grand Challenges Summit that focuses on Tennessee’s most pressing issues, including substance misuse, strengthening K–12 education and supporting rural communities.
Boyd highlighted the UT System’s momentum in student success, research and workforce development. He introduced the university’s strategic plan through 2030, outlining a roadmap to strengthen academic excellence, expand workforce impact and deepen service to communities statewide.
“As we look to 2030, our focus remains on keeping college affordable, preparing the workforce of tomorrow and strengthening the partnerships that improve daily life for Tennesseans,” Boyd said. “We’re One UT and when we’re working together, there isn’t anything we can’t accomplish. This next chapter is about building on the greatest decade in the history of UT and making sure we fulfill our promise for generations to come.”
Boyd highlighted several key points in his opening remarks:
- Nearly 65,000 students are enrolled across UT campuses, helping meet Tennessee’s growing workforce demands.
- More than 55% of UT graduates earn their degrees debt-free, demonstrating the university’s commitment to affordability.
- UT degrees translate to workforce readiness, with 98% of employers in a recent survey reporting that UT graduates are prepared for success.
- A 232-year legacy, land-grant mission and presence in all 95 counties uniquely position UT to support local governments, strengthen public safety and help statewide leaders apply research and expertise to improve daily life across the state.
Highlights from the panel conversation with UT chancellors and institute leaders:
- UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman discussed campus-wide efforts to improve student success and career readiness through strengths-based coaching and career preparation. She also highlighted leadership in disciplines such as nuclear science, supply chain and advanced manufacturing, supported by ongoing growth in faculty and research investment. Plowman highlighted the state’s confidence in UT, and the university’s commitment to giving the state its very best.
- UT Chattanooga Chancellor Lori Bruce emphasized investments in emerging fields like quantum, noting that one in four UTC faculty members serve as researchers in areas that support priorities for the state and nation. She said progress in these areas relies heavily on partnerships spanning state and federal government, national laboratories, universities and industry – underscoring that no single institution can drive this work alone.
- UT Southern Chancellor Melinda Arnold highlighted the university’s role as a workforce and educational solution for Middle Tennessee. She noted strong partnerships across a 13-county region that provide clear pathways to credentials through TCATs and community colleges, particularly in nursing and agricultural education. She also pointed to their work through the NOVA Entrepreneur Center to support rural entrepreneurship and students pursuing business ventures.
- UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman highlighted initiatives addressing health care workforce shortages in West Tennessee, including expanded nursing programs and a new Master of Social Work program with a rural health emphasis launching this fall. He also discussed growth in agriculture and veterinary science, UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) partnerships and research supporting long-term community development connected to Ford’s Blue Oval City.
- UT Health Science Center Chancellor Peter Buckley said there is no greater challenge than the health of Tennesseans, and the opportunity to address it comes with strong alignment with federal and state government. He highlighted UT Health Science Center’s partnerships with universities, hospitals and health systems across Tennessee, and its statewide impact in training physicians, nurses and other health care professionals. He also noted the institution’s emphasis on rural health and its Carnegie R1 research designation, placing it in the top 5% of research universities nationally.
- Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver highlighted UTIA’s support for Tennessee’s largest industry, agriculture, through strong statewide partnerships. He emphasized the institute’s efforts to support farms, forests and families to ensure affordable food, healthy communities and natural resource conservation, while pointing to advances in precision agriculture to help farmers address farmland loss. He noted UT Extension operates in all 95 counties, one of only three such extension programs in the nation with a presence in every county.
- Vice President Herb Byrd highlighted the UT Institute for Public Service’s statewide impact, translating academic and research expertise into solutions for manufacturers, local government and law enforcement. He also discussed the Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource for Tennessee (SMART) Initiative, the UT System’s framework to address substance misuse statewide, in partnership with the Tennessee Abatement Council, to ensure coordinated, measurable results.
To view the full recording of the address and panel discussion, visit this link. Photos from the event are available at this link.
