Advocating for UT
(FY 2019-2025)

1. Create Greater Internal & External Transparency
- Develop and implement Transparent UT Initiative to improve public access to information
- Establish a Transparency Advisory Group to help identify opportunities to increase transparency
- Increase opportunities for the public to submit ideas and feedback
- Conduct annual focus groups to evaluate progress and improve access to information
2. Strengthen System-wide Collaboration among Communicators
- Host two annual systemwide communicators meetings to strengthen relationships and collaboration
- Develop 10 professional development opportunities for communicators across the system annually
- Conduct a system-wide communications audience audit to determine redundancies and identify areas of improvement
3. Implement a Streamlined Process for Communicating with Government Officials
- Work with the Chancellors and university leadership to develop and implement a policy for communicating with government officials
- Train UT leaders in government relations best practices
- Work with university leadership to identify high priority areas for government support
4. Promote Growth and Increased Opportunity for University Advocacy
- Identify more diverse candidates for volunteer leadership/advocacy groups
- Grow Advocacy Network to 10,000 advocates
Benchmark: 6,286 advocates
- Strengthen partnership with UT Foundation and UT Alumni Association to support efforts to grow participation in Advocacy
Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Goal
Increase the number & engagement of diverse volunteers in UT leadership/advocacy groups
Working Group
- Anthony Haynes (Co-champion), Vice President for Government Relations & Advocacy, UTSA
- Tiffany Carpenter (Co-champion), Associate Vice President, Office of Communications & Marketing, UTSA
- Sally Badoud, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing, UTHSC
- Bradley Bell, Assistant Director, New Student & Family Programs, UTC
- Tisha Benton, Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing, UTK
- Denise Gardner, Assistant Provost and Director of Institutional Research, UTK
- Bud Grimes, Chief Communications Officer, UTM
- George Heddleston, Sr. Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications & Marketing, UTC
- Susan Robertson, Information Specialist, IPS
- Tom Satkowiak, Associate Athletics Director for Communications, UTK
- Lisa Stearns, Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing, UTIA
- Carey Whitworth, Assistant Vice President for Government Relations and Advocacy, UTSA
- Kerry Witcher, Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs and Programs/President and CEO of the UT Foundation, Inc., UTSA/UTFI