Pulaski, TN, March 4, 2024 – The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, during its winter meeting held at UT Southern on Friday, has unanimously approved UT Southern’s inaugural five-year strategic plan. This pivotal decision marks a significant milestone for the university, emphasizing its commitment to enhancing academic excellence, promoting innovation, creating transformational student experiences, and fostering greater community engagement.
The strategic plan is built on three foundational pillars designed to guide UT Southern through its next phase of growth and development:
- Enhance Academic Excellence and Promote Innovation: Aiming to elevate the university’s academic profile and encourage a culture of innovation and research that meets the evolving needs of the region and the state.
- Create Transformational Student Experiences and Foster Student Success: Focused on providing students with engaging, high-quality educational experiences that promote personal and professional growth.
- Establish Greater Connectedness and Facilitate Campus and Community Engagement: Dedicated to strengthening the ties between the university, its students, and the wider community to enhance the educational, economic, and cultural life of Southern Middle Tennessee.
With a focus on people, purpose, and partnerships, the university’s mission is Students First and the vision stated simply is to Engage Minds & Transform Lives. Interim Chancellor Linda C. Martin expressed her enthusiasm for the plan, stating, “This plan captures the spirit of our institution, from the pursuit of excellence to the enrichment of the student experience, and the deepening of our pledge to foster meaningful relationships. We remain dedicated to serving Southern Middle Tennessee and to educating students to meet the current and future workforce needs of the region and the state.”
UT Southern, established in 2021 through the acquisition of Martin Methodist College, carries forward a legacy of educational excellence dating back to its founding in 1870. Located in Pulaski, about 70 miles south of Nashville and 40 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama, UT Southern is strategically positioned to serve as a beacon of higher learning and community engagement in the region.
The approval of this strategic plan represents a significant step forward for UT Southern, underscoring its commitment to excellence, innovation, and community. As the university embarks on this exciting journey, it reaffirms its dedication to providing an enriching educational experience for its students and playing a pivotal role in the development of the region.
For more information about UT Southern and to review the full strategic plan, please visit the following link for a magazine version or here to download a PDF version. The mission and vision statements are also included in the strategic plan.
About UT Southern
The University of Tennessee Southern, established in 2021 through the acquisition of Martin Methodist College (founded in 1870), is the fourth undergraduate campus in the UT System. As the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis, and located approximately 70 miles south of Nashville and 40 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama, UT Southern offers a comprehensive and dynamic educational experience. Committed to academic excellence and community involvement, it prepares students for successful and meaningful careers.