STATE OF THE CAMPUS’ ADDRESSED AT UT MARTIN FACULTY MEETING

‘STATE OF THE CAMPUS’ ADDRESSED AT UT MARTIN FACULTY MEETING
MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Tennessee at Martin Chancellor Keith Carver delivered a “state
of the campus” address Aug. 22 during the university’s annual fall faculty meeting.
After the introduction of new faculty and staff members from various academic and
administrative areas, Carver took the stage to discuss the university’s current challenges and
triumphs and give an update on future plans.
According to Carver, UT Martin expects an incoming class of 1,054 first-time freshmen to arrive
on campus in the coming weeks. This is just over an 11 percent increase as compared to the
incoming freshman class in fall 2016. The numbers for transfer students are also up, with 518
transfer students expected to begin classes Aug. 28. This is just over a 10 percent increase from
the number of transfer students who began last fall.
“I want to thank all of you; this is good news. This represents the hard work of a lot of people in
this room,” said Carver. He praised the efforts of the university admissions staff, faculty and staff
members who make time to meet with potential students and their families, and the custodial and
grounds maintenance crews who keep the campus beautiful throughout the year.
Due in large part to their efforts, UT Martin expects to break its record for freshman-to-
sophomore retention rates for the second consecutive year. Carver says almost 76 percent of last
year’s freshman class are expected to return for their sophomore year, making this the highest
retention rate in university history.
Although overall university enrollment will still be down in terms of total headcount, the
promising increase in incoming freshmen indicates that times may be changing for UT Martin.
While it will take a few years to rebuild former enrollment numbers, Carver says the university is
“refilling the pipeline” one semester at a time.
Carver says UT Martin is reaching out to high school students earlier than ever, and this
approach is beginning to produce results.
“Every (high school) sophomore and junior in all 95 Tennessee counties who meet our
admissions criteria have already heard from us, and the results and interactions we’re having
with them have been incredible,” he said.
“We’ve already, in 2017, had more visits to our website and more interactions through social
media than we’ve ever had in our history. … We’re creating a culture where we’re getting our
name out there, and it’s attracting people back to look at what we do.”
The UT Board of Trustees’ decision in summer 2016 to allow for a reduction in UT Martin’s
out-of- state tuition has also yielded results, with a higher number of out-of- state students
considering UT Martin as a similar or more-affordable alternative to universities in their
respective states.
With the first Tennessee Promise cycle coming to a close, UT Martin is creating partnerships
with community colleges to reach those students who are looking to finish their degrees at four-
year institutions. The university has established the Elam Transfer Promise scholarship for
eligible transfer students to aid their transition to UT Martin’s four-year program.
“We are locking arms with our community colleges across the state … and this (scholarship) is
going to signal to community colleges all over that we want their students, we’re going to recruit
them early, and we’re aligning ourselves with the (Tennessee) Promise name,” said Carver. “We
will be the first and only public institution in the state of Tennessee to do this, and we are very
proud of that.”
Carver also announced that the state of Tennessee has reached out to UT Martin as a partner in
the Tennessee Pathways program, which helps K-12 students statewide discover the various
options available after high school graduation, including both four-year and two-year schools,
trade and technical schools, and other professional certification programs.
As part of this partnership, UT Martin will soon house a Tennessee Pathways office, which will
bring stakeholders in the K-12 education community together to discuss best practices and the
future educational health of Tennessee’s students.
“When we’re talking to K-12 classroom instructors, principals, guidance counselors, school and
county superintendents, they’re going to be convening here,” said Carver. “They’re going to be
on our campus and seeing what UT Martin has to offer, and I hope this will be the first of many
opportunities for the state to say, ‘Why don’t we go to Martin?’ I think we are ready to answer
the call.”
Carver also briefly touched on budget restrictions and the questions surrounding the potential
outsourcing of custodial and maintenance functions. He says the total impact of enrollment on
this year’s operating budget will not be known until after the fall semester begins and final
headcounts are determined. However, he pledged to minimize the impact to academic programs
and students as much as possible.
As for the issues surrounding outsourcing of services, Carver says each University of Tennessee
campus still has the option to opt in or out of the proposed outsourcing contract once final
service estimates have been received. He hopes to have those final numbers available before the
fall UT Board of Trustees board meeting.
Carver ended his remarks by telling the story of Ann Asipan, a current student from Kenya and
All-American athlete for track and field.
“When you talk to Ann about what makes this place special, she says it’s the relationships. It’s
the relationships with her teammates and with her coaches, and it’s the relationships she has with
the students in her classes and those she rooms with. But it’s also how the faculty have made her
feel here. …
“That’s the power of one,” he said. One student at a time, one dream at a time, makes all the
difference.