Creating a bold vision for our future
This spring, we will create a new strategic vision together.
Our vision will be a stake in the ground that says “This is the land-grant university we aspire to be, and this is how we plan to get there.”
The landscape of higher education is shifting, presenting new challenges and opportunities. The needs of our students and our state are changing. Technology is creating new demands on our workforce, and access to education and information is rapidly evolving.
Meeting this moment will require the courage to take risks and make bold decisions. Together, we will craft a vision that will lead this institution and the state of Tennessee into the future.
Two committees will lead our campus and community through this process: an executive committee and a larger visioning committee. These groups—composed of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members—are charged with helping us articulate new statements of the university’s mission, vision, and values.
There will be opportunities for you to contribute through open forums and public discussions, and I encourage you to participate. You can learn more about the details of the strategic visioning process, including a list of committee members, on my website.
Each of you has a unique perspective. You recognize needs and opportunities in your classrooms, your laboratories, your offices, and the communities you serve. We need your insights—your vision—to help guide us into the future.
If we want to continue to be the flagship university that Tennesseans need, then we must step forward to set a bold vision that will help us meet the challenges of our time.
Together, we can accomplish far more than any of us could imagine on our own.
Donde Plowman
Chancellor