Plowman Highlights UT’s Momentum and Vision on Inside Tennessee
Chancellor Donde Plowman appeared on WBIR’s Inside Tennessee last week to share the university’s continued momentum in student success, research growth, and campus transformation.
Plowman celebrated record-breaking enrollment and student retention, including a 91.9 percent first-to-second-year retention rate—the highest in UT’s history. She credited this success to the university’s strategic efforts to enhance student support while intentionally managing incoming class sizes to maintain quality.
With student demand on the rise, Plowman highlighted three new residence halls under construction as part of a public-private partnership. The projects will add nearly 3,000 beds over three years, supporting the university’s commitment to housing accessibility and campus life.
The chancellor also outlined UT’s growing research enterprise, which now exceeds $380 million in expenditures annually. She noted key collaborations with Volkswagen, Eastman, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as well as UT’s investment in emerging technologies like advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
Plowman spoke about the university’s academic innovation, including the launch of the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies. The new college offers stackable, interdisciplinary academic programs designed to prepare students for the modern workforce.
Throughout the interview, Plowman emphasized UT’s land-grant mission and its responsibility to serve Tennessee through education, innovation, and leadership.
“Our goal is to be bold in how we support our students, partner with industry, and shape the future of higher education,” Plowman said. “We’re just getting started.”
Watch the full interview here.