Carrying the Land-Grant Mission Forward
Last month on a stage in Philadelphia, I had the honor of accepting an award recognizing the impact of our work on innovation and economic development. It wasn’t the only category where UT was being recognized. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities also named the university as a finalist in top awards for student success and community-engaged scholarship.
It’s both humbling and rewarding to be recognized by our peers, all of whom I respect and admire. But the real honor is witnessing all the ways in which our work is fulfilling the university’s land-grant promise to the state.
All three recognitions reinforce the momentum that we have been building toward establishing UT as the model of a modern land-grant university and reaching the next level as an institution.
Our personalized approach to student success has led to huge gains in student retention and graduation rates. Our work with the community is helping train future service providers and improve health outcomes. And our efforts in economic development are helping Tennessee advance its innovation economy.
Accolades and awards are never the goal, but they do offer moments to reflect on the work and celebrate the progress we’ve made.
These accomplishments show exactly where our priorities lie—with our students and in service to the state of Tennessee. We’re setting a standard of excellence in collaborative research, community engagement, and student success, and it’s gratifying when our peers take notice. Our work is mission focused, and we’re serving as the model for what land-grant institutions can accomplish.
The successes we’ve had over the years are a culmination of coordinated efforts—across our campus and out in the community—that represent the power in community partnerships.
Now more than ever, it is critical for universities, particularly land-grant institutions, to demonstrate the value of their work and show how research can make a real difference in the lives of the people they serve. Trust from the public is earned, and these efforts will carry our mission forward and build faith in higher education.