Over the past six years our retention, persistence, and graduation rates have reached record levels. Students from across the country want to learn here because they know they will be part of a community that cares deeply about their success and provides the tools they need to thrive.
Rita Sanders Geier, a longtime justice advocate and former lawyer and professor, encouraged recent law graduates to put their knowledge and skills to use for others. She was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws, recognizing her lifetime of public service.
Six years ago, when I returned to UT as chancellor one of our top priorities was to improve our student retention and I knew just the person to get us there: Dr. Amber Williams.
We are proud to host Volkswagen’s first university-based innovation hub outside of their own property—a distinction that reflects the depth of trust and shared ambition between our institutions. What started as a bold idea has become a shining example of what’s possible when public institutions and private industry unite around a shared vision.
There are nearly one million Tennesseans with some college credit but no degree. We want to change that.
By leveraging Arizona State’s expertise and success in building digital learning infrastructure, we’re able to quickly scale up our academic programs and provide more options for more students.
UT Knoxville has one of the best nuclear engineering programs in the country and some of the world’s top experts in the field. This confluence of partnership and resources is why no region is better positioned to be a national leader in nuclear innovation than East Tennessee—and why no institution is better prepared to help lead us there than UT.
In his remarks, Alexander reminded us all that while public service has its challenges, it is a fulfilling and impactful way to make a difference in our communities and our country. He encouraged students across disciplines to step up as leaders in their communities.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this success this year, both on campus and in our community. Congratulations to our fall graduates. I look forward to the new year and all the opportunities ahead.
UT Knoxville has been on the rise. As we continue to meet the goals that we have set for ourselves, it is time to think about what comes next. What will it take to bring UT to the next level?
This fall, we celebrated our highest retention and graduation rates ever at nearly 92 percent and 74 percent, respectively. The gains we’ve seen since launching the Division of Student Success five years ago—with retention up 5 percentage points and graduation up 3 percentage points—have bolstered our national reputation as a leader in supporting students and improving outcomes.
