President J. Wade Gilley has accepted an invitation to become a member of

the Council of Competitiveness.

Labor leaders, prominent educators and American industrialists come

together in this national organization to put their resources together to

seek new and innovative ways to strengthen the U.S. economy.

Gilley was recommended to the council by Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tennessee.

“Institutions like the University of Tennessee have a key role in helping

our nation retain its technological leadership in the world economy,”

Gilley said.

Gilley views his membership as a way to advance his goal of making UT part

of the top 25 research universities. He will join leaders from MIT, UCLA,

Hewlett-Packard, Eastman Kodak and the NASDAQ stock market.

The Council of Competitiveness, based out of Washington D.C., maintains a

steady goal to keep the United States at the forefront of technical and

scientific innovation.

The council participates in various activities that reflect this common

goal. It conducts studies in information technology, automobile

manufacturing, the health care industry, advanced materials and logistics

services. The council picks studies that it believes showcase the country’s

ability to promote and develop new technology.

Recently it sponsored an Internet learning network, which gives students

the chance to to measure their learning performance. Members of the council

are also examining clusters of innovation that were developed in

Pittsburgh, Atlanta and North Carolina’s Research Triangle.

“I’m pleased to be part of a group that has made enhanced competitiveness

its specific goal,” Gilley said.