“Say ‘University of Tennessee’ anywhere in this state, and people line up — Tennesseans will line up to tell you about the difference this university has made in their lives,” Chancellor Donde Plowman said.
Plowman proclaimed her prospects for this school year in her annual Flagship Address on Thursday morning. Pioneering the tradition in 2019, this year marks her seventh address, and it was one of glowing optimism for the state of the university.
The address featured UT’s top statistical rankings, highlighting the nuclear engineering, supply chain management and polymer science programs. Beyond the classroom, the chancellor boasted UT’s energetic student engagement and athletic achievement.
“It’s hard to believe that an institution like that could exist in a time like this. Every day we hear from colleagues, we read news stories about universities suffering from dwindling enrollments from budget cuts and hiring freezes,” Plowman said. “But here at Tennessee, we find ourselves in a different place.”
The physical growth of the campus earned a spotlight as well. Plowman mentioned the new nursing building, the new student success building and the groundbreaking of the new chemistry building, which UT recently named the Charles and Julie Wharton Chemistry Building.
“We have set our sights on taking the University of Tennessee to the next level — building an even stronger reputation, a larger research footprint and a bigger economic impact. We want to produce more graduates and provide greater value for our state,” Plowman said.
But Plowman doesn’t want UT to quit while it’s ahead.
Plowman’s vision is for UT to make advancements now while other universities face budget cuts and declining enrollment rates. Keeping up the momentum in a tense time, Plowman said, is how UT will climb to the top.
“The window for us to seize this opportunity is narrow, and we don’t have the luxury of taking years to plan our next steps,” Plowman said, “We must move now. We either forge ahead or we will fall behind.”
Three growth areas Plowman has in mind are student experience, research and athletics.
The ‘unparalleled student experience’ Plowman is reaching to maintain and improve consists of strengthening the student community and making students feel at home on Rocky Top. The chancellor noted that 91% of UT students reported that their campus was committed to free expression compared to the national average of 73%.
Plowman’s acknowledgment of these numbers follows recent campus events — including the dismissal of an assistant professor — that caused students and faculty to question free speech on campus.
“We all know this, but I want to say it again: Students are more likely to persist in their education if they feel like they belong,” Plowman said. “We want every Volunteer to feel like they belong here.”
Plowman discussed plans to hire more high-profile faculty members and continue building partnerships with energy companies — such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and TVA — to advance university research.
The chancellor also highlighted the strength of the athletic department, expressing gratitude for the university’s coaches and touching on the renovations being made to Neyland Stadium and Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“Student-athletes, coaches, and staff across all 20 teams — they show up for one another. It’s the culture we’re building over there,” Plowman said. “Our integrity and team-first culture have paid off in the classroom and on the field.”
Plowman urged students and faculty to do their part in firing UT towards these targets by striving to do their best in each field they’re involved in.
“I’m asking you to pursue excellence in everything you do. I’m asking you to pursue big, ambitious goals at a time when others are taking a more defensive posture,” Plowman said. “Let’s not shrink ourselves and hope that we can move through the next few years undetected and unchanged by the rapidly evolving world around us.”
The full address can be found at the Chancellor’s website.
