Building for the Future
Fall semester is always a special and exciting time as we welcome a new freshman class to the university. This fall began on an especially high note as we welcomed a strong freshman class and the highest UT Martin enrollment since 2012. Our final enrollment count was 7,507 students registered on the main campus, the six regional centers, in dual enrollment courses and online. This enrollment represents an 8% increase over fall 2023 and included a significant three-point jump in the first-year retention rate. I’ve worked in enrollment management for 30 years, and as I reported in September to the UT Martin Advisory Board, achieving a 1% increase is difficult – but the three-point increase in undergraduate retention compared to fall 2023 is phenomenal.
The entire UTM faculty and staff worked diligently to ensure enrollment success. We purposefully leaned into new initiatives under the leadership of the enrollment team, including better-funded Chancellor’s, Deans, and Transfer Scholarships and strong student-retention initiatives by the Student Success Center staff. Strong enrollment will help to fund even more initiatives, which includes focusing on the people and processes that benefit students and make UT Martin work.
Growing enrollment remains a personal and university priority, and I’m pleased to note some other initiatives that will influence enrollment outcomes.
- International Enrollment – UT Martin was once known for its strong International Programs, and we will return to a return to a strong international presence at the university. Through investment and a comprehensive international enrollment plan, UTM’s total enrollment will eventually include 5% international students.
- Partnerships – The university’s list of partnerships is growing, including recent partnerships with Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology that allow students to earn credits toward a UT Martin degree. Additionally, the new Springfield Center established in cooperation with Volunteer State Community College in Middle Tennessee was recently approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as UT Martin’s sixth regional center.
- TEST Hub – Speaking of partnerships, the university’s Tennessee Entrepreneurial Science and Technology (TEST) Hub, a cooperative workspace and innovation hub with Dyersburg State Community College and the TCAT-McKenzie, will break ground in early summer 2025 and be built on the west side of the main campus. The TEST Hub, which was completely funded by the Tennessee General Assembly in April 2022, will support workforce and economic development for future generations.
- Strategic Plan – The work on the new 2025-2030 UT Martin Strategic Plan is fully underway, and I plan to share our bold direction during the 2025 UT Board of Trustees meeting in February at Martin. The plan will focus on four major themes: People, Places, Partnerships, and Achievement. Additionally, the plan will encompass five key goals and a maximum of 25 total strategies. This new plan will guide the university’s path forward and drive much of our investment strategy over the next five years.
I communicate widely that we are well on our way to 10,000 students by 2030. This number is vital to UT Martin’s ability to meet workforce demand for our state. UTM is committed to the success of our students and employees. We are a first-class institution, and we offer a transformational educational experience to our students.
We are UTM Proud! It’s a great day to be a Skyhawk!
Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr.
Chancellor