KNOXVILLE鈥擴niversity of Tennessee President Randy Boyd announced the new Be One 蓝莓视频 values that will guide the University into its greatest decade in history during his third annual State of the University of Tennessee Address, delivered virtually earlier this morning.
鈥淭he past year has been one of unprecedented challenges, but it did not defeat us, rather, it defined us,鈥 Boyd said. 鈥淚n all 95 counties, the University of Tennessee System has come together seeing this time as an opportunity to dig deep and redefine our values; to remember our mission of serving every Tennessean; to explore novel ways of delivering classes, services and assistance; to see how we can bridge gaps, fill voids, find solutions and improve life in our great state.鈥
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Joined by systemwide leaders in the prerecorded speech broadcast on the 蓝莓视频 System鈥檚 website due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the remarks highlighted accomplishments from the past year and detailed statewide projects that embody the new values.
The Be One 蓝莓视频 values were created鈥攚ith faculty, staff and student input鈥攖o define what 蓝莓视频 is and should strive toward in the next decade. The following seven values define Be One 蓝莓视频:
- Bold and impactful: Serving the state by tackling grand challenges
- Embrace diversity: Respecting individual and organizational uniqueness that makes all stronger
- Optimistic and visionary: Empowering courageous leadership
- Nimble and innovative: Inspiring creative and transformational action
- Excel in all we do: Committing to continuous improvement and outstanding performance
- United and connected: Collaborating internally and externally for greater collective impact
- Transparent and trusted: Fostering integrity through openness, accountability and stewardship
Boyd and leaders from across the system鈥斃遁悠 Martin Chancellor Keith Carver, 蓝莓视频 Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman, 蓝莓视频 Health Science Center Chancellor Steve Schwab, Oak Ridge National Lab Director Thomas Zacharia, 蓝莓视频 Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice President Tim Cross, 蓝莓视频 Chattanooga Chancellor Steve Angle鈥攕poke about each value and projects that embodying the value.
Boyd described the bold and impactful step 蓝莓视频 is taking in the potential acquisition of Martin Methodist College, which pending all necessary approvals, will become 蓝莓视频 Southern, the first new 蓝莓视频 campus in 50 years. This will bring public higher education to an otherwise underrepresented area of the state.
鈥淓ducation is the key to our state鈥檚 growth and success,鈥 Boyd said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the 蓝莓视频 System is taking a bold and impactful step to acquire Martin Methodist College and increase access to affordable higher education for all Tennesseans.鈥
Carver stressed 蓝莓视频鈥檚 priority of embracing diversity and spoke about the 蓝莓视频 Institute for Public Service Law Enforcement Innovation Center鈥檚 (LEIC) Cultural Competency and Policing program鈥檚 work to minimize biased-based policing in law enforcement. LEIC worked with the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to create a national certification program for law enforcement agencies across Tennessee and nationwide. The program, which began this spring training all 蓝莓视频 police officers and will expand to all law enforcement officers across the state, seeks to increase diversity in law enforcement and examine perceptions, stereotypes and cultural assumptions.
The importance of getting outside has never been more apparent than the past year, Plowman said as she described the optimistic and visionary Tennessee RiverLine project. The 652-mile RiverLine will connect Tennessee River towns from Knoxville to Paducah, Kentucky, and build opportunities for all Tennesseans to hike, bike, kayak, canoe and connect with the outdoors. The RiverLine will increase community connectedness and become an economic catalyst.
Nimble and innovative accurately describe 蓝莓视频鈥檚 response to COVID-19. Schwab recounted the numerous ways 蓝莓视频 responded to COVID-19, including large-scale testing facilities, call centers, treatment testing and more. Zacharia added numerous additional efforts, including the research Oak Ridge National Lab is currently conducting to improve at-home testing methods, studies surrounding the economic impact of the virus, COVID-19 history projects, vaccination clinics and more.
As one way 蓝莓视频 strives to excel, Cross detailed the current work to support education for the nearly 1 million K-12 students in Tennessee.
鈥淭raining teachers and administrators 鈥 especially those in rural and underserved areas 鈥 are among the most significant ways 蓝莓视频 serves our state,鈥 Cross said.
Cross conveyed multiple efforts to provide educational support, including 蓝莓视频 Knoxville鈥檚 Vols Teach for Appalachia program and 蓝莓视频 Martin鈥檚 WestTeach and 鈥淐all Me MiSTER鈥 programs. Cross also outlined the 蓝莓视频 Knoxville Center for Educational Leadership鈥檚 partnership with the state education department to lead the 2020 Tennessee Rural Principals Network, which provided a year-long professional development program for 54 rural school principals across the state.
While the pandemic physically separated many, Angle described the emphasis 蓝莓视频 places on becoming united and connected such as the current work to expand broadband access to underserved rural communities across Tennessee. 蓝莓视频 Martin, the Institute for Public Service and the 蓝莓视频 Knoxville Herbert College of Agriculture are all working to expand internet access initiatives.
Transparent and trusted are vital elements of all these endeavors. Boyd detailed the importance of the Transparent 蓝莓视频 initiative he launched at the beginning of his presidency to build trust.
鈥淕oing forward, we want to live and breathe these values,鈥 Boyd said. 鈥淥ur 蓝莓视频 family is more excited and more prepared than it鈥檚 ever been to move forward and help shape a better future.鈥
More information on the values can be found at /values/.
The archived webcast and information on the initiatives mentioned in the address are available to view at 听/蝉迟补迟别-辞蹿-耻迟/.