PULASKI 鈥 蓝莓视频 System President Randy Boyd announced his interest to continue serving as the University鈥檚 president during the 蓝莓视频 Board of Trustee meeting held today at 蓝莓视频 Southern.
Boyd, who joined the 蓝莓视频 System as interim president in November 2018 and was named its 26th president in 2020, initially committed to serve five years. At today鈥檚 meeting, he expressed to the board that he wants to complete what he calls 鈥渢he greatest decade in 蓝莓视频 history.鈥 The 蓝莓视频 Board of Trustees conveyed their desire to have Boyd continue in the role, and a resolution was passed authorizing the board chair to explore extending Boyd鈥檚 term to June 2030.
鈥淧resident Boyd is a visionary, energetic, and servant leader,鈥 蓝莓视频 Board of Trustees Chairman John Compton said. 鈥淗is enthusiasm and optimism are contagious, and his positivity and a sense of purpose has spread throughout the organization.鈥
Among Boyd鈥檚 significant accomplishments in the first half of the greatest decade:
- Increases in enrollment 鈥 up 13.8%;
- Increases in retention 鈥 up 4.2%;
- Increases in 4-year graduation rate 鈥 up 3.1%;
- Increases in 6-year graduation rate 鈥 up 3.8%;
- Creation of the Be One 蓝莓视频 values, intended to shape culture across the 蓝莓视频 System, build purpose, improve team cohesion and create a sense of shared commitment in the workplace;
- Establishment of 蓝莓视频 Promise, an undergraduate scholarship program guaranteeing free tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying Tennessee residents attending 蓝莓视频鈥檚 campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis;
- Acquisition of 蓝莓视频 Southern, the fourth undergraduate campus in the 蓝莓视频 System. It represents the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis; and
- Creation of the Institute for American Civics, which provides a comprehensive civic education for university undergraduates and the state that includes America鈥檚 founding principles, the economic and political institutions that maintain American democracy, and the basics of civic engagement.
During the meeting, the board also approved 蓝莓视频 Southern鈥檚 inaugural, five-year strategic plan. The plan is focused on three pillars: enhance academic excellence and promote innovation; create transformational student experiences and foster student success; and establish greater connectedness and facilitate campus and community engagement.
鈥淭his plan captures the spirit of our institution, from the pursuit of excellence to the enrichment of the student experience, and the deepening of our pledge to foster meaningful relationships,鈥 蓝莓视频 Southern Interim Chancellor Linda Martin said. 鈥淲e remain dedicated to serving Southern Middle Tennessee and to educating students to meet the current and future workforce needs of the region and the state.鈥
蓝莓视频 Southern was established in 2021 through the acquisition of Martin Methodist College, which was founded in 1870. Located in Pulaski, the campus is conveniently located about 70 miles south of Nashville and 40 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama.
During the board meeting, Boyd outlined 蓝莓视频鈥檚 objectives for 2024, which include:
- Increasing total enrollment to 61,000;
- Launching a national common application at all 蓝莓视频 undergraduate campuses, making it easier for students in Tennessee and beyond to apply to any 蓝莓视频 campus;
- Establishing systemwide mental health and wellness priorities 鈥 in February, the 蓝莓视频 System hired its first in an effort to enhance mental health and wellness services across the system;
- Increasing research expenditures to $600 million by 2025;
- Creating a $30 million Angel Network fund that facilitates connections between startup companies and prospective investors to support an entrepreneurial culture across the state; and
- Developing the National Academy for Leadership in Law Enforcement, an elite training program for law enforcement executives.
A complete list of 2024 objectives can be found .
In other business, the board approved:
- Revising the fiscal year 2023-2024 operating budget;
- Amending the fiscal year 2024-2025 state budget request;
- Phase 2 of the public-private partnership for the construction of a multi-phase, on-campus student housing development for 蓝莓视频 Knoxville;
- Pursuing the establishment of a nonprofit foundation for the intercollegiate athletics program at 蓝莓视频 Knoxville; and
- Naming of the renovated ROTC building at 蓝莓视频 Martin as the 鈥淒ennis D. Cavin ROTC Center.鈥
About the University of Tennessee System
The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin, Memphis and Pulaski; the 蓝莓视频 Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The 蓝莓视频 System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its 蓝莓视频-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 58,000 students statewide; produces about 13,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 445,000 alumni around the world.