UT’s Board of Trustees reviews new five-year plan
The "Be One UT 2030 Strategic Plan" focuses on strengthening access, driving research and innovation, fueling Tennessee’s workforce, and building stronger communities.
During its fall meetings on October 23–24 in Knoxville, the University of Tennessee (UT) Board of Trustees reviewed the UT System’s proposed five-year strategic plan.
The “Be One UT 2030 Strategic Plan” focuses on strengthening access, driving research and innovation, fueling Tennessee’s workforce, and building stronger communities. Grounded in the UT System’s Be One UT values, the plan aligns priorities across all campuses and institutes to support the needs of students and the state.
“The UT System is not just planning for the next five years; we are building on the momentum of the greatest decade in our history while preparing for the future of Tennessee,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “This plan ensures we continue to deliver a high-quality education, produce groundbreaking research, and provide leadership that benefits every Tennessean.”
Over the past five years, the UT System has achieved record enrollment, retention, and degrees awarded. In 2025, the first-year retention rate reached 85.8 percent, up 4.5 points from five years earlier, while the four-year graduation rate rose to 57.7 percent, more than 10 points higher. UT awarded 15,156 total degrees in 2025, including 15.4 percent more bachelor’s and 18.6 percent more graduate and professional degrees than five years ago. These outcomes underscore the impact of efforts to expand access, strengthen student support, and increase completion rates while maintaining a commitment to quality and affordability.
The 2030 Be One UT Strategic Plan, which solicited feedback from more than 500 stakeholders, identifies four key priorities:
- Accelerate Access, Academic Excellence and Student Success – Expanding access, driving academic quality and improving learner outcomes.
- Drive Research and Innovation – Positioning UT as a global leader in research with tangible benefits for Tennessee and the world.
- Fuel the Workforce of Tennessee and Beyond – Leveraging UT’s unique role as a workforce engine to meet state and national needs.
- Advance Community Engagement – Transforming communities through partnerships and outreach.
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