Mackenzie Clark

The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) is a roadmap focused on student success, research, and community impact, aiming to drive progress in Tennessee and beyond through education, innovation, and partnerships. The plan envisions UTC as a model metropolitan university that strategically expands to 15,000 students and achieves Carnegie R2 classification as a Doctoral University with High Research Activity. Key strategic pillars include Academic Excellence and Student Outcomes, Developing and Supporting Our People, Innovative and Impactful Research, Operational Excellence, and Community Engagement and Impact, all designed to spark transformative growth and prosperity.

The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga serves as a comprehensive roadmap to advance the institution, anchored by five strategic pillars: Academic Excellence and Student Outcomes, Developing and Supporting Our People, Innovative and Impactful Research, Operational Excellence, and Community Engagement and Impact. The plan aims to expand student opportunities, empower faculty and staff, elevate the university's research profile to achieve Carnegie R2 status, ensure operational excellence and responsible resource management, and strengthen community partnerships to drive regional growth and well-being. Key aspirations include strategically expanding student enrollment to 15,000 and becoming a Carnegie Classified R2 University by 2030.

The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for UTC outlines a vision for future growth and impact, built upon five core pillars. These pillars include academic excellence and student outcomes, developing and supporting its people, innovative and impactful research, operational excellence, and community engagement and impact. The plan aims to empower students for lifelong success, invest in its employees through competitive compensation and professional growth, foster groundbreaking research, enhance facilities and resources, and deepen regional impact through strategic partnerships, thereby driving economic, social, and cultural development.

The board meeting agenda covered several key areas. Discussions included the Carnegie Designation and establishing baseline metrics as part of strategic plan updates. Significant time was devoted to updates on a mandatory Active Violence Training program, highlighting positive feedback from attendees. The board reviewed updates on the expansion of mental health resources on campus, specifically the Parkridge Mental Health Therapy Center at UTC, and discussed leadership appointments and searches. Furthermore, there were extensive presentations on the UTC Quantum Center's emerging R&D partnerships, detailing its vision, team structure, infrastructure (including HPC clusters and quantum sensing labs), education initiatives, research themes, and funding sources. Academic Affairs reported on the establishment of the College of Nursing in January 2026 and updates from the Center for Global Education regarding international students and study abroad programs. The Financial & Capital Projects section reviewed the budget process for FY 2027, analyzed revenue and expense budgets for FY 2026, discussed campus operating environment needs like infrastructure investment and compensation, and reviewed the Tennessee Outcomes Based Funding Formula data. Finally, the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs section presented updates on the Mocs Flight Plan implementation timeline and workgroups, and the UC Foundation reported on fundraising priorities across various colleges and campus initiatives.

The meeting agenda covered reports from key leadership areas. The Chancellor provided updates on institutional developments, academic affairs reviewed initiatives like the proposed Doctor of Philosophy in Quantum Information Science and Engineering and the elevation of the School of Nursing to a college, and the Financial and Capital Projects Report addressed the FY 2027 financial outlook, budget planning, and capital investments. The Enrollment Report was also scheduled for presentation.