The University of Tennessee at Martin

The University of Tennessee at Martin is a primary campus of the University of Tennessee system. As such, UT Martin reflects the solid traditions of excellence that have earned the UT system its outstanding reputation.

Mission

The University of Tennessee at Martin, the only public university in West Tennessee outside the city of Memphis, provides quality undergraduate education in a traditional collegiate atmosphere. Continuing education programs and selected programs of graduate study meet life-long educational needs of area residents. Close relationships between students and faculty characterize instruction at all levels. Research, scholarship, and creative endeavors enhance teaching and enlarge knowledge. Some applied research efforts are particularly directed to meeting regional needs. The faculty is committed to public service, contributing significantly to the economic, educational and cultural development of the area.

Undergraduate programs constitute the core of instructional effort. These provide a broadly based education which enables graduates to function effectively in a multicultural society while serving in a wide variety of public and private sector professions and organizations. Preprofessional programs of exceptional merit prepare students for advanced study in a variety of professional fields, including medicine and law. Baccalaureate degrees are offered in Colleges of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Business and Public Affairs, Education and Behavioral Sciences, Engineering and Natural Sciences, and Humanities and Fine Arts.

Situated in a rural setting, UT Martin exemplifies the residential university experience. Traditional and nontraditional students learn in classes sized to facilitate learning objectives. Faculty who are well qualified and especially interested in undergraduate education teach courses at all levels. Emphasis is placed on developing ethical and leadership dimensions, with opportunities available for experiential learning, individual research, and student projects. Personalized advising and career counseling opportunities are available for all students.

Extending beyond the undergraduate classroom to influence the quality of life, graduate and continuing education programs support life-long learning. Programs at the master's level are available in accounting, business administration, education, and family and consumer sciences. The International Program expands both the service capability and the cultural diversity of the university. Chairs of excellence in free enterprise, food and fiber industries, and community banking, together with Tennessee's Center of Excellence for Science and Mathematics Education, assist the campus in its extension into the business and educational community.

UT Martin enhances the educational, cultural, and economic life of the region, serving as a focal point for a full range of University of Tennessee programs and services. Agricultural advancement; business, economic, and educational development; and provision of a wide range of professional services oriented to non-urban public and private sector organizations are key areas of campus commitment. Among both students and area residents, the university serves as a center for cultural understanding and fosters an appreciation of the arts. In all its varied teaching roles and in its scholarly activity, UT Martin works to generate solutions to problems and to promote human understanding.

As it pursues all activities in support of its mission, the university is committed to Affirmative Action and other programs which contribute to cultural and ethnic diversity of the campus.

History

Higher education began on the University of Tennessee at Martin campus as Hall-Moody Institute, which was established by the Baptists of Martin in 1900. The property was acquired by the University of Tennessee in 1927, and UT Junior College was established. UT Junior College became a senior college in 1951. Named "The University of Tennessee Martin Branch," it offered bachelor's degree programs in agriculture and home economics. In 1967, the institution officially became The University of Tennessee at Martin and since that time, has grown to offer degree programs in more than 80 specialized fields of study.

Location

UT Martin is situated in Northwest Tennessee, about 125 miles northeast of Memphis and 150 miles northwest of Nashville, and within 50 miles of many popular recreation areas. Tennessee's only natural lake, scenic Reelfoot Lake, offers opportunities for fishing, hiking and other nature experiences. Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River, and its Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area, offer opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking and water sports. Natchez Trace State Park, Shiloh National Cemetery, and Ft. Donelson National Monument are also nearby.

Academic Programs

UT Martin offers baccalaureate degree programs in more than 80 specialized fields. Master's degrees are offered in accounting and business administration, counseling and teacher education, and family and consumer sciences.

National Accreditations

The University of Tennessee at Martin places great importance on achieving accreditation for all eligible academic programs from their appropriate governing bodies. These programs are recognized as maintaining high standards that qualify graduates for the best job opportunities. UT Martin holds accreditation from the following agencies:

• The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
• The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
• The American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business- The International Association for Management Education
• The American Chemical Society
• The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
• The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
• The Council of Social Work Education
• The National Association of Schools of Music
• The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
• The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission

Educational Goals for our Students

To ensure that each student who graduates from UT Martin with a baccalaureate degree is fully equipped to succeed in the work force, the university's faculty has committed to helping students demonstrate appropriate mastery of the following goals:

• Communication Skills - To demonstrate an acceptable standard of literacy in the English language, including facility in the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking; to communicate effectively in graphic, numerical or other symbol systems.
• Reasoning Skills - To think logically; to analyze and solve a wide variety of problems (scientific, mathematical, social, personal), including problem definition, generation of possible hypotheses, collection of data, logical analysis of results, implementation of solutions, reasoning by analogy, abstract conceptualization, synthesis and integration of knowledge.
• Aesthetic Awareness - To experience and appreciate the arts; to be aware of life's aesthetic qualities.
• Awareness of Values - To clarify one's personal ethical or value system; to understand the values implicit in various fields of study.
• Historical Perspective - To possess a sense of history, including the history of one's culture and society and the history of one's field of academic specialization; to appreciate historical forces and traditions underlying contemporary experience.
• Multicultural Awareness - To appreciate cultural diversity; to be informed about other cultures within the United States as well as different cultural and ethnic groups around the world; to understand different philosophies and cultures; to take multiple perspectives in human relations.
• Proficiency in a Major - To achieve proficiency in a specialized body of knowledge.

Facilities and Housing

Students will find UT Martin's spacious 450-acre campus and 46 academic and support buildings and residence facilities convenient and comfortable. Residence hall facilities for 2,415 single students, as well as 256 apartments for married students and faculty members are on campus.

Services to Students

The following offices work in cooperation with UT Martin's Division of Student Affairs, helping students adjust to their new and growing responsibilities.

• Admissions
• Campus Events and Service Learning
• Campus Recreation
• Counseling and Career Services
• Dining Services
• Housing and Residential Life
• International Programs
• Student Financial Assistance
• Student Health Services
• Student Life

The Division of Academic Affairs coordinates programs and services related to academic advising and learning assistance. Professors who are assigned as advisors provide academic counseling. Besides the many kinds of assistance provided by academic departments and individual faculty and staff members, UT Martin offers coordinated learning support through Academic Support Services.

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