This fall, UT Martin anticipates welcoming the most academically qualified class of new students in our history. Student services have been enhanced with the completion of eight new apartment-style residence halls during the past three years and should be further energized with the opening of the Student Recreation Center scheduled for January 2010. Several academic facilities have also recently benefited from construction activities which include an expansion of Brehm Hall, renovation of the Business Administration Building, the construction of the new Parsons Center, expansion of the Selmer/McNairy County Center, and the recently approved expansion project for construction of Phase One of the Fine Arts Building.

Reflecting on the 2008-09 academic year, our list of accomplishments is impressive ranging from a record student enrollment, the second highest six-year graduation rate for public universities in Tennessee, our most successful donor support, topping $11 million, and state or regional recognitions for student groups in agriculture, business, chemistry, social work, education, journalism and broadcasting. We are honored to have received successful program reviews in Geosciences, French, Spanish and University Studies. UT Martin ranks as the largest single university provider of dual-enrollment programming to offer college-level course opportunities to students in more than 30 different high schools as well as a growing number of home-school students. We can also take pride in our athletic teams competing in NCAA and NIT post-season action in softball and men’s basketball, respectively. Our storied rodeo program fielded a team completing this season ranked ninth in the nation.

We have made organizational changes in the Divisions of Academic Affairs, Finance and Administration and Student Affairs that will structurally realign academic departments and reshape service units within the university. Recycling efforts have been greatly enhanced by a positive spirit, and I am pleased to report that we now have expanded capacity in a new recycling facility located in the former National Guard motor pool area near transportation services. These efforts are providing both economic and environmental benefit for our campus and community. Progress has also been made toward the creation of an Institute for Civic Engagement, through which we will focus on enhancing our traditionally strong roles in service learning, citizenship building, leadership development and community involvement.

We appreciate the tremendous support that UT Martin receives from the state, UT System, communities and individuals. Our active UT Martin alumni base continues to expand, and greater numbers of alumni are returning to campus or center locations to visit or participate in area meetings. Our successes are truly outstanding and a testament to the hard work of many people, both on and off campus.

Overall, we are improving our capacity to operate within a balance of new growth and established programs, service, development and scholarly initiatives. We look forward to another successful year beginning in August. I continue to be humbled by the capable, positive contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. Economic times will likely remain a challenge, but we are fully capable of continuing on the path to even greater success.