Members of the Campus Advisory Board of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, heard updates on leadership goals, future growth, investments in the student experience and the trajectory of the Haslam College of Business during a meeting Feb. 7.
Chancellor Donde Plowman opened the meeting with a campus update that focused on the university’s recent momentum and future goals, how the university’s growth helps meet the needs of the state, and what it will take to cement UT’s place as a world-class university.
“There is so much more to do and so much more that Tennessee needs us to do,” Plowman said. “We’re examining what growth means. It’s not just about enrollment; we want more graduates. It’s not just about research awards; we want more discoveries that make a difference in Tennessee.”
She reiterated the university’s commitment to strategic growth that focuses on outcomes. To achieve those goals, the university needs to continue to invest in infrastructure, faculty hiring and career readiness for students, she said.
New Residential Communities
Vice Chancellor for Student Life Frank Cuevas provided updates on new residential communities currently under construction on campus. The new residence halls will help the university build a more dynamic campus student experience and meet the needs of a growing student body while providing students with affordable campus housing options.
Beacon Hall, between Caledonia and Terrace Avenues, will add 1,166 beds to the university’s housing inventory. Poplar Hall, at the intersection of Andy Holt Avenue and 20th Street, will have a capacity of 788 beds. Both halls are nearing 75% completion and are expected to open in fall 2025.
A third new residence hall, Torchbearer Hall, will add more than 1,000 new beds and is expected to open in fall 2026. It will be located at the corner of Lake Loudoun and Volunteer Boulevards.
Student Engagement and Success
Cuevas said students are engaged on campus and actively participating in programs and events hosted by the Division of Student Life. There were more than 38,000 total attendees at 146 Student Life events in the fall 2024 semester.
“Student Life is not just about hosting events — it’s about fostering an environment where every student has the opportunity to learn, lead and serve,” Cuevas said. “Continuous innovation and a commitment to the success of every student enrich the campus experience, turning Rocky Top into a destination campus where all Vols can thrive.”
Cuevas highlighted recent achievements and contributions from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Greek organizations now make up 29% of the university’s undergraduate population. Sorority and fraternity members completed more than 100,000 hours of community service in 2024, an increase of more than 21% over 2023. Greek organizations also contributed more than $1 million in philanthropic donations in 2024, an increase of almost 36% from 2023.
Student Life is working to take its impact and support of students to the next level with new tools and initiatives, including wearable devices to help manage stress, innovative internship opportunities, and expanded access to basic needs through a basic needs vending machine. The machine provides students with convenient access to essentials like hygiene products, food and community resources.
Haslam College of Business Success and Growth
Steve Mangum, Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair and dean of the Haslam College of Business, described the college’s tremendous growth, with more students choosing it for their education than ever before.
“At the Haslam College of Business, we strive to provide employers with graduates who are educated and equipped to succeed by taking on the challenges of the business world from day one,” Mangum said. “Excellence attracts, and more students and businesses are choosing to partner with Haslam than ever before.”
The college boasts partnerships with industry and employers, high-quality faculty, high-achieving students and top-tier learning environments. A new building currently under construction will support the college’s enrollment growth — which has doubled to more than 9,100 undergraduates over the past decade — and promote even more collaboration among students, instructors and industry partners.
The building is expected to open in fall 2027.
The college and its programs continue to rank among the best in the country and in North America. UT placed No. 1 in North America for graduate supply chain management programs and No. 2 in North America for undergraduate programs in Gartner’s 2024 Top 25 Supply Chain University rankings. The college is ranked No. 25 among public business schools in the most recent U.S. News and World Report’s Best Undergraduate Programs rankings.
About the Board
The Campus Advisory Board was created in 2018 when the Tennessee General Assembly passed the UT FOCUS Act, restructuring the UT Board of Trustees and creating an advisory board for each campus in the UT System. The board is charged with making campus-level recommendations to the UT Board of Trustees on strategic planning, operating budgets and tuition, as well as advising the chancellor.
Public members of the advisory board are Allen Carter of Niota, Alexia Poe of Nashville, Todd Skelton of Knoxville, Tom Smith of Nashville and John Tickle of Bristol.
The Faculty Senate-appointed member is Elisabeth Shussler, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The student appointee is Dane Grayson, a fourth-year undergraduate student and student body president.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Tyra Haag (865-974-5460, tyra.haag@tennessee.edu)