Leadership at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, celebrated research excellence, including the hiring of top experts in several fields, and reflected on the exceptional student experience that contributed to record retention and enrollment during the Oct. 2 Campus Advisory Board meeting. The board gathered in Torchbearer Hall, the third new residence hall to open on campus in the past two years.
Chancellor Donde Plowman opened the meeting by highlighting the “It Takes a Volunteer” campaign. The historic fundraising effort seeks to raise $3.5 billion by 2030 to support an unparalleled student experience, advance research that improves lives and help the university lead the way in college athletics.
“I can say enthusiastically that athletics is the front door to the university,” said Plowman. “It is how we reach people and connect with people. We have momentum. This campaign is our chance to harness it, be part of something bigger than ourselves and make a difference for others.”
Plowman told the board that ongoing building projects are moving forward, including new academic buildings and athletics facilities. Construction has begun on the 865 Neyland entertainment district, located between Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, which will be a destination for UT fans, visitors and the Knoxville community.
Enrollment outcomes supporting the state
The university’s commitment to enhancing the student experience has contributed to another year of record retention and enrollment. Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick said retention has risen for the fourth straight year, with 93.1% of first-year students returning for their sophomore year. This fall, enrollment reached a record 41,287. The university experienced growth in first-year, transfer and fully online students, including a 64% increase in undergraduate online students from 2025. Over 80% of undergraduate online students are in-state.
“The university is committed to expanding educational access, preparing our graduates for the workforce of the future and delivering an unparalleled student experience grounded in our Volunteer creed of lighting the way for others,” Zomchick said. “As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant institution, our mission is to serve the people of our state while continuing to attract top talent from across the nation and around the world.”
The university continues to attract applicants from Tennessee. UT’s admittance rate for in-state first-year students in fall 2026 was more than 75%, and 95.5% of Tennessee applicants were offered a guaranteed pathway to attend UT.
Leading researchers joining UT
The university is celebrating the addition of eight exceptional researchers recruited to build on its research strengths and accelerate UT’s impact as a groundbreaking institution for innovation and discovery.
These preeminent hires are leading experts in fields ranging from precision health and advanced computing to nuclear energy and sustainable materials. They will be tackling challenges facing Tennessee and the nation while creating new opportunities for students to learn and prepare for the workforce.
In addition, the university has hired 42 faculty members as part of its five-year, $50 million cluster hiring initiative to recruit groups of faculty working across multiple disciplines.
“The way to grow and build a strong research program is to hire in targeted areas,” said Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development Deb Crawford. “Our preeminent scholars will become builders and leaders on campus, mentors to faculty recruited through the cluster hiring initiative, and drivers of impactful research that makes life and lives better.”
The university surpassed $413 million in research expenditures in 2025, an institutional record, with a goal of hitting $550 million by 2030. Crawford highlighted how UT is working with its partners, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority and Y-12 National Security Complex, to power Tennessee’s nuclear renaissance.
Providing a transformative student experience
Vice Chancellor for Student Life Frank Cuevas highlighted the transformative experiences, support and spaces offered through the Division of Student Life to help students thrive throughout their college experience and succeed after graduation.
“We are creating opportunities for students to connect, build community and engage in the Volunteer experience beyond the classroom,” said Cuevas. “We want our students to thrive, discover their strengths, and have meaningful experiences at the University of Tennessee that enhance their college experience and prepare them to be future leaders.”
Cuevas shared some of the ways students are engaging with the university and wider community:
- Students completed 203,080 hours of community service.
- More than 26,000 students attended 3,414 campus events during the 2025-26 academic year.
- 550 student organizations cover a wide variety of interests.
- More than 10,420 students are members of 50 Greek organizations.
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 board are Allen Carter of Niota, Alexia Poe of Nashville, Tomi Robb of Knoxville, Tom Smith of Nashville and Dane Scism of Knoxville.
The Faculty Senate appointed Howard Hall, a professor of nuclear engineering, to serve as the faculty appointee to the board.
The student appointee is Caroline Marcus, a fourth-year undergraduate business student.
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