We’re in the Home Stretch!
I want to welcome everyone back to campus. I hope your spring break was fun, safe and relaxing. We are now in a sprint to the end of the semester.
Spring Break was an exciting week for our men’s and women’s basketball teams and our wrestling team. They all participated in post season NCAA Championship Tournaments. All three teams fought hard and made us proud. While we wish the end result could have been different, we are so proud of all they accomplished and how they represent UTC. They’ve shown the nation that UTC is a force to be reckoned with. Go Mocs!
This is the time of year when we review the applications for new students who want to become part of the UTC family in the fall of 2016. The early numbers we’re seeing are excellent. As of last week, we’d received 1256 new freshman applications, which is a 20% increase over the same time last year. Our transfer student applications are up 4%. Our goal is to enroll 2000 new freshmen and 950 new transfer students, and if the current trends continue we’ll make it.
So why are our enrollment numbers looking so good? There are two reasons. First, our admissions staff are doing an outstanding job. Second, it’s because of you. Every person on our campus plays a role in recruiting new students. Facilities workers who help families get around campus with a smile. The students who let tours visit their on-campus apartments. And helpful faculty and staff who give great answers to tough questions. Everyone is involved in student recruitment, and I’m grateful for all that you do to make UTC a very special place.
As outlined in our strategic plan, we’re focused on making sure UTC operates efficiently and effectively, which includes successfully strengthening a number of programs through the consolidation of overlapping administrative functions. In 2015, Geology merged with Biological and Environmental Science, and Physics joined with Chemistry. In both cases, combined departments were established and faculty worked with the department heads to refine the programs and infrastructure.
The next phase of the budget rebalancing effort involves the creation of a new Department of Performing Arts, which combines the Departments of Music and Theater. Budget rebalancing details are online. We now look to the faculty, staff and students of the new Department of Performing Arts to help develop an action plan that will strengthen our programs, attract more performing arts majors, and draw more students into performing arts courses.
It’s no secret that community engagement is a critically important to UTC. We strive to have a positive impact on our community and the world. In one example of, UTC Nursing Student Meghan Duggan recently spent two weeks in Madagascar working on a hospital ship. She participated in life-changing surgeries performed on adults and children. I encourage you to watch this short video about her experience and how it changed her life too. It’s one story of how UTC provides an environment for students to learn outside the classroom and the real-world impact of such an experience.
Don’t forget, if you would like one of our Power C lapel pins, which can’t be purchased in stores, stop by my office in Founders Hall 101 and pick one up from my assistant, Teresa McKinney.