Enrollment Target for 2030.  The UT System and UT Board of Trustees are developing a comprehensive UT System Enrollment Management Plan.  The enrollment goal for UTC is 14,800 total student headcount by 2030.  This will break out to approximately 13,200 undergraduates and 1,600 graduate students.

Strategic Plan Development.  Setting a 2030 enrollment target is timely since we are preparing to kick off the development of our new Strategic Plan for 2025 – 2030.  We are in the process of assembling a steering committee and timeline that will end with the submission of a final draft plan to the UT Board of Trustees in February 2025.  We will have multiple opportunities for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members to provide input and ideas as we define the direction and goals for the remainder of this decade.

New Vice Chancellor.  Dr. Artanya Wesley officially joins us on Monday, Feb. 5, as our Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.  Her experience and expertise will be critical as we develop our new strategic plan.  A huge thank you to Interim Vice Chancellor Stacie Grisham for providing outstanding leadership for EMSA for the past six months.

Strategy Team Formed.  We are fortunate to have talented leaders throughout our campus.  To help us be as effective and efficient as possible, we have formed the Strategy Team.  This team meets every other Wednesday and includes the chancellor, vice chancellors, deans, associate provosts and UTC Research Institute Director.  The Strategy Team brings the top leaders of the campus together to leverage expertise as we make the strategic recommendations and decisions that will define our future.  The vice chancellors and I continue to meet in an operations-focused meeting on Monday mornings.

Blue Ribbon Award Luncheon.  It was an honor hosting the Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award luncheon earlier this week to recognize award recipients from July-December of 2023.  The Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award recognizes employees who have gone above and beyond to display excellent job performance, dependability and innovation while promoting a positive working environment.  All full-time and part-time non-faculty UTC or UC Foundation staff are eligible for the award.  Please submit your nomination by clicking here.

Suggest Improvements for the Blue Ribbon Award.  As part of our Total Organizational Health initiative led by Dr. Chris Cunningham, we are discussing possible changes to the current Blue Ribbon Award program to enhance the impact and value to the recipients and the campus.  If you have ideas for a better name than “Blue Ribbon Award” or changes to the award, send them to me.  In the meantime, we will continue with the current program through June 2024.

Nominate Alumni for Awards.  Our alums are the voice and face of UTC in their communities.  Do you know a UTC alum who is a role model in their industry or community, someone who donates their time and skills to support our University, or a recent graduate progressing in their career?  The online nomination forms for the 2024 UTC Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Service and GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Excellence Awards are open through Wednesday, Feb.14.  Please click here for the nomination forms.

Black History Month.  Today is the first day of Black History Month, which provides an opportunity to highlight Black leaders who have impacted the country and the world with their achievements.  The Office of Multicultural Affairs, in partnership with campus and community organizations, has put together a robust calendar of events throughout the month.  Please check the Black History Month page for the most up-to-date schedule.