Though he’ll always carry a bit of blue and gold in his heart, Provost Phil Oldham was given a purple and yellow sendoff to celebrate his new role at Tennessee Tech University, where he will become the institution’s ninth President on July 1, 2012.
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Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield presented Oldham with a key to the city. Littlefield and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger proclaimed June 6, 2012, “Phil Oldham Day” with these words:
Whereas: Phillip Oldham has served The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs since 2007; and
Whereas: In this role, he served as an effective liaison between the campus and the community, representing the campus on a number of boards and committees aimed at improving the educational, economic, and cultural development and well-being of this region; and
Whereas: Under his leadership, enrollment at UTC grew 19.6 percent, including five consecutive years of record enrollment; and
Whereas: He led efforts to improve the University’s first-year retention rates, which jumped 12 percent in two years; and
Whereas: During his tenure at UTC, the University’s external grant funding has risen to $12.2 million in fiscal year 2011.
University and community friends also enjoyed remarks and presentations by: UT President Joe DiPietro; Dr. Katie High, UT Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success; Dr. Deborah McAllister, incoming Faculty Senate President; Kim White, President and CEO of RiverCity Company; Bradley Bell, incoming SGA President; and Chancellor Roger Brown.
Very best wishes to Dr. Phil Oldham, his wife Kari and their children!