KNOXVILLE — More students who finish their degrees, research that sparks economic development, and programs that reach across the state and around the world are the targets of a strategic plan being introduced by University of Tennessee President John Petersen in Knoxville Thursday.

The event is part of a statewide Campus Leadership tour to share information with campuses and local communities. Petersen will host events in Knoxville in cooperation with Chancellor Loren Crabtree. The event will involve a luncheon with business, civic and legislative leaders as well a presentation and open forum set for 1:30 p.m. at the Hodges library.

This week’s events mark the first public discussion of the plan since the university’s board approved it in June. Setting a strategic vision for UT has been Petersen’s top priority since becoming the University’s 23rd president on July 1, 2004.

A year in the making, the plan sets benchmarks for several defining elements of each focus area, and yearly goals are being set through 2012.

External goals are being set for

• Student Access — Enrollment of underrepresented groups, enrollment overall and student scholarship support.
• Student Success — Graduation rate of underrepresented groups, graduation rates overall and among students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math.
• Research — Annual research expenditures, recruitment of premier faculty, research prizes and faculty membership in prestigious national academies.
• Economic Development — Intellectual property disclosures, patents issued and economic impact of technology transfer.
• Outreach — Patients or clients served through university units, faculty engagement in externally funded outreach, annual expenditures for outreach.
• Globalization — Students with UT-sponsored international study experience; active, formal international collaboration agreements; faculty engaged in sponsored international projects.

Internal goals address faculty salaries and size of administration budget compared to peers, staff salaries compared to market, faculty and staff diversity and awareness of strategic emphasis components.

Petersen met with Chattanooga campus and community leaders today and will visit the Martin campus Wednesday. The tour will culminate in Memphis on August 14.

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Contacts:
Beth Gladden, media relations, bethgladden@tennessee.edu
(865-974-9008, 865-771-1284)
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