This medallion bearing the “University of Tennessee President’s Seal” is worn by the UT System President for commencement ceremonies. It was originally designed by UT architect Malcolm Rice for the inauguration of Dr. Andy Holt in 1960. The three words in the center signify the qualities of a UT president—vision, character and energy. The silver overlay depicts a Gordian knot being cut by a sword, a leaping flame signifying the torch of knowledge and a quill representing the power of the written word.
From the President
The promise of Tennessee’s future and that of the University of Tennessee are inextricably linked. As we achieve greater success in delivering high-quality education to greater numbers of Tennesseans, the state of Tennessee will be poised for greater opportunity for generations to come.
Each year, student leaders from our campuses gather, and I relish the opportunity to hear about what’s important to them, to answer their questions and to get their perspective on our University.
Implementation of the UT System Strategic Plan is in its second year, and progress on each of the five goals is tracked using an online dashboard.
The Five Strategic Goals
Enhancing Educational Excellence
Expanding Research Capacity
Fostering Outreach and Engagement
Ensuring Effectiveness and Efficiency
Advocating for the University of Tennessee System
Gov Haslam's Drive to 55 initiative gives us even greater incentive to increase our graduation and retention rates. UT's undergraduate campuses have the top four graduation rates among public universities in Tennessee.
“The UT System’s delivery of education, discovery, outreach and public service contributes to the economic, social and environmental well-being of all Tennesseans.”
– University of Tennessee System Mission Statement
EDUCATE
New Buildings and New Ways to Teach Students Across Tennessee
The University of Tennessee offers more than 40 online academic programs and 600 online courses. Professor Richard Griffi n at UT Martin has been teaching online since 1998.
UT is evaluating new forms of teaching through contracts with Coursera and edX. Our faculty and students are testing these platforms over the next 18 months to determine future use. Read More »
Construction on Campus
Construction continues on UTC’s new library. Opening next year, the library will be the new center of campus. Read More »
PC Inventor Returns to UT
We’re proud of successful alumni like Mark Dean, who left IBM to teach engineering at UT Knoxville this year. Dr. Dean is a co-inventor of the personal computer and holds more than 40 patents. Read More »
Learning by Practice
The country’s largest dental simulation lab is located at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis. The lab was expanded this summer to include 36 simulation units. Read More »
Faculty and Student Research Leads to Better Outcomes and Lifestyles
Was there water on Mars? Associate Professor Linda Kah at UT Knoxville is part of NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover team analyzing whether the planet once had flowing water. They believe it did.
Dr. Edward Chaum at UTHSC has come up with a way to help diabetics save their sight. With a colleague at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Chaum created a camera that sends a photo of the patient’s retina to a database to check for disease. Read More »
Research Partnerships
UT is co-manager of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the lab’s largest research collaborator. This important partnership is chronicled in the book Breaking the Mold, published this year. Read More »
Saving Southeastern Dairies
The UT Institute of Agriculture is leading a six-state project to boost the dairy industry by improving herd health, milk quality and quantity by lowering the cases of mastitis. This is one of the many ways UT brings solutions to industry. Read More »
Mocs Express Makeover
UTC engineering students helped boost school spirit with a redo of the Mocs Express that made it safer and cooler with new lights and sounds. Read More »
The UT Center for Industrial Services celebrated its 50th year. CIS provides assistance to more than 400 manufacturers and averages $600 million in economic impact a year. Read More »
Top Facility with Top Faculty
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis has been a top children’s facility for three years in a row. UT faculty make up most of the specialties in the U.S. News ranking. Read More »
College Crime Fighters
The UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center and UT Martin teamed up to offer courses for college students patterned after the NFA’s training for professional law enforcement officers and the FBI. Read More »
Open Resources for a Great National Park
If you want to learn about the Great Smoky Mountains, visit the UT Libraries website’s free online collection of materials published about the park since its founding. Read More »
Financials / Sources of Current Funds for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013
FEDERAL AND LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS $21,019,619.54
Appropriations received in support of the University's land-grant mission, used primarily by the Agricultural Experiment Station and Tennessee Extension.
INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS $75,450,787.11
Revenues collected from UT Medical Center in Knoxville and the UT Foundation for leased employees.
OTHER $117,622,056.38
Revenues generated from sources not included in other classifications, such as sales and services by University departments and investment income.
AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES $189,480,242.43
Revenues from operations of auxiliary activities such as housing, dining halls, bookstores, parking and UT Knoxville athletics.
TUITION AND FEES $364,214,433.24
Revenues collected from students; includes resident enrollment fees, program and service fees, extension enrollment fees and other fees.
STATE APPROPRIATIONS $448,259,216.43
Legislative appropriations from the Tennessee General Assembly for current operations of the University.
GIFTS, GRANTS, AND CONTRACTS $610,654,412.28
Revenues from federal and non-federal granting entities and gifts restricted for specific purposes, primarily for sponsored research and training activities.
Financials / Uses of Current Funds for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013
LONG TERM DEBT & OTHER TRANSFERS $19,008,676.84
Mandatory transfers for debt service and other transfers.
INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS $77,039,115.21
Expenditures for leased employees for UT Medical Center in Knoxville and the UT Foundation.
STUDENT SERVICES $79,301,260.77
Expenditures for student services including admissions, registrar, student activities, counseling, career guidance, student aid administration and health services.
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT $97,084,988.92
Expenditures for executive management, nancial operations, personnel services, security, public relations, development activities and alumni relations.
PHYSICAL PLANT $109,791,672.29
Expenditures for the operation and maintenance of physical plant including utilities and service related to grounds and facilities.
PUBLIC SERVICE $122,668,764.48
Expenditures for non-instructional programs bene cial to individuals and groups external to the University.
AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES $137,737,751.27
Activities that furnish goods and services to students, faculty and staff. Includes mandatory transfers for debt service.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT $146,225,505.81
Expenditures for libraries, computing support and academic administration.
STUDENT AID $231,355,444.08
Scholarships and Fellowships awarded to students.
RESEARCH $255,954,699.86
Direct expenditures for sponsored research activities funded from federal, state, local and private sources.
INSTRUCTION $563,554,303.61
Includes all expenditures, including faculty and staff salaries incurred in connection with instruction programs for credit and non-credit courses.
Financials / Investments Benefiting the University
During the 2013 fiscal year, total funds invested for the benefit of UT grew to $963 million from $869 million. Solid investment performance by nearly every asset class in which the University invests helped produce
the $94 million increase. Credit-related investments as well as natural resource holdings were particularly strong. In contrast, high-grade bonds (traditional "safe-haven" investments) produced negative returns due to a significant rise in interest rates over the period.
Historical funds available to the University of Tennessee at fiscal year-end are displayed in the accompanying chart. As of June 30, 2013, total Endowments were $684 million; Chairs of Excellence, $123 million; the University of Chattanooga Foundation, $112 million; and Life Income Trusts were $44 million.
The majority of University endowments, $672 million, is invested through the University's Consolidated Investment Pool. This vehicle was established in 1954 to allow for diversification and efficient investment of all endowed assets, regardless of their size. The long-term goal of the pooled endowment investment program is to provide a sustainable level of support for the University programs, while preserving the real purchasing power of the endowments for the future in perpetuity. Over the last 12 months, the pool generated a total return of 12.3% and +6.7% over the ten-year period. During the fiscal year, it distributed $28 million, a modest increase from the $26.4 million in the prior year. The distribution rate is calculated using a rolling calendar three-year average of the pool's market value. This rolling average method helps smooth out market volatility and changes in expense ratios from year to year. The actual rate is equal to 4.5% of that three-year rolling average.
Finally, the Tennessee Chairs of Excellence distributed $3.7 million, and the University of Chattanooga Foundation provided $6.4 million for the fiscal 12 months. Both of these categories are managed outside the pool. The Chairs of Excellence are administered by the treasurer of the state of Tennessee for the benefit of all UT campuses. The University of Chattanooga Foundation, affiliated with the University of Tennessee, is managed by its foundation board and supports programs at UT Chattanooga only.
Implementation of the UT System Strategic Plan is in its second year, and progress on each of the five goals is tracked using an 
