Tennessee

Tennessee universities, typically rivals, come together to encourage college enrollment

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2023

Tennessee universities, typically rivals, come together to encourage college enrollment

Ten public universities across Tennessee announced a joint campaign to promote awareness of the value of earning a four-year degree.

The consortium of schools kicked off its “Four the Future” campaign Tuesday that features billboards, TV spots and digital media. The campaign will also include community meetings across the state. The unifying theme of the campaign is emblazoned across all its ads: “Tennessee universities support Tennessee communities.”

“From Memphis to Mountain City, one of the hallmarks of Tennessee has always been our strong higher-education system, and this is an investment in our state,” UT System President Randy Boyd said in a campaign news release. “The goal of this alliance is to share that strength with everyone in the Volunteer State. From business owners to young adults, we want people to know the value of a degree from a public university in Tennessee.”

The campaign marks an unusual move for schools that typically compete for prospective students. It comes amid national declines in enrollment in colleges and universities, driven in part by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, enrollment numbers are slowly beginning to rebound statewide, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

The commission reported college-going rates dipped from 63.8% for the graduating high school class of 2017 to 52.8% for the class of 2021. The class of 2022 saw a slight increase with a 54.3% college-going rate. Data for the class of 2023 is not yet available. Public universities and community colleges saw a 2.2% bump in enrollment in Tennessee this fall. The University of Tennessee reported an all-time high enrollment, while several others posted significant gains.

‘A workforce crisis’

But the campaign is not just about enrollment — it’s also about workforce development and economic growth.

“We have a workforce crisis in our state and our country,” materials released by the campaign said. “At the same time that we need a more highly trained workforce, the number of students going to college is nationally declining.”

Around 70% of Tennessee business leaders said there are not enough appropriately trained workers for their needs, according to a 2022 survey by UT Knoxville’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. Research also shows that earning a four-year degree can help boost the national economy and help degree holders earn and invest more, work in jobs with fewer safety hazards, forge valuable social connections and achieve economic mobility.

Financial aid awareness is also a key factor in the push by the schools, including a tuition program through Tennessee HOPE.

A look at the universities participating in the campaign

All public colleges and universities in Tennessee were invited to participate in the multiyear campaign. Here are the 10 that joined:

Austin Peay State University (Clarksville)
East Tennessee State University (Johnson City)
Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro)
Tennessee State University (Nashville)
Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville)
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Tennessee, Martin
University of Tennessee, Southern (Pulaski)

The campaign costs $1.5 million for its first phase, with each university contributing part of the cost in proportion with its enrollment. The University of Memphis is the only school that did not join the campaign.

“In light of our recently deployed Ascend Strategic Plan and the ongoing reorganizations occurring at our institution, the University of Memphis has opted not to participate in the statewide value of education campaign,” interim executive vice president for university relations Leah Jones said. “The UofM offers its support to the campaign and the participating institutions.”

What university leaders are saying about the campaign

The campaign shared input from several university presidents as their efforts got underway. Here’s some of what they had to say:

“Many of our students are the first in their families to go to college, and you can see the positive results through the stories of our graduates. They become business leaders, scientists, medical professionals, artists, engineers and government leaders. These graduates help our state and regional economies continue to thrive.”

-Michael Licari, president, Austin Peay State University

“East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular purpose: to improve the quality of life for people in our region and beyond … Tennessee’s public universities are here to serve the people of this great state, and our higher-education system is among the best in the nation. At ETSU, we strive to make a positive impact in the lives of all Tennesseans, even those who never set foot on our campus.”

-Brian Noland, president, East Tennessee State University

“Tennessee State is proud to be a part of this first-of-its-kind campaign with the other public universities in the state … As a university that has a unique mission of ensuring equitable opportunities for students of color, we are proud to stand with our peers in this campaign. As Tennessee grows, it’s imperative that our students from all backgrounds take part in that growth.”

-Glenda Glover, president, Tennessee State University

“Tennessee’s public universities like Tennessee Tech are not simply preparing workers for jobs, we are preparing leaders for careers. When students entrust four years of their time and resources to Tennessee’s public universities, we multiply that to provide them the knowledge, skills and talents to last a lifetime … There is no better investment one can make in their future than a four-year public university degree.”

-Phil Oldham, president, Tennessee Tech University

“A bachelor’s degree increases the life trajectory of not only those who earn them, but also their families. That is why we are proud to be part of this unprecedented message, delivered loud and clear by our state’s leading public universities, of the great value, tremendous worth and tangible benefits of a four-year college degree.”

-Sidney A. McPhee, president, Middle Tennessee State University

Learn more

Information on the campaign, research and data on college enrollment and four-year degrees, and a wide variety of resources can be found at FourTheFutureTN.com.

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Tennessee

Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

Published

7 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

The Tennessee Titans are just one day away from their next matchup against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

The Titans are looking for their first win since Week 9, when they beat the New England Patriots at home. In the last two weeks, Tennessee has lost by double digits to strong playoff-contending teams, and this week might not be much different against the first-place Texans.

CBS Sports writer Pete Prisco believes the Titans’ struggles will continue, falling 31-21 to the Texans.

“The Texans are playing on a short week, but they looked better on offense against Dallas with Nico Collins back. The Titans will have trouble stopping them this week, so look for the Texans and C.J. Stroud to play well. Will Levis won’t keep up,” Prisco writes.

The Titans will have to stop Houston’s multi-dimensional offense with Joe Mixon on the ground and Collins and Tank Dell through the air. Tennessee has the No. 2 overall defense this season, so it should provide a good test for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense, but it still doesn’t make them a favorite.

If the Titans want to win against the Texans, they will have to pressure Stroud and take advantage of their offensive line, which has proven to be suspect at times during the season.

When it comes to the Titans’ offense, it needs to take care of the ball. Giving the Texans shorter fields will be the easiest way to lose the game, so if the Titans can prevent the Texans from scoring up close on short drives, they will have a chance to be competitive against their division rival.

Kickoff between the Titans and Texans is set for 12 noon CT tomorrow. The game can be watched on CBS or streamed on Paramount+.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee

Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

Published

16 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

There was a reason Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley didn’t make any trips to Knoxville during the home stretch of Ensworth’s season.

Utley wanted to be fully locked into the Tigers’ TSSAA football playoffs run.

That’s one reason why Friday’s tearful postgame was so difficult. McCallie ended Ensworth’s season, defeating the Tigers 31-7 to advance to the Division II-AAA state final on Dec. 5 in Chattanooga against Baylor.

Utley, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound four-star defensive lineman, doesn’t know if he’ll enroll early at Tennessee yet. He hasn’t been thinking that far ahead. Everything lately, he said, was about the Tigers trying to reach their first TSSAA football state championship game since 2014.

“It hurts and it will hurt for a while. My mind was set on going to the state championship,” Utley said. “All the personal stuff, it doesn’t really matter. I knew Ensworth was going to be my home and where I would graduate from. I never wanted to transfer. My seniors and I gave it everything we could and just fell short.”

Ensworth (11-1) trailed just 7-0 at halftime. McCallie (10-2) began to put the game out of reach when Vanderbilt commitment Carson Lawrence returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown to go up 21-7 with 10:46 left.

Utley, who appeared in all 45 of Ensworth’s games since the beginning of his freshman season, played through an injury most of the second half until the pain became too much. He said he was kneed in one of his nerves in his right shin. He was helped to the bench by Ensworth staffers late in the fourth quarter.

“I told myself if it has to end this way, I’m going to have to get dragged off this field,” Utley said. “And that’s what happened.”

Utley is the No. 3 prospect from Tennessee in the 2025 class and No. 21 defensive lineman nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He intends to sign with the Volunteers when the early period begins Dec. 4.

“He’s super athletic for his size, very smart,” Ensworth coach Tim Hasselbeck said. “Depending on how he wants to change his body in the weight room, how he eats, he’ll figure out what position he’ll play. I think he could play on either side of the ball. He’s got a very bright future.”

Utley was an easy teammate to get along with, Hasselbeck said. That’s where Utley’s focus was Friday as he hugged players on the field one last time.

But he knows a big stage awaits in Knoxville.

“I’m excited for the competition. I’m grateful to be able to go play Division I football in the SEC. Most kids can’t say they can go do that,” Utley said. “I’ve been through some hard times. For that to be my next step, I’m more than blessed. When I get healthy and get my body right, get back in that weight room, get back on the field and start attacking it more, I’ll start getting ready for the bigger things ahead.”

Get the latest news and insight on High School football recruiting and local high school sports with The Bootleg newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.

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Titans RB Out vs. Texans

Published

24 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

The Tennessee Titans are finishing up their practice runs before facing the Houston Texans in Week 12, but there is a key player on the offense who won’t be making the trip to the Lone Star State.

According to team reporter Jim Wyatt, running back Tyjae Spears has been ruled out for the team’s game against the Texans as he has yet to clear the league’s concussion protocol.

Spears, a second-year pro out of Tulane, has been bit many times by the injury bug this season. The Week 12 contest will mark Spears’ fourth game missed this season.

So far this season, Spears has ran the ball 43 times for 161 yards and a touchdown.

With Spears out, starting running back Tony Pollard will continue to have a bulk of the carries while Julius Chestnut and Josh Kelley handle backup duties.

Also out for the Titans is offensive tackle Leroy Watson IV. Linebacker Jack Gibbens and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed are also ruled out on the injury report, but both of them will be placed on injured reserve.

Kickoff between the Titans and Texans is set for 12 noon CT on Sunday inside NRG Stadium.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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