UTC campus begins series aimed at an "Engaged University in Metropolitan Mission"
In a recent visit to campus, The Executive Director of the Tennessee
Higher Education Commission said that while the scarcity of resources
for higher education has never been more extreme, it has never been more
important for students in Tennessee to get a college education.
“We ought to be cautiously optimistic about the outlook for higher
education in Tennessee,” said Dr. Rich Rhoda.
Rhoda said institutions of higher education can no longer depend solely
on the state to underwrite students’ education. “Tennessee
institutions will be more successful fulfilling their missions rather
than expanding their missions” Rhoda said. He added that UTC was “doing
the right thing” in terms of fulfilling its mission:
“The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will serve
as a national model for an engaged metropolitan university whose faculty,
staff, and
students,
in collaboration with external partners, employ the intellectual resources
of the liberal arts and professional programs to enrich the lives of
those we serve.”
Rhoda’s talk was the first in a series regarding the "Engaged
University in Metropolitan Mission." Three upcoming sessions will
be held from Noon-1:30 p.m. at the University Center, Chickamauga
Room. Faculty, staff, students and the general public are welcome.
A ‘thought leader’ will begin at 12:15 p.m. with a
presentation, followed by questions and discussion.
“Last fall we talked about the importance of good communication.
We agreed that we ought to try to schedule opportunities for as many
as could to
engage in conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing
UTC as we serve the people of Tennessee. We benefit from conversations
about mission. We benefit from conversations about how others articulate
mission, what strategies they use to accomplish mission and goals, and
how they handle the fiscal squeeze that seems to affect all state budgets.
We benefit from reviewing our fiscal priorities," Chancellor Bill Stacy.
Please plan to attend these other sessions:
- February 16 - Carolyn Mahoney of Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina, “The Engaged Metropolitan University and Curricular Strategies”
- February 24 - Jim Rooney, CEOs for Cities, “Higher Education—Civic Partnerships in Urban and Regional Economic Development”
- March 16 - Doug Henton, Collaborative Economics, Inc., “Stewardship of Place and the Metropolitan University”
- March 24 - Barbara Holland, National Service-Learning Clearinghouse and Metropolitan Universities Journal, "Engagement as a Force for Change in Higher Education: The Case of the Metropolitan University"
An expanded session on March 24 and 25 featuring Barbara Holland of the National Service Learning Clearinghouse will examine engagement. This session will require registration and fee payment prior to the event. Please call Wilma Elliot (423) 425-2177 for more information. Holland's session is part of the Chancellor's Metropolitan forum.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chancellor's Metropolitan Forum
“Higher Education Engaged in Metropolitan Mission”
March 24 – 25, 2004
For more information, please call the
Office of the Special Assistant
to the Chancellor at (423)425-2177.