UT System president highlights enrollment records, research gains and push for bonding authority

University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd told the system's executive committee that the system set enrollment and research records in 2024, the new DASH enterprise resource planning system is live, and system leaders will press a legislative agenda this spring that includes authority to issue bonds to help cover a multibillion-dollar capital backlog.

At the committee's electronic meeting, Boyd said campus enrollments were up across the system in 2024 and that total research expenditures reached a new high of $484,000,000. He also announced internal initiatives and searches for two chancellors and said system leadership will ask the governor and legislature this year for capital support and recurring funds for several priorities. "We set another record in enrollment across the the system," Boyd said. "And one of the things I'm really excited about is our state of the university event ... we're going to talk not just about the numbers about research, but also about the actual impact that it has."

Why it matters: Boyd framed 2025 as a year to convert recent gains into sustained growth and to reduce delays and costs on construction through two strategic moves: (1) securing permission to bond for some system capital needs so the system can supplement state funding and (2) working with the State Building Commission to allow earlier programming and design work before projects receive final funding. "By being able to start these designs before we're funded could save 18 to 24 months in getting projects completed," Boyd said, adding that earlier design work can reduce inflation-driven cost increases.

Key reporting from the update:

- Enrollment and student access: Boyd listed enrollment increases at multiple campuses (Knoxville +6.6%, Chattanooga +4%, UT Southern +7.6%, Martin +8%) and said UT Promise applications rose 46% after the family-income eligibility threshold was raised. He credited admissions teams, faculty and campus staff for the gains.

- Research and engagement: Boyd said system research spending hit $484 million in 2024 and highlighted a recent investment of $50 million two years earlier directed to agricultural research centers. He said the system will emphasize the real-world impact of research in the upcoming state-of-the-university address.

- DASH ERP launch: Boyd announced that the DASH enterprise system went live on Jan. 6 and called the launch a major administrative accomplishment. "Knock on wood, as of this moment, it's gone. I wouldn't say flawlessly, but you're always going to have a few small things," he said, praising David Miller and staff who led the implementation.

- Chancellor searches and governance: The system will conduct national searches this year for chancellors at UT Southern and UT Chattanooga; Boyd said search committees are formed and a search firm has been hired with finalists expected in spring. Trustees stressed the importance of getting leadership hires right.

- Capital and legislative priorities: Boyd outlined capital requests under consideration for the governor's budget, including a proposed chemistry building at Knoxville (roughly $165 million), a College of Business building at UT Martin (about $80 million) and an expansion to the College of Veterinary Medicine clinic (about $34 million). He said the system is pursuing recurring funds for precision agriculture ($3 million requested) and additional recurring operating support for UT Southern (an estimated $1.9 million) as it phases into the funding formula. Boyd said a funding formula for professional schools' operating needs (for health science and some professional programs) is also a priority.

- Bonding authority and design-before-funding: Boyd said the system is pursuing approval to issue bonds on its own balance sheet to accelerate construction and address roughly $3.5 billion in backlog through 2035. He described the effort as a supplement to, not a replacement for, state capital funding.

Votes and formal action: The committee approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the prior meeting and a resolution appointing a managerial group for U.S. government contracts and adding Dr. Dooley as interim chancellor for UT Chattanooga. The motion was moved and seconded and passed on a roll-call vote conducted because the meeting was electronic.

Other items previewed for the full board meeting in Martin included campus strategic-plan updates, audits and compliance briefings, an IT security review, tuition/tuition-comparison reporting (with the Health Science Center typically presenting earlier), athletics financial reporting, and materials on artificial intelligence policy and new academic programs.

The committee scheduled a follow-up summary of 2025 objectives for Feb. 1 and expects the governor's budget release and the state's state-of-the-state timing to inform the legislative requests. Boyd said the management contract for the system's partnership at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was also awaiting an extension expected within 60 days. The committee adjourned after trustees agreed to finish a board survey for governance benchmarking and prepare for forthcoming legislative reconfirmation hearings.