UT Knoxville to launch bachelor’s in bioinformatics; board hears update on hospitality master’s review

Jamie Woodson, chair, introduced Dr. John Zomchak of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to present academic program approvals.

Dr. Zomchak described the proposed Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics as "mission aligned, workforce driven, and it advances the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's leadership at the intersection of agriculture data science and applied research." He said the program integrates agricultural and environmental science with computer science, requires a capstone and an internship, and would be the first undergraduate bioinformatics degree of its kind in Tennessee.

On costs, Zomchak said the program is designed to be "cost effective and fiscally sustainable" and would require "very low start up costs." He also said projected enrollments combine both newly recruited students and transfers from existing minors and programs.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about whether projected enrollments were new students or internal shifts; Zomchak answered that the projections are a mix of new, transfer and switching students and that the program will draw from existing minors and new recruits.

After discussion a motion was made and the committee approved the bioinformatics bachelor program by voice vote.

Dr. Zomchak also briefed trustees on a previously approved master's program in retail, hospitality and tourism management that THEC returned with questions about market demand and return on investment. He said the curriculum remains unchanged; the team has gathered additional employer letters and industry data (including Lightcast) to address THEC's concerns and expects to resubmit the proposal to THEC in a few months.

The transcript does not show a roll‑call vote tally for the bioinformatics approval; the committee recorded adoption by voice vote.