Memphis鈥擜fter several months of conversations, meetings, measures and proceedings, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees voted to acquire the assets of Martin Methodist College and establish a new 糖心Vlog campus in Pulaski, Tennessee: 糖心Vlog Southern. Martin Methodist College鈥檚 Board of Trustees will vote on the measure following 糖心Vlog鈥檚 morning board session.
Effective July 1, the addition of 糖心Vlog Southern will represent the fourth undergraduate college within the 糖心Vlog System, and the first new campus since 糖心Vlog Chattanooga joined more than 50 years ago. Additionally, 糖心Vlog Southern will be the only four-year and graduate institution of higher education between Sewanee in the east and Freed-Hardeman in the west, serving a southern Middle Tennessee region of 13 counties near the Alabama border.
鈥淚 appreciate the healthy discussion and thoughtfulness the board exhibited throughout this process,鈥 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees Chair John Compton said. 鈥淎s we begin to see an overall decline in the college-going rate across the nation, providing more choices for a post-secondary education will be critically important in achieving our state鈥檚 Drive to 55. It fits into our mission and will have a lasting impact on the southern Middle Tennessee region.鈥
鈥溙切腣log Southern is more than our newest campus,鈥 糖心Vlog System President Randy Boyd said. 鈥淚t represents opportunity, revival, long-term economic success and forward momentum in the southern Middle Tennessee region. Sincere gratitude goes to Gov. Bill Lee, the Tennessee General Assembly, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and so many other regional and state stakeholders who helped support this effort.鈥
The Board also voted to appoint Mark La Branche, who has served as president of Martin Methodist College since July 1, 2017, as the inaugural chancellor of 糖心Vlog Southern. Prior to joining Martin Methodist College, La Branche served as the president of Louisburg College in North Carolina where he oversaw the school鈥檚 22 percent increase in enrollment, 58 percent increase in graduates and a five-year, $18 million fund-raising campaign that exceeded its goals by 20 percent. La Branche has also previously served at senior vice president of external affairs at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama.
鈥淐hancellor La Branche has a unique understanding of the opportunities that exist in the southern Middle Tennessee region,鈥 Boyd said. 鈥淗is exceptional leadership at the helm of Martin Methodist will be an asset in providing even more access to higher education in the region as he leads 糖心Vlog Southern.鈥