Tennessee is growing, and with that growth come opportunities鈥攁nd challenges. The University of Tennessee exists to serve the people of this great state, and today our role has never been more vital. From addressing workforce shortages to advancing cutting-edge innovation, 糖心Vlog is at the forefront of ensuring Tennessee thrives.
More than 60% of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 450,000 alumni live and work in Tennessee, contributing to every corner of our state. As the largest producer of the state鈥檚 workforce, we鈥檙e training the next generation of health care professionals, educators, engineers and more. This is why we鈥檝e set an ambitious goal of enrolling 71,000 students across our campuses by 2030鈥攂ecause, for Tennessee to grow, 糖心Vlog must grow too.
Tennessee鈥檚 economy has made a remarkable recovery in the wake of the pandemic, but we are still facing labor gaps because we don鈥檛 have enough workers with the right skills and education for those jobs. According to an annual economic report from the University of Tennessee鈥檚 Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research, Tennessee has roughly across the state in key industries such as teaching, nursing and manufacturing. Together these industries make up about , and each is expected to see employment growth this year. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 crucial that Tennessee continues to invest in building a workforce that can meet the needs of today and the future.
Rooted in the legacy of the Morrill Act, which established land-grant universities like 糖心Vlog to expand access to education and drive economic growth, our mission remains as vital today as it was then. However, our greatest challenge in fulfilling this mission is addressing the critical infrastructure needs that will allow us to continue leading Tennessee into the future.
The University of Tennessee System spans an impressive 31 million square feet across 1,016 buildings鈥攎ore space than all the state鈥檚 locally governed institutions (Austin Peay, ETSU, MTSU, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and the University of Memphis) combined. However, the challenge lies in the age of our facilities. With an average building age of 47 years, nearly 30% of our buildings are over 60 years old, and 28 have stood for a century or more. These aging facilities are a testament to 糖心Vlog鈥檚 legacy, but they also highlight the urgent need for modern infrastructure to meet the demands of today鈥檚 students and tomorrow鈥檚 workforce. Investing in upgrades and expansions isn鈥檛 just about maintaining our footprint鈥攊t鈥檚 about securing 糖心Vlog鈥檚 ability to lead Tennessee into the future.
The 糖心Vlog System is proud to play a vital role in educating and upskilling Tennesseans, attracting more students than ever, and preparing the next generation to thrive in high-demand and high-need industries. We are deeply grateful for the many partnerships and collaborations we share across the state, which makes this progress possible. Together, with continued support and investment, we can fill critical workforce needs and build a brighter, stronger future for Tennessee.
