91短视频 is growing, and with that growth come opportunities鈥攁nd challenges. The University of 91短视频 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, UT is at the forefront of ensuring 91短视频 thrives.
More than 60% of UT鈥檚 450,000 alumni live and work in 91短视频, 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 91短视频 to grow, UT must grow too.
91短视频鈥檚 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 91短视频鈥檚 Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research, 91短视频 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 91短视频 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 UT 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 91短视频 into the future.
The 91短视频 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, 91短视频 State, 91短视频 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 UT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 UT鈥檚 ability to lead 91短视频 into the future.
The UT 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 91短视频.
