During the quarterly meeting of the East Tennessee State University Board of Trustees today, board members received reports of continued growth at the university. Overall enrollment for the spring 2023 semester is up from last year and ETSU’s spring graduate enrollment is the highest it has been in nearly a decade. Graduate enrollment numbers reached 2,396 this spring with master’s programs in computer science, information systems and public health seeing the largest growth. The university also launched a new doctor of occupational therapy program this academic year, which enrolled its first cohort of students.
“Students – and employers – understand that a degree from ETSU offers tremendous opportunities for career development and growth,” Dr. Sharon James McGee, dean of College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, said. “The workforce is constantly changing, and so we have designed our programs to not only teach students the in-demand technical skills they need today, but also to develop the critical-thinking and lifelong-learning skills they will need to succeed long-term in an ever-evolving world. Many of our programs can be completed on an accelerated timeline or on flexible schedules, allowing adults with other commitments to balance school, work and life.”
ETSU personnel also reported a monumental increase in research and development (R&D) expenditures. R&D expenditures for fiscal year 2022 exceeded $23 million, up from $18.5 million in fiscal year 2021; both of which are record highs for the institution. ETSU ranked among the top 300 research universities in the U.S. for the first time since 2003. Total sponsored program awards to the university exceeded $70 million in fiscal year 2022. When COVID funds are excluded from FY21, this is an institutional record.
“R2 institutions play a critical role for communities,” Dr. Nick Hagemeier, ETSU’s vice provost for research and chief Research officer, said. “We are charged with conducting cutting-edge research while also devoting significant resources and attention to teaching and outreach. Since its founding, ETSU has excelled in our teaching practice, providing engaging instruction to our students. Now, we are emerging as an outstanding center for research, which will not only enhance student learning, but also accelerate growth and innovation in our communities.”
One research area ETSU hopes to grow is the study of synthetic biology. Trustees heard updates on a new synthetic biology minor the university will launch in the fall of 2023 and efforts to create seamless pathways for high school students interested in this in-demand career field through a program called “BioBuilder,” originally developed by MIT.
“Working with MIT, the Niswonger Foundation and industry partners, we are helping to bring more BioBuilder programs to high schools throughout Northeast Tennessee” Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, ETSU’s provost and senior vice president for Academics, said. “I am also proud of the work the ETSU Research Corporation is undertaking to facilitate alignment with employers in this rapidly growing industry. We believe our region can be a leader in developing the biotechnology workforce.”
Research activity also aligns with the university’s focus on providing students with real-world experience through partnerships with the community – a hands-on approach to education that ETSU is working to expand over the next five years. During today’s meeting, Vice Provost for Community Engagement Dr. Susan McCracken told trustees the goal is for at least half of all students to have a hands-on, community-engaged learning experience during their first year of college and for the majority of students to have participated in these experiences by the time they graduate. Community-engaged learning experiences can take the form of internships, hands-on class projects, volunteer service or research and creative activities.
“We use a lot of terms in higher education,” McCracken said. “But at the end of the day, what we want is for students to have really rich, hands-on experiences and to be able to do that in a way that expands their career skills while making a positive impact in our region.”