To be the university of choice in the region and the best regional university in the nation.

Mission Statement

•    Educate students to become responsible, enlightened, and productive citizens;
•    Conduct scholarship that improves the human condition;
•    Serve business, education, government, health care systems, and community; and
•    Enhance the cultural environment of the region.

Institutional Purpose

ETSU is a state-supported, comprehensive, regional university in the State University and Community College System of Tennessee and is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.  Although the majority of students are from Northeast Tennessee and adjacent states, many qualified students from other states and countries also enroll.  ETSU offers programs through nine schools and colleges related to five areas: arts and sciences, business, education, health sciences and services, and technology.  ETSU is committed to providing opportunities for the personal development of all its students, faculty, and staff within a framework of life-long learning.  A viable athletic program is an integral part of the University's commitment to student life.

ETSU affirms the fundamental values of higher education: protecting free interchange of ideas through "academic freedom," promoting curiosity and desire for learning, stimulating thought and self-reflection, and encouraging an ethical society.  The University acts on the belief that educational opportunities should be available to all eligible persons without regard to age, sex, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

ETSU offers broad programming for undergraduates, embracing the philosophy of a liberal education for all, with special programs leading to a primary level of expertise in the arts and sciences and in selected professional fields.  These programs also address needs of students not fully prepared for college-level work, nontraditional students returning to the classroom, and gifted students seeking more challenging educational activities.

ETSU offers graduate programs that provide advanced specialized preparation to meet the needs of the student population while facilitating development of the region.  These include: master's programs in certain academic, technical, and professional fields; doctoral programs in education and in biomedical sciences; and programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree.

ETSU's Division of Health Sciences, composed of the colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Public and Allied Health, serves the state, region, and nation as a comprehensive academic health sciences center.

ETSU faculty are accomplished and practicing scholars, current and active in their disciplines, who incorporate the products of their scholarship in their teaching; in professional publications, exhibits, and performances; and in professional services to business, education, government, and health care providers.

ETSU assumes a leadership role in providing facilities and programs that improve the intellectual, cultural, political, and social environment of Northeast Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region.
 
 

ETSU pursues its mission through a student-centered community of learning reflecting high standards and promoting a balance of liberal arts and professional preparation, continuous improvement, and based on core values where:
 

• PEOPLE come first, are treated with dignity and respect, and are encouraged to achieve their full potential;

• RELATIONSHIPS are built on honesty, integrity, and trust;

• DIVERSITY of people and thought is respected;

• EXCELLENCE is achieved through teamwork, leadership, creativity, and a strong work ethic;

• EFFICIENCY is achieved through wise use of human and financial resources; and

• COMMITMENT to intellectual achievement is embraced.