The Tennessee Grow Your Own Center, a collaboration between the Tennessee Department of Education and the UT System, received a $1.8 million grant from Ascendium Education Group. The two-year grant aims to enhance the teacher talent development pipeline in Tennessee by increasing enrollment in teacher-education programs and improving teacher retention.
The funding will support the development of the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program of Study, an online curriculum created by faculty fellows from institutions across the state. The program seeks to provide secure access to standards-based curriculum for educator preparation providers and local education agency leaders, contributing to the improvement of the state’s K-12 education system.
Savarese, Smith Approved by Board of Trustees
In January, the UT Board of Trustees Executive Committee approved the permanent appointment of Bernie Savarese as vice president for academic affairs, research and student success and Jeff Smith as vice president for national labs.
Savarese, serving in the interim since July 2022, brings over two decades of higher-education experience. His focus includes coordinating academic and student experiences, enrollment, faculty development and statewide research collaboration. Smith will serve as the primary liaison to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Retired from ORNL in 2021, Smith returned as interim lab director in 2023.
UT System Commits $5 Million to tackle Grand Challenges
The UT System launched the UT Grand Challenge Grants, committing up to $5 million to address key issues in Tennessee: advancing K-12 education, strengthening rural communities and overcoming addiction. Open to faculty and staff across all campuses, the initiative aims to foster collaboration and innovative solutions for statewide challenges.
A Grand Challenges mini summit in February brought together individuals from across the UT System, government and community organizations to lay the groundwork for larger summits.
The Grand Challenge Grants are available in two tiers and will be awarded through a competitive review process.
State of UT Highlights Statewide Impact, Value of Education
During the annual State of the University address, UT System President Randy Boyd commended the statewide impact that the UT System has had as it reaches the halfway point in what he declares will be the greatest decade in UT history. Boyd called UT a talent engine for the state’s workforce as he emphasized the system’s crucial role in statewide workforce development and its impact on Tennessee’s economic future.
The address featured a panel discussion with UT campus leaders, who spoke about workforce outcomes, rural community impact, innovation, partnerships and initiatives addressing health care disparities. Watch the address at tennessee.edu/state-of-ut.
