Crystal Renee Hayslett (Martin ’06) returned to campus and presented the UTM Call Me MiSTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program with a $5,000 donation on behalf of the Crystal Renee Hayslett Foundation. She has been a standout costume designer for several motion pictures, including films produced by Tyler Perry. She also played paralegal Fatima on Perry’s “Sistas” BET series. Hayslett received the 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni Award for her achievements in the entertainment profession.
Surging Spring Enrollment
Spring 2025 enrollment is 7,092 students, an increase of 10 percent over a year ago and the highest spring enrollment since 2013. This includes 6,400 undergraduate students, 10.46 percent more than last year, and 692 graduate students, a 5.49 percent increase. The university’s fall enrollment reached 7,507 students, the highest enrollment at the university since 2012.
New Residence Hall
The UT Board of Trustees approved UT Martin to design and build a new residence hall to replace Browning Hall. Demolition of Browning Hall and new construction is expected to begin in fall 2026. The new residence hall is expected to open to students in fall 2028.
Join Hands to Fight Hunger
UT Martin and the city of Martin brought together more than 220 volunteers for the MLK Day of Service at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. During the first-time event, volunteers worked in assembly lines to pack 20,000 bean-and-rice casserole meals for local churches and other organizations to distribute in the community. Sponsored by Meals of Hope, the day exemplified the spirit of service and community that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. championed.
Football Playoff Bid
For the fourth consecutive year, the UT Martin Skyhawks claimed or shared a conference title, which earned the team an invitation to a first-round game in the 2024-25 Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. UT Martin was one of three Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association teams to qualify for the 24-team playoff. UT Martin defeated the No. 16 New Hampshire Wildcats 41-10 before falling 49-17 the next week to top-seeded Montana State.
Top Interpretation Award
Philip Smartt, professor of natural resources management in the College of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources, received the 2024 Fellow Award from the National Association for Interpretation. Interpretation is communication at places like parks and nature centers that help visitors learn about where they are. The Fellow Award is the highest honor given by the association, and only one is given each year among its national membership.
