Board of Trustees Approves Stadium Renovations, Athletics Foundation Agreement and Vision for UTIA

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved updates to multiple projects at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, including a new renovation budget for Lindsey Nelson Stadium and next steps for the nonprofit foundation supporting Tennessee Athletics. The board also approved new initiatives and funding requests for the UT Institute of Agriculture that would position UTIA to become a global leader in precision agriculture development and education while expanding its impact across the state.

Lindsey Nelson Stadium Renovations

The board approved a request from Tennessee Athletics to increase the renovation budget for Lindsey Nelson Stadium, home of Tennessee baseball, by $9.3 million to a total of $105.1 million. The increase is necessary to account for previously unknown underground soil and utility conditions that were identified during construction. The full amount of the budget increase will be paid through available gift funds.

Nonprofit Foundation for Athletics

The university is moving forward with plans to create a nonprofit foundation to support Tennessee Athletics and student-athletes. The board approved an affiliation agreement that outlines the relationship between the university and the foundation as well as the foundation's governance structure, expectations and reporting obligations. The board voted in March to authorize the university to establish the nonprofit foundation.

UTIA Funding Request, Master Plan

The board voted to allow UT to request $3 million in recurring state funding to expand the UT Institute of Agriculture precision agriculture programs, initiatives and educational opportunities for Tennessee farmers.

The funding request is tied to UTIA's new five-year strategic plan, which the board also approved. It would allow UTIA to build upon its existing precision agriculture team by hiring experts in critical technical areas: artificial intelligence, data science, sensors and sensing technologies, precision animal nutrition, cybersecurity and animal housing environments.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will consider the funding request during its fall meeting in November. Requests approved by THEC will go to the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration for consideration in the governor's budget proposal for fiscal year 2025-26.

The board also approved a new 10-year master plan for UTIA. The master plan will operate as a component of the UT Knoxville master plan, which the board approved in February 2023.

New Academic Program

The board voted to approve a new Doctor of Philosophy in agricultural leadership, education and communication in the Herbert College of Agriculture, pending state approvals.

The program will prepare students to address issues related to food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences and will address workforce needs related to agricultural and extension education.

The university plans to implement the new program in spring 2025 following THEC approval.

Growing Online Learning

The board heard updates from Digital Learning, the university's new unit supporting fully online students, including its plans to grow the number of available online undergraduate programs in an effort to expand online enrollment.

Digital Learning currently offers nine undergraduate programs across multiple fields of study and is planning to add five more for fall 2025 and another 10 for fall 2026.

The number of students enrolling in online degree programs is increasing. Overall online enrollment grew nearly 30% from the 2022-23 academic year to the 2023-24 academic year. That increase includes growth of more than 50% in the number of online undergraduate learners.

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