Three University of Tennessee at Martin academic programs and the 10-year campus master plan all received approval during the annual meeting of the UT Board of Trustees on June 24 in Knoxville. Among the academic program approvals was the university’s new Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. The meeting was held in the Student Union Ballroom on the UT Knoxville campus.

The construction management degree is designed for students who want to work in the engineering and construction fields but don’t want to pursue an engineering degree. The program will prepare graduates for various opportunities in the construction industry. The program will begin in fall 2022 pending approval by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission during its July 28 meeting in Nashville.

Board approvals were also granted for a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine and Performing Arts. Both were added to existing degree options, with general education requirements being the only difference in a BA or BS degree in philosophy. The BA in fine and performing arts is more flexible than the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and will allow students in the BA program to expand individual skillsets by pursing a minor in programs such as computer science, accounting, or mass media and strategic communication.

The 10-year campus master plan was developed in cooperation with the DLR Group, which collected information during on-campus meetings with campus stakeholders and focus groups. The design firm also gathered information from a campus-wide survey and used all input to create a plan that includes enrollment projections, a space-needs assessment, housing demand, and an implementation plan. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission requires a new campus master plan be completed a minimum of once every 10 years.

In other action, the board again approved an across-the-board, zero percent tuition increase for all UT campuses including UT Martin. “Rising inflation is hitting our students and families particularly hard,” UT Board of Trustees Chair John Compton said. “Due in large part because of Gov. Bill Lee and our Tennessee General Assembly’s historic higher education budget of $137 million, we are in the fortunate position to keep tuition and mandatory fees flat for FY 22-23.”

Complete information about UT Martin academic programs and university tuition and fees is found at utm.edu. UT Martin is a primary regional university in the University of Tennessee System and includes five regional centers in Jackson, Parsons, Ripley, Selmer and Somerville. Online course and degree offerings are available through UT Martin Online. Fall semester classes for all UT Martin students begin Aug. 22.
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