On Wednesday, President Brian Noland discussed ETSU’s decentralized budget, enrollment, graduation rates and future goals during the State of The University Address in the Millennium Center.
“I want to talk about [the decentralized budget] for a bit because it’s a lot like anything in life,” said Noland. “It’s the cause of everything that’s good, and it’s the cause of everything that’s evil.”
Noland said the decentralization of the budget, while putting more pressure and accountability on individuals, has made it possible for colleges within the university to make adjunct salary increases, provide performance bonuses and use resources for facilities enhancements.
Along with the decentralized budget, Noland also discussed challenges facing the university, including enrollment rates.
Noland said enrollment at ETSU is down year over year 117 students.
“We are an institution of nationally recognized programs of excellence, particularly at the graduate and professional level,” said Noland. “At the graduate and professional level, we have programs that are ranked everywhere from number one to 25 for excellence. Students know that; they are coming here because of our programs. We have to find a way to do a better job of telling our collective story. A story of excellence, a story of innovation and a story of an institution that truly is distinctive and different.”
Noland said that although overall enrollment in the university is down, enrollment in the Clemmer College of Education is up 2% overall, the College of Nursing saw a 5% overall increase and enrollment in the College of Public Health increased 7% overall.
While enrollment is down, Noland said that graduation rates have increased to 50%, the highest in the university’s history.
“Those are students who start at ETSU and finish at East Tennessee State University,” said Noland. “From a cohort perspective, 280 more degrees were awarded. That’s the tangible impact of that percentage. Two-hundred eighty more people walked across the stage and received their degree.”
Noland said graduation rates for students who begin their degree at ETSU but graduate anywhere were 54% last year but are projected to be up to 60% this year by Michael Hoff, the Associate Vice President of Planning and Decision Support and Chief Planning Officer and Director of Institutional Research.
Looking toward the future, Noland said he challenges the campus to rededicate itself to the arts initiative that was launched in 2013. He also said the university is looking at and making structural alignments to ensure alignment with the goals listed in the strategic plan of the university.
Noland ended by sharing the impact of ETSU on his life.
“I’m one small person,” said Noland. “I’m not the president of the university, I’m an employee, just like you, but I have the honor of telling your stories, and today it’s been my honor to tell the story of a great institution.”
