Randy Boyd, president of the UT System, has been visiting high schools across the state in his “Find Your UT” tour. I caught him at Farragut High School Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the first of three stops at schools in Knox County. The tour and its program are designed to put all the opportunities offered by UT in Knoxville and beyond in the hands of prospective college students, hopefully incentivizing some to stay close to home.

For Boyd, the tour is personal. A Knox County native, he was a first-generation college student. He obtained a degree at UT Knoxville and subsequently made it his life’s mission to urge others to do the same. He sympathizes with these high school juniors and seniors, saying that he once sat where they do now sure of his trajectory, but unsure of its logistics. More options and variety promise to make the decision easier now than it was 40 years ago, when Boyd faced it.

While promoting UT is the main mission, Boyd is more about encouraging the pursuit of a college degree for these students. He cites the many advantages that come with a college background. In the state of Tennessee, he quotes the numbers: 41,000 more jobs exist for those who pursue an associate’s degree, and that number jumps to 361,000 for those who have obtained a four-year degree. As far as salary, there’s about $1.5 million in lifetime earnings left on the table for those who forgo a college education.

Boyd and his team use that thinking to springboard into their primary pursuit, keeping their Tennesseans home. He said students should “go to a university that wants you,” joking that those university presidents that come visit a school in person are demonstrating that the best.

Boyd spoke about the five UT campuses in different locations, sizes and fields of study; the UT System has proven to be one of the most adaptable in the country for whatever prospective students are seeking from a potential college experience. Knoxville as the flagship has carved out its own reputation, but there are options for every kind of academic pursuit. UT Martin and the newly opened UT Southern bring that rural living and small classroom feel into the mix, with Chattanooga as one of the state’s most prestigious mid-sized schools. The fifth campus is the UT Health Science Center.

“There’s a place for every student at the University of Tennessee,” Boyd said. “Whether it’s the flagship campus of UT Knoxville, real-world experiences at UT Chattanooga, the personalized support at UT Southern or the community focus at UT Martin, we have a campus that fits your needs and helps you succeed.”

There is room for every socioeconomic background thanks to new leadership and new aid. Students with a certain GPA and standardized test scores get automatic acceptance and the possibilities of financial aid are available to the vast majority of in-state students. Boyd says about 66% of in-state applicants to their schools qualify for the UT Promise scholarship, bringing tuition down to almost nothing.

Matt Matthews, associate vice president for academic affairs of the UT System, says that financial priority and a new ease of access has helped it become easier than ever for Tennessee residents to find their home at one of these five campuses.

“We’re here to help you find the right UT for your future,” Matthews said. “With the Common App, applying to any UT campus is easier than ever, and UT Promise is our promise to make college affordable for Tennessee students. Plus, many of you may qualify for guaranteed admission, allowing you to skip the line and go straight to the next class of UT students.”

More information on scholarships, admissions and any other questions regarding the UT System can be found at FindYourUT.com.

Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts and culture in and around his hometown.

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