University of Tennessee at Martin

History

Although UT Martin dates from 1927, it is not the first educational institution to use the current site. In 1900, Ada Gardner Brooks donated a site on what was then the outskirts of Martin to the Tennessee Baptist Convention for the purposes of opening a school. The school opened as the Hall-Moody Institute, named for two local Baptist ministers – John Newton Hall and Joseph Burnley Moody. It originally offered 13 years of study, from elementary grades to the equivalent of the first years of collegiate work. The institute changed its name to Hall-Moody Normal School in 1917, as teacher training became its primary focus. Five years later, Hall-Moody changed its name again to Hall-Moody Junior College. Due to declining enrollment and financial difficulties in the mid-1920s, Hall-Moody Junior College was in danger of closing. In 1927, the Tennessee Baptist Convention made the decision to consolidate Hall-Moody with a similar institution, Union University, in nearby Jackson.

Upon hearing of the impending closure of the Hall-Moody campus, area civic and political leaders asked the state of Tennessee to step in and take over the former Hall-Moody facilities under the auspices of the University of Tennessee. University of Tennessee president Harcourt Morgan agreed to accept the proposition on the condition that the Martin community would acquire the property as well as space for expansion. The City of Martin and Weakley County sold bonds to purchase the campus and some surrounding land. On February 10, 1927, Senate Bill Number 301 established the University of Tennessee Junior College in Martin. On March 29, it was officially approved by Governor Austin Peay. Hall-Moody closed for the last time on June 1, and the new UT Junior College began operations on September 2 with 120 students.

UT Martin nearly closed twice during its first quarter-century. During the hard times of the Great Depression, with tight state budgets and slow-growing enrollment that by 1933 had only increased slightly to 137 students, Tennessee slashed its annual budget by half to $36,000. Support from UT acting president James Hoskins kept UT Martin alive but could not save chief executive Porter Claxton's position.

Though enrollment had surpassed 400 students by 1937, many college-age males enlisted in World War II a few years later. Executive officer Paul Meek repurposed a 1940 program training Army Air Corps pilots into a program training naval air cadets. Each cadet brought nine times as much income to UT Martin as a civilian student.

Chancellors

C. Porter Claxton (executive officer, 1927–1934)

Paul Meek (executive officer, 1934–1951; dean, 1951–1967, chancellor, 1967)

Archie R. Dykes (chancellor, 1967–1971)

Larry T. McGehee (chancellor, 1971–1979)

Charles E. Smith (chancellor, 1980–1985)

Margaret N. Perry (chancellor, 1986–1997)

Philip W. Conn (chancellor, 1998–2000)

Nick Dunagan (chancellor, 2001–2007)

Thomas A. Rakes (chancellor, 2007–2015)

Robert M. Smith (chancellor, 2015–2016)

Keith S. Carver Jr. (chancellor, 2017–2/2023; Philip A. Cavalier, interim, March - August 2023)

Yancy E. Freeman (chancellor, effective 8/9/23)

Academics

Given its rural location, much of the focus of the school has been on undergraduate studies in agriculture, although many other courses of study are offered, particularly in the liberal arts, and in recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on business, engineering, and music. There is an active ROTC program and a school of nursing. The school is among the top providers of candidates to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. There is a growing graduate school, with most graduate degrees being conferred in education and business.

The university is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For one year, from December 2015 until December 2016, the university was on probation for "falling short of standards related to evidence of institutional effectiveness and general education competencies." During the tenure of Robert Smith, UT Martin successfully met the challenge and was removed from probation. For this and other accomplishments during his 19 months as interim chancellor, the UT Board of Trustees honored Smith by removing the designation "interim" and officially named him the university's tenth chancellor.

U.S. News & World Report in its 2024 edition ranked the university tied for #27 in Regional Universities South.

Colleges and departments

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

College of Business and Global Affairs

College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences

College of Engineering and Natural Sciences

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Campus

The rural campus is noted for being particularly scenic and well-landscaped. Students who live on campus are within walking distance of all academic buildings, the library, food services, the Boling University Center, and all recreational and sports facilities. Recent years have seen the demolition of old double-occupancy dormitory halls in favor of the construction of apartment-style housing.

UT Martin is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to the second annual edition of The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges: 2011 Edition. UT Martin is one of three public institutions in Tennessee included in the guide. UT Martin is also among the safest public college campuses in Tennessee based on crime statistics released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

UT Martin also has five centers throughout West Tennessee, namely: Jackson, Parsons, Ripley, Selmer, and Somerville.

Athletics

The UT Martin athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

The school's teams are known as the Skyhawks; the team colors are navy blue, orange, and white; and the mascot is Captain Skyhawk.

Athletic teams have participated in the Ohio Valley Conference since 1991. Previously, UTM was a member of the Gulf South Conference.

The university mascot was changed from "Pacers" to "Skyhawks" in 1995.

Prior to being known as "Pacers", the university's teams were called "Volunteers". The name was changed in 1971, largely because, on account of the former junior college status of the school, the teams were often referred to as the "Baby Vols".

Publications and media

Print

Founded in 1928, The Pacer is the present day name of the student newspaper. The Office of Student Publications publishes The Pacer every Thursday morning throughout the semester except for holidays and exam periods. As of 2006, the newspaper has a circulation of 3,000 copies. In the spring of 2006, the publication won the distinction of being named "Best in the South" at the Southeastern Journalism Conference, beating out such schools as Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. Throughout its history, the newspaper has also been named The Checkerboard and The Volette.

Beanswitch is a literary magazine run by UT Martin's undergraduates. This magazine publishes non-fiction, fiction, and poetry, in addition to artwork. Each fall, an online edition is published. The spring edition is in print. Submissions are accepted from all students and from staff.

Radio

The campus radio station at the University of Tennessee at Martin has been named the nation's Best Overall Radio Station (2012). The honor—the Abraham & Borst Award—was presented to WUTM at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference in New York. WUTM was also chosen Best College/University Station under 10,000 enrollment in both 2012 and 2016.

WUTM-FM was named 2015 "Best College Radio Station in the South", the fifth time in seven years for the station to earn the award and earned a Platinum Award, the highest ranking, for the sixth consecutive year from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS).

Television

WLJT-TV was launched in the fall of 2015.

Student life

The campus is home to many student organizations. It also is the location of the 1965 founding of the medical fraternity Mu Epsilon Delta. Several fraternities and sororities are on campus. Religious Life is also a part of student life at UT Martin: Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Church of Christ Student Center, and Wesley Foundation.

Notable alumni

Gin Cooley (2016) professional model, Canadian film festival winner, singer-songwriter and human rights advocate

Elizabeth Donald (1997) journalist and horror novelist

Lin Dunn (1969) head coach of the 2012 WNBA Champions Indiana Fever

Doc Gamble (1995) University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff head Football coach

Leonard Hamilton (1971) Florida State Seminoles head basketball coach

Roy Herron (1975) Chairman for Tennessee Democratic Party and former State Senator

Andy Holt (2007) U.S. politician who serves in the Tennessee General Assembly, representing District 76

Lester Hudson (2009) Memphis Grizzlies point guard

Montori Hughes (2013) Nose tackle for the Indianapolis Colts

Ed Jones (1932) Commissioner of Agriculture of Tennessee 1949–1953 and a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1969 to 1989

Van Jones (1990) attorney and internationally recognized civil and human rights advocate

Alec Mills (2012) Chicago Cubs pitcher

Jerry Reese (1985) general manager of the New York Giants

William C. Rhodes (1987) president and CEO of AutoZone, Inc.