PresidentsReport 2025

PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2025

Table of Contents A University of Opportunities

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A Shared Vision

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Year In Review

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Features

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Recruitment

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Young Scholars

18

Student Success

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Faculty Expertise

26

Strategic Planning

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Campus Expansion

34

Future Growth

38

Research

42

Advancement

46

Athletics

50

Nontraditional Students

54

An Ongoing Duty

58

A Collective Success

60

Student Data

62

Financials

66

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DR. SIDNEY A. MCPHEE University President DR. MARK BYRNES University Provost

MR. WILLIAM J. BALES Vice President for University Advancement

MS. YVETTE CLARK Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

MS. KIMBERLY S. EDGAR Executive Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff

MR. DREW HARPOOL Interim Vice President for Business and Finance

DR. DANNY KELLEY Interim Vice President for Student Affiars and Dean of Students

DR. ANDREW OPPMANN Vice President for Marketing and Communications

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES MR. JULIAN B. BAKER JR. Owner and CEO, Spring Logistics MR. THOMAS R. BOYD Investment Advisor Representative, Decker Wealth Management LLC MR. WILLIAM T. DELAY Principal, Lynwood Ventures LLC MR. JOHN D. FLOYD President, Ole South Properties MR. JAMES W. GRANBERY Chair of the Board and CEO, H.G. Hill Realty Company MR. WILLIAM S. JONES Area Executive, Pinnacle Financial Partners MR. MICHAI J. MOSBY, STUDENT TRUSTEE Master’s Candidate, Administration and Supervision, Higher Education

DR. KARI NEELY, FACULTY TRUSTEE Associate Professor, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures MR. STEPHEN B. SMITH, CHAIR Chair of the Board, Haury and Smith Contractors MS. CHRISTINE KARBOWIAK VANEK, VICE CHAIR Retired Vice Chair, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Executive Vice President of Bridgestone Americas MR. MICHAEL J. WADE, CLU, CHFC Agency Sales Leader, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company MR. CHAD C. WHITE Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, Brookdale Senior Living Inc. 5

BIG CAMPUS, SMALL-TOWN FEEL

515 acres of scenic, park-like campus

BEST VALUE IN TENNESSEE

LASTING LEGACIES 1/3 of MTSU students are firstgeneration college students

GUARANTEED SCHOLARSHIPS

73% of students receive some form of financial aid— more than $203 million in financial assistance

Lowest tuition of Tennessee’s 3 largest universities

A UNIVERSITY OF OPPORTUNITIES

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Founded Sept. 11, 1911, at the geographic center of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is proud of a century-plus commitment to academic excellence and student success.

offer 200 majors and concentrations across 38 departments/ schools. The College of Graduate Studies offers more than 100 master’s and specialist programs and nine majors with doctoral degrees.

MTSU houses a wide variety of nationally recognized academic degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels. The University’s eight undergraduate colleges

With a total enrollment of more than 20,000 students (more than half of whom are eligible for Pell aid), MTSU’s standing as a destination of choice for first-generation students is

WE DO IT ALL

200 undergraduate programs and concentrations in 8 colleges

THE SMART CHOICE More than 40% of students graduate debt-free

A MODERN APPROACH

70+ online degrees and concentrations

ADULT DEGREE COMPLETION

In 2023–24, 832 readmitted students and 253 graduations

READY-TO-WORK GRADUATES

More graduates (approximately 5,000 each year) than any other local university

THE ATTENTION YOU DESERVE 91% of classes have fewer than 40 students

well established, as is its long success in helping low-income students who meet admission standards overcome obstacles often posed by tuition and fees. MTSU is also a top choice of transfer students.

Tennessee region and support the state’s economic growth and development. An economic engine in the state, MTSU not only adds educational and cultural value to Tennessee but also stimulates a vibrant business environment for the region.

MTSU was founded as a school for teachers and today remains a top provider of educators in Tennessee. Throughout the 113plus years of service, MTSU’s academic offerings have grown in quantity and quality to better serve the needs of the middle

MTSU is overseen by a 10-member Board of Trustees. As a community of scholars, we enthusiastically embrace our past, celebrate our present accomplishments, and effectively plan for the future.

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INTRODUCTION:

A Shared Vision Every president of every college and university in America believes their institution is special and among the best choices for degree seekers.

MTSU backs up that claim with proof.

Our University was again included on the Forbes list of the 500 top colleges in the U.S., one of only four public institutions in the state to make the 2026 ranking (determined using 2025 data).

Forbes, a global media company best known for its financial and business reporting, bases its annual America’s Top Colleges list on several factors, including average student debt, return on investment, enrollment, and outcomes for low-income students.

I am particularly proud that our efforts to support student success continue to garner national recognition, as it reflects well upon the hard work of our faculty and staff.

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Last, MTSU was named among four public institutions in the state to the Colleges of Distinction 2025–26 “Best Colleges in the U.S.” MTSU also made several of the organization’s best-of lists, including Best in Tennessee, Best Public Institutions, Business, Education, Nursing, Most Affordable, Career Development, and Military Support.

MTSU was also recently among 391 colleges and universities recognized among the nation’s best by The Princeton Review, one of the nation’s leading education services companies.

That ranking is based on data from the company’s surveys of 170,000 students at the 391 schools. Students attending the schools rate their own colleges on dozens of topics and report on their campus experiences at them. Only two public universities in Tennessee—MTSU and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville—made the list.

Rankings such as these elevate MTSU’s profile across the nation and around the world. But what truly matters is what such rankings reveal: our unrelenting commitment to the individual success of each and every student in our True Blue family.

We are proud that MTSU has made this prestigious list for the seventh consecutive year.

This annual President’s Report tells the stories of those successes in 2025, featuring a month-by-month glance at representative examples of the good news occurring daily on the MTSU campus, as well as updates on many of the most important strategic and mission-focused initiatives of our great University.

As both these rankings and these stories reveal, MTSU can certainly look back at 2025 with pride in our institutional excellence.

Rob Franek, editor-in-chief at The Princeton Review and the book’s lead author, said MTSU’s inclusion on the list signals that it is in a “truly select group.”

Franek said the colleges recognized “constitute only about 15% of America’s nearly 2,400 four-year institutions. While they vary by locale, type, size, and campus culture, each one offers its students an academically outstanding undergraduate education.

In our opinion, they are the nation’s best undergraduate colleges and ideal choices for students seeking their ‘best-fit’ college.”

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2026

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In addition, the Wall Street Journal recognized MTSU for the first time on its 2025 list of America’s Best Colleges (and again in 2026).

BEST COL

From The Princeton Review. ©2025 TPR Education. All rights reserved. Used under license. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.

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YEAR IN

Review

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HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP HEADLINES FOR THE BLUE RAIDER CAMPUS IN 2025— PRESENTED IN MONTH-BY-MONTH FASHION — ALONGSIDE 12 FEATURE STORIES HIGHLIGHTING IMPORTANT STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AT MTSU

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JANUARY

MTSU was named as the first higher education institution in the state to earn membership in the internationally recognized Age-Friendly University Global Network comprised of more than 120 colleges and universities across five continents.

The member institutions are committed to promoting positive and healthy aging to enhance the lives of older members of the global community through innovative educational and 12

cultural programs. Age-friendly means there are policies and practices in place that support older adults and create an age-friendly ecosystem. According to U.S. Census data, 1.6 million Tennesseans are age 60 and older—the fastest-growing demographic in Tennessee—and will soon constitute one-fifth of the total population.

MTSU photo by Allison McGoffin

MTSU employees once again showed their True Blue support for the Midstate community by pledging a record $161,000-plus to bolster the critical work of nonprofit organizations through the annual Employee Charitable Giving Campaign. The $161,394.77 raised surpassed the $160,000 goal for the 2024–25 campaign and follows a string of record-breaking campaigns the past several years. The amount pledged by 768 donors equates to a pledge of $228.60 average per giver. For the 12th straight year, the Jones College had the highest percentage of faculty participation and was again awarded the Provost’s Cup.

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Recruitment Students enrolled at MTSU today represent the future workforce for the regional economy.

MTSU produces more graduates than any other local university (close to 5,000 each year). One in every six college-educated individuals in the greater Nashville area holds an MTSU degree.

We continue to work extremely hard to ensure that we are attracting the best and the brightest new undergraduate students from across the state of Tennessee and the region.

Our recruitment team, MT One Stop, advising staff, academic department chairs, deans, and faculty work very hard all year round to deliver results.

2025, however, was the year we in higher education have been warned would come: We have arrived at the promised “enrollment cliff.” This cliff refers to a projected 15% decline in U.S. college students between 2025 and 2029. This is due to a drop in birth rates following the 2008 recession, which will lead to fewer traditional college-age students.

I'm pleased to report that projections show our state in a better position than most.

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While the number of high school graduates in Tennessee is expected to decline in the coming years, it will do so far less than the national average.

There is even better news for MTSU. Our Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning, and Research took a deeper look at the numbers and concluded that the Tennessee counties from which MTSU draws most of our students will in fact show a small increase in high school graduates.

As a result, we have committed to a renewed emphasis on recruiting in our own backyard.

Our annual True Blue Tour each fall is a time when admissions recruiters, advisors, other staff, and I travel to cities across the region to recruit future Blue Raiders.

It’s a chance for prospective students and their parents to meet and talk with representatives from practically every department at MTSU right in their own hometown.

With the enrollment cliff in mind, we again held two tour stops in Nashville, as well as stops in Shelbyville and Wilson County.

And in 2025, for the first time, we hosted

True Blue Tour stops in Gallatin and in Cookeville, along with other return stops.

This outreach for 2026 and beyond will help us build on our recent growth.

As the Fall 2025 semester got underway, we were up in first-time freshmen for the third consecutive year—an increase of more than 3% in new freshmen. We are once again the largest LGI (locally governed institution) in the state. This is a feat that took the collaborative efforts of the entire campus.

Not resting on their laurels, members of the recruitment staff have been out in the high schools working with the incoming class for Fall 2026.

Because of all of them, when I get a chance to personally meet these prospective students, I am confident in telling them that if they come to MTSU, they will get the attention of faculty and staff that they will need to be successful in college.

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FEBRUARY

The inaugural MTSU Admitted Student Day on Feb. 22 attracted more than 1,400 prospective students—plus family members— receiving blue carpet treatment on the campus where they would start their MTSU and college careers in August. The day included spending time with deans, department chairs, faculty, and advisors for academic sessions.

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The eighth annual True Blue Give campaign, which took place Feb. 11–13, rallied the Blue Raider community to invest in the people and programs that define the spirit of MTSU. The annual alumni funding drive exceeded $1 million in support for the first time in history, with gifts from more than 1,450 donors. True Blue Give raises critical funds for scholarships across all colleges and supports campuswide programs and initiatives such as MTSU Athletics, the Band of Blue, James E. Walker Library, the Student Emergency Fund, and more.

MTSU celebrates its numerous alumni who receive Grammy nominations and wins each year by hosting events and sending students and faculty to the awards event in Los Angeles. In the lead-up to the 67th annual Grammy Awards, six MTSU alumni earned a total of eight nominations, including songwriter Jessi Alexander, singer-songwriter Jaelee Roberts, and engineers Brandon Bell, Jason Hall, Bobby Holland, and Jimmy Mansfield.

MTSU students attended pre-Grammy events like the MusiCares Gala, networked with industry professionals, and learned from the experience.

Bell, an Audio Production alum, captured a Grammy for engineering work on a bluegrass album. Since 2001, MTSU alumni have been involved in over 170 Grammy nominations and have won 48 Grammys.

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Young Scholars Students are the lifeblood of our University, and their growth as both scholars and citizens is the very reason we exist.

more—that the next generation of student leaders are inspired.”

They inspire us to do our work as effectively and thoroughly as possible.

Grigsby, a Political Science and Foreign Languages (German) double-major from Taft, graduated in December 2025.

As with our outstanding faculty, it would be impossible to tell all of the stories of our wonderful students.

Here then are just a few examples of our student body excellence.

As part of creating a new tradition at MTSU, 2024–25 student leadership award recipients Victoria Grigsby, Ariel Nicastro, Zachary Thomas, and Connor Prim shared the spotlight with 12 other individuals and organizations honored with True Blue Honors Bolt awards at an April 2025 ceremony.

The Student Government Association/Center for Student Involvement and Leadership Awards used the new event to give tribute to undergraduate students for their exemplary character and achievements in scholarship, leadership, and service.

Grigsby claimed the President’s Award, Nicastro the Provost’s Award, Thomas the Robert C. LaLance Jr. Achievement Award. and Prim the MTSU Community Service Award at the awards show in the Student Union Ballroom.

Outgoing two-term SGA President Michai Mosby said the inaugural awards, stylized as BOLT, “showcase so much student excellence—from veterans to student workers and

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Michai Mosby

Nicastro, a Physics major from Franklin, is a highly honored student and researcher named a Goldwater Scholar.

Thomas, an Audio Production major from Nolensville, received the LaLance award, named for the late former Student Affairs vice president and professor emeritus.

Prim, a Music Education student from Bell Buckle, received the MTSU Community Service Award. He is president of the National Association of Music Education, and has participated in food banks, community outreach, and a mission trip to Zambia through his Shelbyville church.

The 2025 True Blue Honors Bolt Awards recognize hardworking students and standout organizations for their leadership and impact.

Other awards and honorees were: • Lightning’s Rookie of the Year— Lynzie Gibson • Electric Spirit Award—Tiana Williams • Impact Catalyst Award— Zaynab Alnassari • True Blue Pride Award—Krystal Lebron Maymi • Service Spark Award—Lena Eccles

• Thunderstruck Involvement Award— Amber Ojuade

• Leadership Lightning President of the Year Award—Tyler Knapp

• Generosity Change Award—Kappa Alpha Order

• Blue Thunder Student Organization of the Year Award—MTSU Cosplay Club

• Lightning Strike Award/Event of the Year—Lip Sync III: Halftime Show, Alpha Delpha Pi

• Trailblazer Legacy Award— Michai Mosby

• Bolt of Excellence Award— Jairus Pettaway

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MARCH

MTSU’s annual Forum on Growth and Regional Challenges on March 21 featured a panel discussing the challenges facing the region’s quality of life, as well as a keynote from the head of the booming Nashville International Airport, Doug Kreulen.

Area mayors Paige Brown (Gallatin), Randall Hutto (Wilson County), and Chaz Molder (Columbia) participated in the panel along with Michael Skipper, executive director of the Greater Nashville Regional Council and lead facilitator/advisor for the 20

Middle Tennessee Mayors Caucus. Tennessean/USA Today Network columnist David Plazas moderated the free campus event, while Stephanie Coleman, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce president, and MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes also were contributors. MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center and the Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning co-hosted the forum.

College of Education senior Haley Ferguson of Spring Hill was among 15 “Everyday Americans” invited as special guests by first lady Melania Trump to attend President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on March 4 in Washington, D.C. Ferguson, an Elementary Education major and a former foster child, received the Fostering the Future scholarship created by the first lady as part of her “Be Best” campaign, which focuses on battling cyberbullying and promoting youth well-being.

The University’s proposed Master of Science in Legal Studies, set to be taught in partnership with the Nashville School of Law, earned approval by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission on March 19. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has given its final approval too, and the first cohort of students will start in summer 2026.

The degree, which will prepare students and working professionals seeking to sharpen their understanding of the law, will be administered by MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business.

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Student Success Student success remains my No. 1 priority at MTSU. Through the years, we have established a number of proven strategies to boost our students’ ability to persist to graduation.

The Scholars Academy is a program for first-time, firstyear students that assists with a smooth transition to college and acclimation to MTSU. Our Scholars Academy welcomed about 200 new students to the 2025 cohort last summer. The persistence rate for the Fall 2024 cohort of 135 students was 97%. In Spring 2025, altogether there were 374 Scholars Academy students enrolled across the University.

During Spring 2025, tutoring services supported students across 52 courses and 290 sections. Supplemental Instruction was provided in nine courses with historically high rates of D’s, F’s, or withdrawals, covering 30 sections, to promote student success in challenging subjects. The Learning Assistant (LA) program grew to 19 learning assistants working alongside five instructors in CHEM 1110, BIOL 1110, and MATH 1000. These LAs facilitated active learning, encouraged student engagement, and provided instructors valuable feedback on student interactions with course content.

The MTSU Upward Bound program is dedicated to increasing college access and success for firstgeneration, income-eligible high school students through comprehensive academic support, enrichment experiences, and personal development opportunities.

Workshops such as “Time Management for Success” equipped students with practical strategies to balance

academic, personal, and extracurricular responsibilities essential for high school achievement and future collegiate success.

The Experiential Learning (EXL) Scholars Program is celebrating 20 years in operation since its creation in Fall 2005. EXL continues to set records in student participation, faculty participation, and number of course sections offered. In 2024–25, enrollment in EXL courses totaled 19,441, with 433 distinct faculty members with approved courses. Both qualitative and quantitative evidence show that Experiential Learning at MTSU has an overwhelmingly positive impact on student success and graduation rates. Students completing 3–5 EXL credit hours have a graduation rate of 73.6%; students taking 15 hours or more of EXL courses have a graduation rate of 98.4%.

Another strong, record-breaking class of Dual Enrollment (DE) students enrolled for Fall 2025. New opportunities include an expansion of offerings at Rockvale High School to include a section of SPAN 1010 as well as BIOL 1030/31.

Additional DE online offerings include more sections in English, math, and history as MTSU’s program expands to serve students throughout the state. An international dual enrollment initiative began in Fall 2025, serving collegebound students from other countries.

In 2024–25 a total of 37 advisors earned Advisor Mastery Program certification, with participation from each college across campus. Academic advisors engaged 88% of the undergraduate student population in 2024–25.

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APRIL

The University’s highly regarded ROTC program celebrated its 75th anniversary April 10 at the Veterans Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building. ROTC is an acronym for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. MTSU has provided more than 1,600 officers to serve the nation since the program’s founding.

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Artificial intelligence’s proliferation and the increasing importance of it and other technologies in daily and professional life were key topics of discussion and exploration at an inaugural conference hosted by the Jones College of Business. “Tech Vision: People and Technology Shaping Tomorrow” brought together students and faculty from numerous disciplines, industry professionals, and community partners over two days to exchange insights about the evolving people-technology ecosystem and its impact on the workforce, organizations, and society. Josh Byrd, chief growth officer with tech startup Copient.ai, gave the luncheon keynote address.

MTSU’s stock horse team was crowned the 2025 National Intercollegiate Ranch and Stock Horse Association Division 2 National Champion team in April in Amarillo, Texas.

Students competed in the versatility ranch horse events, showcasing their talents in ranch reining, cow work, ranch trail, and ranch riding. The Raider riders placed fifth overall in 2024. Among the competing teams were programs such as Oklahoma State University, which finished in second place.

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Photo by Primos Morales

Faculty Expertise The interaction between faculty and students, I believe, is the essential ingredient for student success, from retention to course completion, and even to employment and personal fulfillment.

of the national organization. With the support of the College of Liberal Arts and the Honors College, he founded and served for 10 years as the director of the Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons program.

MTSU is blessed with an outstanding faculty with exceptional skill and dedication to educating students. Here are just a few examples from 2025.

Bob Gordon, chair of the Department of Media Arts, received MTSU’s second Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award. Since 2014, MTSU has been a member of CUSA, one of the nation’s best athletic conferences for student-athlete academic performance. In 2024, the conference established the Faculty Achievement and Professor of the Year Awards to honor the exceptional achievements of faculty members at conference universities. Gordon, a Video and Film Production professor who has taught at MTSU since 2007, serves as executive director for Media Arts Productions, MTSU’s television production company, and faculty advisor for Blue Raider Student Television, MTSU’s countywide cable channel.

He has made it his mission to make sure his students get hands-on experiences and skills that give them a competitive advantage in the job market by managing, producing, and directing events for ESPN+, awards shows, and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival before they launch their professional careers. Gordon began a 48-year television career producing and directing news, talk, and sporting events at stations in Oklahoma and Michigan before coming to Nashville, where he worked as an executive producer for WKRN-TV News 2 and then operations manager at WTVF-TV NewsChannel 5.

Neporcha Cone, dean of the College of Education, was named an Impact Academy fellow through the organization Deans for Impact (DFI), joining a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to improving educator preparation. DFI is a national nonprofit committed to ensuring that every child is taught by a well-prepared teacher and supports educatorpreparation programs to bring the science of learning into teaching practice. Cone was one of 18 leaders announced in 2025 as part of the fellowship’s 10th cohort. These fellows lead programs that serve 11 states and a wide range of geographic and institutional contexts from coast to coast.

Philip E. Phillips, associate dean of the University Honors College, was presented with MTSU’s 2025 Career Achievement Award. Phillips joined the faculty at MTSU in 1999. Since his tenure, he has been a three-time recipient of the MTSU Foundation Distinguished Research Award (2008, 2015, and 2021). Phillips also chaired MTSU’s 2015–2025 Academic Master Plan Committee and served on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accreditation leadership team at the University. He recently chaired The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi’s first Strategic Planning Taskforce (2022–24) and is now the president-elect

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MAY

Sarah Varni was the first student to enroll in MTSU’s Motion Design concentration, in Fall 2022, and became the first to graduate in Spring 2025 from the Video and Film Production program within the Department of Media Arts. Motion design is an expanding field where professionals create moving visual imagery for TV, film, video games, social media, websites and more. No other college in the state offers a Motion Design concentration.

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Nine graduating senior cadets in the Military Science program were commissioned as U.S. Army second lieutenants in a special ceremony in May. Commissioning ceremonies are a formal event celebrating cadets moving forward in their military journeys.

They include the swearing-in by a military leader, pinning by family member, and first salute from family or friends.

MTSU and the Bahamas signed an agreement that will foster academic ties and collaboration between the country’s aviation ministry and MTSU’s Department of Aerospace. The agreement signed May 30 by myself and Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper, who also leads the Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation, creates cultural and academic exchanges in education and research. It specifically calls for a program to facilitate Bahamian students’ attending MTSU and training in aerospace; a summer immersion program for Bahamian students on the MTSU campus; a fast-track program geared for working professionals; and online courses geared for Bahamian students. As a native of the Bahamas, I can assure that students from this nation represent a significant percentage of our international enrollment. MTSU Aerospace, with 20 full-time faculty members, 100+ flight instructors, and over 1,200 students, is among the largest of the nation’s collegiate aviation programs. MTSU’s total Aerospace enrollment, including all seven undergraduate concentrations and three graduate concentrations, makes up about 6% of the University’s total student population.

Students from 32 states and 16 foreign countries are enrolled in the program.

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Strategic Planning MTSU stands ready to fulfill its mission and embrace new opportunities in the second quarter of the 21st century.

My thanks go out to all departments and divisions across campus who are assisting in achieving our institutional priorities.

The University remains committed to academic quality and student success, fueled by innovative practices and active engagement in civic, cultural, and economic affairs.

The plan includes initiatives focused on three institutional priorities:

The MTSU Strategic Plan 2035 is a comprehensive framework developed in dialogue with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members as well as University leaders and Board of Trustees.

Deliver impactful academic offerings and experiences. Elevate the institutional research infrastructure and reputation.

It will be our guide for developing annual activity plans with specific action steps and measures to track progress.

Ensure holistic academic and career supports for all students. Support wellness, belonging, and engagement. Enhance faculty and staff support structures.

The MTSU Planning Committee, Board of Trustees, and I approved the 2035 MTSU Strategic Plan in the spring of 2025. The Strategic Plan Implementation Launch Event took place on Sept. 9, 2025.

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Priority 1: Increase the institution's creative and research profile and be a top choice for students.

Priority 2: Strengthen the community so all learners and workers thrive.

Priority 3: Cultivate sustainable partnerships.

Strengthen community and industry collaborations. Improve institutional advocacy and communication.

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JUNE U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Mychael Kisling, a former MTSU student, knew he was destined to be part of the Navy’s Blue Angels the first time he saw them fly. The Murfreesboro native, an aviation electronics technician on the Blue Angels team, was joined by U.S. Marine Maj. Josh Horman, pilot of the Blue Angels’ C-130J “Fat Albert” gear transport cargo plane, to speak on campus June 6, ahead of that weekend’s Great Tennessee Air Show in nearby Smyrna. Kisling shared details about serving on the Blue Angels team to the standingroom-only crowd that included MTSU students, faculty, and staff as well as local scouts and Civil Air Patrol cadets at a lecture hall inside MTSU’s McWherter Learning Resources Center. Founded in 1946, the Blue Angels are the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron known for their high-flying maneuvers and precision aerobatics.

The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase teamwork and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps through the performances and community outreach.

The Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center at MTSU helped the Nashville Superspeedway honor active-duty troops, veterans, and their families during opening ceremonies of a three-day 2025 NASCAR racing weekend in June. MTSU’s retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber was an honorary track official at the Rackley Roofing 200. This marked the fourth year of MTSU’s partnership with the Nashville Superspeedway.

Young people in military uniforms maneuvered about campus in June, participating in team building and leadership training when the University hosted nearly 90 U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps members from 46 units nationwide for 14 days on campus with construction and other activities and in Nashville learning basic and advanced scuba skills.

Sea Cadets rotated in and out during the two weeks, and many attended graduation ceremonies on campus outside the Student Union and in the Cummings Hall lobby.

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Campus Expansion Facilities growth represents an investment in areas of study that will solve problems, improve the social good, and supply a skilled regional workforce. Here are the most recent updates on capital projects.

• $74.8 million total project cost

Stephen and Denise Smith StudentAthlete Performance Center

Renovations of Kirksey Old Main and Rutledge Hall

• 89,000 square feet

• $66 million total project cost

• $54.3 million total project cost

• Opened for Fall 2025 semester; ribbon-cutting ceremony held Aug. 6

• 85,000 square feet

• Estimated project completion in Summer 2026

Applied Engineering Building

• Home to Mechatronics Engineering and Engineering Technology programs • Enhanced student opportunities for faculty-led research and labs for student teams, including the Experimental Vehicles Program and robotics competitions • Finishing touch to MTSU’s Science Corridor of Innovation, which also includes the $40.1 million Concrete and Construction Management Building, two renovated science buildings, and the 250,000-squarefoot Science Building, which opened in 2014 as the single largest investment by the state for an academic facility

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• Ribbon-cutting ceremony held July 30 • Includes training spaces, strength and conditioning, locker rooms, and team meeting spaces, and offices to serve MTSU Athletics and MTSU student-athletes • Adds small section of outdoor loge seating to north end of Floyd Stadium • Formally requested by former Gov. Bill Haslam and former U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon for MTSU to name the new facility after the Smiths as recognition for their extensive contribution.

• Represents first phase of development envisioned in the MTSU Athletics Master Plan, which includes renovations and additions to Murphy Center and development of a multisport indoor training facility as future phases of development

• Both original buildings dating back to the institution’s founding in 1911, with KOM the first building on campus • KOM to continue as the home to MTSU’s Mathematics, Computer Science, and Data Science departments • Rutledge to be transformed from a dormitory to an academic building for University College/University Studies.

Aerospace Shelbyville Project • $73.4 million total project cost • Estimated completion: Fall 2027 • Includes facilities for the Professional Pilot concentration • 50,000-square-foot Flight Operations Building • 28,000-square-foot hangar • Project site along Highway 231 and just west of the Shelbyville Municipal Airport

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JULY

MTSU’s Department of Aerospace had a big presence at the massive 2025 EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the world’s largest aviation experience, spending time with industry leaders and prospective employers. Held July 21–27, the event attracted almost 700,000 people and 10,000-plus aircraft. MTSU, a mainstay each year at EAA, brought one of its Diamond Aircraft DA-40 from its training fleet for display at a tent near the EAA 36

flight line at Pittman Regional Airport, which during AirVenture becomes the world’s busiest. As one of the leading collegiate aviation programs in the nation, MTSU primarily attends to give our students, flight instructors, and faculty a chance to interact with people from around the world in aviation.

MTSU’s campus bustled with creative activity last summer as almost 300 rising 11th- and 12th-graders from across the state showcased their artistic skills at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts (GSFTA). Encompassing dance, music, visual arts, filmmaking, and theater, the three-week program—celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025— allows highly talented, top-rated students to enhance their skills and abilities in their discipline. The camp lets students learn and practice in an environment full of other like-minded people their age. Jam-packed with classes, field trips, and group activities, the schedule includes enough information and activities for each area of study to fulfill the 3 hours of college credit each student receives.

GSFTA has been a fixture at MTSU since 1984, when then-Gov. Lamar Alexander established summer programs for young people in the arts, engineering and math, and international studies—one for each of the state’s three grand divisions.

MTSU photo by Jordan Reining

Dozens of teenagers from around the nation attended the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) National Cadet Engineering Technology Academy at MTSU on July 8. Cadet participants from more than 20 states, including two from Hawaii, selected by CAP through a competitive process, took part in activities covering aerospace, engineering technology, concrete and construction management, biology, and chemistry. Founded in 1941 before the start of U.S. involvement in World War II, the Civil Air Patrol’s mission is volunteers serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures, and core values include integrity, volunteer service, excellence, and respect. MTSU and CAP have been partners in aerospace education for cadets since 2014, and the University has hosted the academy since 2017.

37

Future Growth Seeking to capitalize upon multimillion-dollar investments in new campus facilities and future renovations at and around Greenland Drive and Middle Tennessee Boulevard, I unveiled plans in 2025 to develop this area into an entertainment and sports district for not only students but also local residents and visitors from throughout the region.

Our long-term vision is to create what could be called the “The Lightning Zone,” where our students can walk from their residence halls or nearby off-campus apartments to performances or games at Murphy Center or Floyd Stadium as well as stop for a meal at favorite restaurant and meet family and friends.

I expect it to be a place that draws community members and visitors to attend not only tournaments, conferences, and games, but also an occasional night out—supporting local businesses and generating revenue for the city and county.

Specific investments on campus that will bolster this effort include a proposed public-private partnership for a new student housing complex to be built on the southeast edge of campus to replace the nearly 50-year-old Womack Lane Apartments, which had a capacity of 250 residents.

We are preparing the site for new construction that will result in more than 550 modern, suite-style beds—delivered through private financing, but under the oversight and guidance of the University. This project gives us the flexibility to grow our enrollment, support student success, and offer affordable, high-quality housing options, all without adding new debt to our books.

38

Construction will begin early this year if approved, with completion by fall 2027. A new $27 million parking structure to provide approximately 550 parking spaces will accompany this project. The project comes amid positive enrollment trends for the Blue Raider campus.

Other ongoing campus projects supporting the entertainment and sports district vision include: • On-campus hotel: MTSU is in ongoing negotiations for the previously announced construction of an on-campus hotel at the corner of Greenland Drive and Middle Tennessee Boulevard.

The public-private partnership would serve as a real-world learning lab for Hospitality and Tourism Management students while also serving academic visitors, athletic families, attendees of Murphy Center events, and conference guests.

• Murphy Center renovations: $72 million in new state funds from the 2025 state budget will add a new, modern entrance to Murphy Center with escalators, elevators, and open lobby space. It comes on the heels of multimillion-dollar arena improvements such as upgraded lighting and sound, highdefinition video boards, “smart glass” outer walls, and a milliondollar control center—not only enhancing the experience of fans for MTSU Athletics events but expanding opportunities for high-profile concerts and elevating current events like area high school graduation ceremonies.

39

AUGUST

The Blue Raider community kicked off the Fall 2025 semester by reaffirming its commitment to the True Blue Pledge, a longstanding tradition that reflects the University’s core values. 2025 commemorated the 14th anniversary of the pledge’s creation. Beginning with the statement “I am True Blue,” the pledge highlights MTSU’s foundational principles: honesty and integrity, respect for diversity, community engagement, and a commitment to reason over violence. The True Blue Pledge continues to be a central tradition at MTSU, recited every fall during the University Convocation ceremony.

40

Students, alumni, fans, and supporters of Blue Raider football kicked off another round of Party in the Grove pregame tailgates before the first home football game of 2025. Set in the Walnut Grove area near Peck Hall, Party in the Grove starts 2½ hours before kickoff with the football team’s traditional Raider Walk led by Coach Derek Mason, with the Band of Blue and the cheer and dance teams on hand to spur them to victory. The event again included a main stage for performing artists, food trucks, and a full slate of activities for the entire family

Two Honors College students gained hands-on experience in cutting-edge biological research through a prestigious Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) hosted on campus. Biology major Ian Wilson and Biochemistry major Tatyana Martinez spent the summer working under the mentorship of Donald Walker, associate professor of Biology, in MTSU’s Microbiome Ecology Lab. The students were focused on investigating snake fungal disease, a growing threat to reptile populations, especially in the Southeastern United States.

41

MTSU photo by Robin E. Lee

Research MTSU is classified by Carnegie as an R2 research university (the largest public R2 university in Tennessee), characterized by “high research spending and doctorate production”—a recognition earned by only 3% of colleges and universities nationwide.

The number of total awards in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs declined by only three in the past year, which is a significant achievement given the headwinds in the federal grant world in the first three months of 2025.

At the same time, our total awards increased from $22,062,504 to $24,163,571, a 9.52% funding uptick.

This increase is due to the number of outstanding faculty and staff who continue to pursue grants for their research, creative activity, and service projects year over year.

One such outstanding faculty member is Hanna Terletska, leader of MTSU’s Quantum Science Initiative and an associate professor of Physics.

In her research funded by $5.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE), Terletska collaborates with scholars from places like Carnegie Mellon University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Augsburg University in Germany, using access to the world’s most powerful computers to research quantum materials that hold the promise of new-generation technologies.

42

This includes quantum computers capable of solving complex problems in minutes, problems that currently take years to solve, as well as highly efficient solar cells and room-temperature superconductors that would generate, transmit, and store electricity with almost no loss. Hence, conquering the behavior of quantum materials can, among other benefits, bolster economies, advance quality of life, and address the unprecedented growth in global energy needs.

In late 2025, MTSU launched the Quantum Research, Interdisciplinary Science, and Education Center (QRISE), a world-class hub for advancing quantum discovery, innovation, education, workforce development, and economic growth.

QRISE prepares students to become leaders in the rapidly evolving quantum world and equips them for the careers of the future. The center serves as a catalyst for innovation by connecting academia, industry, and government to strengthen Tennessee’s role in the national quantum ecosystem, expand economic opportunity, and position MTSU as the driving force of scientific and technological progress.

43

SEPTEMBER The annual Homecoming Parade featured the Band of Blue, tailgating fellowship all around the stadium, the Party in the Grove’s pregame event featuring live music, the crowning of the new MTSU Homecoming queen and king at halftime of the football game against Marshall University, and so much more. The two jam-packed days leading up to the game culminated a week of activities around the “Boro Bound Road Trip” theme. Events organized by the MTSU Alumni Association and Student Government Association included Paint the Halls Blue; Rollin’ on Route Blue Skate Night and Glow Golf at the Campus Recreation Center; and Mac and Cheese Cook-Off and Crash the Commons Road Trip Rave in the Student Union Commons.

MTSU’s expanded Board of Trustees welcomed its three newest members, each serving six-year terms: John Floyd of Murfreesboro, founder and owner of Ole South Properties; Jimmy Granbery of Nashville, chair and CEO of H.G. Hill Realty; and Chad White of Murfreesboro, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary at Brookdale Senior Living. The board also honored the service of outgoing trustee, alumna, and accomplished businesswoman Pam Wright, who was an inaugural board member, having served since 2017 when she was appointed by then-Gov. Bill Haslam. Lastly, Trustees unanimously reelected Stephen B. Smith as chair and Christine Karbowiak Vanek as vice chair. Both will serve two-year terms in their leadership roles.

45

Advancement Our alumni base and friends of the University always answer the rallying call for our Blue Raider family to invest in the people and programs that define the character of MTSU. Alumni support for the University reached a 10-year high in 2025 with 7,984 total donors, an increase of 350 over the previous year.

Visionary music executive Scott Borchetta, whose legendary career includes the 2005 signing of then-unknown artist Taylor Swift to his independent record label, made a major financial gift that led to the renaming of the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU—home to one of America’s top music business schools—to the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU. The generous donation from Borchetta promises to amplify MTSU’s critical role in supplying the media and entertainment industries with ready-to-work graduates and future leaders.

Borchetta is the founder, chair, and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, Nashville’s leading independent record label, that has been home to superstars including Swift, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire, among others.

This renaming is a truly historic event and a project that was years in the making.

As one of Music City’s leading entrepreneurs and visionaries, Borchetta has earned the reputation as one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and forward-thinking leaders. A gift like this is what happens when one’s vision and passion combine with dedication and hard work.

46

47

OCTOBER

MTSU photo by Stacey Tadlock

Mitch Glazier, chair and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), visited MTSU to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the music industry and what it means for the next generation of creators. Speaking to a full crowd of students in the Business and Aerospace Building’s State Farm Room, Glazier explored the promise and peril of AI tools that can generate songs and lyrics and even mimic 48

artists’ voices and images. “You really are the future of the music industry,” Glazier told students during his Oct. 7 campus talk.

“When new technology arrives, it’s always here to stay—but it’s up to us to decide how to shape it.” Glazier said the RIAA and its members are actively advocating for legislation to protect artists from misuse of their likenesses and voices.

D

YEARS

E

SI

100

S

M

TSU

E LIN

The University’s student-run media platform, Sidelines, celebrated 100 years of serving campus and the community through award-winning journalism.

Originally a printed newspaper, Sidelines has evolved into a news website and email newsletter while remaining true to its mission as a student-led news organization that has provided scores of student journalists with an opportunity to put their classroom knowledge to use. The Sidelines news team is made up of dozens of students, all working to gain real-world storytelling experience that will help them as they embark on future careers in the ever-changing world of news and digital media.

MTSU Professor Raj Srivastava, who teaches marketing in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, debuted on national television Sept. 30 as a cast member in the first episode of NBC’s competition show On Brand with Jimmy Fallon. Srivastava, known as Dr. Raj to his students, captured the attention of the show’s producers through his viral TikTok videos, many based on his experiences as an MTSU professor, which have garnered millions of views.

49 Photos courtesy of NBC

Athletics MTSU Athletics achieved championship success, postseason play, and major strides in the Build Blue Campaign during 2025, as well as made continued momentum in facility enhancements.

On the field of competition, the Blue Raiders captured two Conference USA championships, saw six teams advance to postseason play, and had six individuals advance to NCAA postseason events.

The women’s basketball team added another title to its storied tradition, while men’s tennis captured its sixth straight CUSA title.

Men’s and women’s cross country, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis all competed in postseason play.

These achievements reflect the dedication of MTSU student-athletes and coaches and the continued standard of excellence across all programs.

In the classroom, the Blue Raiders had an impressive 94% Graduation Success Rate (GSR), which was tops in Conference USA. Overall, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s golf, softball, soccer, women’s tennis, and volleyball all registered a 100% score. Football’s GSR of 92% led CUSA and tied for 15th nationally.

50

A major highlight of the year was the grand opening of the Stephen and Denise Smith StudentAthlete Performance Center, a game-changing facility located in the north end zone of Floyd Stadium. Designed to enhance the student-athlete experience in every facet—nutrition, academics, sports medicine, and strength and conditioning— the $66 million, 85,000-square-foot facility will be the premier resource for current and future Blue Raiders.

Floyd Stadium also received a new state-of-the-art turf system in June.

The Build Blue Campaign, which supports key facility projects like the Performance Center, continues to surpass expectations.

With a revised goal of $25 million after crushing the original goal of $15 million, the campaign has already raised an impressive $22.7 million.

This success is a testament to the unwavering support of the Blue Raider community and a strong indicator of the program’s upward trajectory.

Together, these successes underscore a transformative year for MTSU Athletics—one defined by championships, momentum, and a bold vision for the future.

51

NOVEMBER For an 11th year, MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry was named among the best music business schools by Billboard. The article, “Billboard’s 2025 Top Music Business Schools,” highlighted the new name of the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, where the Recording Industry is housed, recognizing the Big Machine Label Group founder and CEO’s support of MTSU’s programs. The article also noted the hands-on opportunities students gain by working at high-profile events, such as the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, the Grammy Awards, and the Country Music Awards, among other experiences. MTSU has been on Billboard’s list of the best music business schools since 2013, receiving recognition that first year for the recording industry program’s entrepreneurial turn.

52

Students at MTSU’s Jones College of Business enjoyed a front-row seat to the future of artificial intelligence during a guest lecture by a product marketing manager for Google Gemini. Alessandro Cannas was invited to campus by MTSU’s Gaia Rancati, assistant professor of marketing and neuromarketing in the Jones A. College of Business and coordinator of the Neuromarketing and AI Lab. Rancati said she brought Cannas to campus to provide students with “a behind-the-scenes look at how Google is shaping the future of marketing and customer experience through AI innovation and product strategy.” Cannas’ presentation, held in the State Farm Room of the Business and Aerospace Building, highlighted Google’s Gemini platform and its transformative impact on marketing, education and innovation. Cannas shared his personal journey from Italy to Google, detailing his work on Gemini, Google’s multimodal AI model. Cannas noted the speed at which AI went from an experimental sector to an increasingly popular consumer product with products like ChatGPT and other new Large Language Models, or LLMs, that moved AI technology forward. “It was exciting to be in a moment where the entire industry was changing before our eyes,” he said.

53

Nontraditional Students More than 2,400 of MTSU’s undergraduate students are 25 or older. Expanding service to nontraditional students represents one of the most significant opportunities to offset anticipated declines in the number of traditional-age college students over the next few years.

The launch of a new Adult Degree Completion Program communication plan, geared specifically to prospective nontraditional students, has shown significant success. A nontraditional student version of the New to Blue new student orientation also has been developed.

The Spring 2025 semester marked considerable progress in both enrollment and graduation among employees from MTSU’s corporate partner programs, with enrollment up 33% from Spring 2024.

Graduation numbers also climbed. Thirty-two corporate partner employees earned degrees from MTSU in 2024, and in Spring 2025 alone, 28 more graduates completed bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Summer 2025 enrollment reached 48 students—more than double the 18 enrolled in Summer 2024.

This is a powerful pathway for working adults to earn degrees and advance their careers.

A key highlight is the Nissan North America-MTSU education partnership, which is approaching a major milestone: the completion of its first full year of the on-site Applied Leadership cohort at the Nissan Smyrna Training Center. The program had its first graduate in December 2025. Since the partnership launched a year ago, 31 Nissan employees have enrolled at MTSU to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees.

54

A major aspect of our successful adult learner programming is MTSU's Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program, which has set a benchmark for other institutions by helping students document and earn college credits for nontraditional learning experiences.

Over its 17-year history, the MTSU program has seen 1,326 students complete the assessment process, with 28,177 PLA credits awarded, an average of more than 21 credits earned per student. The program has extended to MTSU graduate programs as well. Fifty-two portfolios have been submitted and 294 graduate credits awarded.

Lastly, the GraduateMT program continues to transform lives through its unwavering commitment to supporting nontraditional learners.

Through this program, more than 5,100 students have returned to pursue their education, and 1,500 have graduated since the program’s inception in 2018.

By guiding returning students through the readmission process, removing barriers, and offering personalized degree plans, GraduateMT makes graduation a reality for many who once thought attaining a college degree was out of reach.

MTSU Online also continued to expand access to high-quality education for students across Tennessee and beyond.

MTSU now offers more than 70 fully online degree programs.

These programs respond directly to workforce needs and provide new opportunities for students seeking flexible pathways to advance their education and careers.

55

DECEMBER MTSU’s Data Science program in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business launched a forward-looking undergraduate certificate, Using Artificial Intelligence. Designed for MTSU students and working professionals eager to explore the transformative power of AI, this 10-credit-hour program provides hands-on experience and practical skills that will serve students across a wide range of disciplines and career paths. The Provost’s Office requested the creation of an undergraduate AI certificate, which was designed by an interdisciplinary group of MTSU faculty members participating in the University’s AI Initiative. The certificate courses are currently a mix of on-ground and online options, with potential for a fully online option in the near future.

56

MTSU’s Board of Trustees took initial actions to create new graduate degree programs in Health Care Administration as well as Film and Television. Trustees unanimously approved consideration of a Master of Health Care Administration, or M.H.A. degree, in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, the first regulatory step necessary in the process. The M.H.A. proposal may now be developed for consideration by the campus community and staff at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and, if approved, returned to the trustees for a final vote. The board granted its final vote of approval for a proposed Master of Fine Arts, or M.F.A. degree, in Film and Television in the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment. If approved by THEC and SACSCOC, the University’s accreditation body, the M.F.A. will be available in August 2026.

57

An Ongoing Duty The Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center celebrated a decade of service in 2025! Its grand opening was Nov. 5, 2015.

A recent renovation combined its first-floor and third-floor spaces as well as created space for growth, increasing the center’s office space from 3,200 to 4,079 square feet.

The Charlie Daniels Legacy Wall has already been installed at the front entrance.

As we celebrate 10 years of service, we continue the mission to grow how we assist military people, wherever they reside in the world.

We also honor Charlie Daniels’ contributions.

Military culture is deeply embedded into MTSU’s DNA, and the University has a long tradition of aiding veterans in the transition from military to civilian life.

The work the center does goes beyond degree seeking. It offers employment services, mental health services, and direct connectivity to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In addition to Daniels Center staff, two VA employees—a fulltime mental health counselor and a VetSuccess on Campus counselor—and two full-time state employees, both Veterans Service Officers, are stationed at the center. We have in fact become a field office for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services.

We also now routinely host VA benefits workshops both for the community and for companies bringing in their veterans as a group.

And we have hired a second person to assist military-connected people with employment.

Student enrollment now surpasses 1,200 regularly. Everything a student veteran needs to succeed is available through the center, from getting advice on courses and completing government paperwork to getting questions answered about benefits and employment opportunities.

MTSU’s retired three-star general, Keith Huber, who retired from 38 years in the U.S. Army, 14 of them as a general officer—and the last two as a commanding general in Afghanistan—and Daniels Center Director Hilary Miller have led the center to great heights over the past decade.

But the Daniels Center can assist any military-connected person—no MTSU affiliation is necessary. There is no charge, either.

Entering its second decade, the Daniels Center keeps expanding in scope, reach, funding, and physical space to help both military-connected students at MTSU and American veterans across the globe.

We serve everyone in the military community—veterans, current service members, dependents, spouses, JROTC and ROTC cadets, MTSU students, and those unaffiliated with MTSU. 58

This unrestricted mission has not changed since we opened the center’s doors.

59

CONCLUSION:

A Collective Success When I arrived as the 10th president of MTSU in 2001, MTSU was a respected regional institution. It also held untapped potential for growth in academic excellence, innovation, and community impact.

In the two dozen years since then, MTSU has grown to become a nationally recognized academic leader in many areas. Prestigious institutions, including The Princeton Review and The Wall Street Journal, have recognized this transformation.

My presidency has focused on purpose, not just growth. Each new building, expanded program, and strategic partnership I hope and believe have demonstrated my belief in higher education’s transformative power and in MTSU’s power to transform the Nashville area for the better.

In short, while the accolades are certainly nice, my vision has extended beyond infrastructure and rankings and embraced the concepts of creating opportunities, empowering students, and making MTSU a pillar of progress for middle Tennessee and beyond.

In my 25 years of service to the University as president, MTSU has been blessed to invest more than $1.5 billion in new construction. These investments reshaped the campus with modern facilities and elevated the University’s academic standing.

60

Today, MTSU includes eight undergraduate colleges offering more than 200 majors and concentrations across 38 departments. The College of Graduate Studies offers more than 100 master’s and specialist programs and nine doctoral degrees. The University has raised admission standards, increased enrollment of high-ability students, and introduced more than 40 academic programs, two new colleges, and 20 institutes and centers. These academic expansions well reflect my commitment to preparing students for the future workforce.

Between recognitions and growth, however, there is a greater good that we have achieved together. And that is our commitment to providing students with an education that is rigorous and relevant. By doing so, MTSU is not just an educational institution. It is an economic engine and launch pad for social mobility for our state. That’s what gives me immense pride.

I want to thank all of the supporters of MTSU for their tireless efforts through the years. The state of the University is strong, and that is because of your commitment and effort. MTSU’s success is deeply intertwined with the success of our community. By working together, we can create opportunities that benefit everyone, from students and alumni to local businesses and residents.

61

Student Data First-Time First-Year Students by College

121 423 Basic and Applied Sciences

1,225

305

Behavioral and Health Sciences Business Education

80

Liberal Arts Media and Entertainment University College

422 692 62

New Freshmen by Enrollment Status Part-time Full-time

Fall 2021

Fall 2022

45 2,707

New Freshmen by Ethnicity Alaskan Native and American Indian Asian Black or African American Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Not Specified Two or More Races White

#

Top Ten Majors of New Freshmen Aerospace Nursing Psychology Biology Academic Focus Audio Production Business Administration Science Video and Film Production Engineering Technology

#

Average ACT Scores of New Freshmen English Math Reading Science Composite

Fall 2023

41 2,764

6 171 557 414 5 20 198 1,897

333 237 167 159 142 137 97 96 96 82 MTSU 23.0 21.0 24.0 22.0 23.0

Fall 2024

56 3,070

35 3,114

Fall 2025 69 3,199

New Freshmen by High School Rockvale High School Blackman High School Stewarts Creek High School Riverdale High School Smyrna High School Siegel High School Oakland High School Lavergne High School Central High School Independence High School

#

New Freshmen by TN County Rutherford Davidson Williamson Shelby Wilson Hamilton Bedford Sumner Coffee Montgomery Knox Maury Warren Franklin Madison Marshall

#

132 125 115 93 90 86 81 61 51 49

981 325 288 219 179 90 82 73 57 51 48 47 29 27 25 22 63

Headcount, Student Credit Hours, and Full-Time Equivalency Summary: Fall 2025 Headcount Undergraduate

Graduate

Full-Time Equivalency

4,174

24,683

2,057

Full-time

14,270

203,131

16,928

Total

18,444

227,814

18,985

1,756

8,407

934

Part-time Full-time

All Student

Student Credit Hours

Part-time

612

6,125

681

Total

2,368

14,532

1,615

Total

20,812

242,346

20,600

Undergraduate Majors by College: Fall 2025 725 1,783 5,363 Basic and Applied Sciences

2,072

Behavioral and Health Sciences Business Education Liberal Arts

1,884

Media and Entertainment Non-Degree

402 64

3,384 2,831

University College

Snapshot of Fall 2025 Student Body Total Headcount: 20,812

Gender

Status 16000

11500

14,882

14000

11000

11,165

12000

10500

10000

10000

8000 6000

9500 9,647

5.930

4000

9000

2000

8500 Women

0

Men

Full-Time

Part-Time

College 6000

5000 5,752 4000

3,774

3000

3,446 2000 2,116

2,134 1,836

1000 936

818

0 Basic and Applied Sciences

Behavioral and Health Sciences

Business

Education

Liberal Arts

Media University Non-Degree and College Entertainment

65

FINANCIALS Revenues

Operating Revenues

Net Tuition and Fees Operating Grants and Contracts Sales & Services of Educational Net Auxiliary Enterprises Other Operating Revenues

Total Operating Revenues

Other Revenues

State Appropriations Capital Appropriations Nonoperating Grants and Contracts Gifts and Capital Gifts Investment income-Net of Expense Other Nonoperating Revenues

Total Revenues

Expenses

Operating Expenses

Salaries and Wages Benefits Utilities, Supplies, and Other Services Scholarships and Fellowships Depreciation Expense

Total Operating Expenses

Other Expenses

Interest on Capital Asset-Related Debt Other Nonoperating Expenses

Total Expenses

66

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

$111,315,594.08 $21,231,764.88 $22,371,360.95 $27,234,960.91 $216,975.82

$126,951,835.35 $16,091,592.79 $23,544,820.34 $25,377,213.99 $672,647.26

$127,219,901.69 $15,590,213.24 $27,685,625.36 $26,513,003.59 $298,053.19

$138,921,955.88 $15,194,877.52 $22,713,901.78 $25,204,654.39 $216,071.44

$137,724,999.72 $13,469,878.98 $15,550,805.24 $21,009,045.49 $293,847.58

$182,370,656.64

$192,638,109.73

$197,306,797.07

$202,251,461.01

$188,048,577.01

$148,243,600.00 $83,043,556.68 $91,114,819.40 $8,567,023.85 $9,451,808.03 $155,504.30

$147,716,615.70 $29,962,124.41 $78,456,473.30 $9,583,412.47 $12,385,005.02 $325,141.88

$136,089,150.00 $12,593,936.33 $83,803,811.22 $8,848,172.67 $7,827,826.27 $230,656.97

$122,684,840.43 $29,328,312.91 $113,439,934.31 $7,386,675.27 $762,113.47 $289,999.09

$109,678,137.50 $13,309,243.49 $112,168,076.28 $7,450,335.73 $1,098,083.67 $316,453.40

$522,946,968.90

$471,066,882.51

$446,700,350.53

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

$216,342,286.19 $85,188,645.87 $102,227,495.36 $19,709,065.39 $30,052,532.66

$206,621,185.21 $77,622,163.83 $104,333,194.17 $35,479,807.85 $28,915,469.90

$197,794,625.24 $68,308,709.54 $96,084,993.04 $34,040,089.17 $27,258,941.35

$187,493,517.99 $55,324,622.36 $86,421,601.48 $57,271,074.21 $23,278,836.11

$183,951,791.63 $64,538,064.25 $77,821,791.55 $42,703,063.04 $23,041,940.83

$3,548,121.49 $68,227.71

$3,477,689.22 $1,411,495.77

$453,520,025.47

$452,971,820.96

$423,487,358.34

$6,017,547.87 $421,713.15

$6,310,937.72 $560,592.79

$5,098,481.76 $329,201.50

$459,959,286.49

$459,843,351.47

$428,915,041.60

$476,143,336.49 $432,068,907.08

$409,789,652.15 $392,056,651.30

$413,406,001.35 $396,945,836.29

Net Assets

Net Assets-Beginning of Year Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principal Adjustments for accounting changes & error corrections

Net Assets-End of Year

2025

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

TOTAL EXPENSES

NET ASSETS-END OF YEAR

2022

2021

$536,991,593.06 $17,785,308.93

$474,254,257.92 $62,737,335.14

$439,131,187.13 $35,123,070.79

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

$(47,527,158.24)

TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES TOTAL REVENUES

2023

$554,776,901.99 $11,223,531.04

$588,619,804.33

2024

$573,159,280.16 $62,987,682.41

2025

$182.4 MM

2025

$522.9 MM

2025

$453.5 MM

2025

$459.9 MM

2025

$588.6 MM

$7,158,847.13

$573,159,280.16

2024

$192.6 MM

2024

$471.0 MM

2024

$453.0 MM

2024

$459.8 MM

2024

$573.2 MM

$554,776,901.99 $536,991,593.06 $474,254,257.92

2023

$197.3 MM

2023

$446.6 MM

2023

$423.5 MM

2023

$428.9 MM

2023

$554.7 MM

2022

$202.3 MM

2022

$476.1 MM

2022

$409.8 MM

2022

$413.4 MM

2022

$537.0 MM

2021

$188.0 MM

2021

$432.1 MM

2021

$392.1 MM

2021

$396.9 MM

2021

$474.3 MM

Editor Drew Ruble Contributing Editors Nancy Broden, Jimmy Hart, and Carol Stuart Senior Director of Marketing Domeda Duncan Director of Creative and Visual Services Kristy O'Neal University Photographers Andy Heidt, J. Intintoli, James Cessna, Cat Curtis Murphy Designer Sherry Wiser George 200 Copies Printed at Blue Print

0126-8560 / Middle Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs, and activities sponsored by MTSU. The Assistant to the President for Civil Rights Compliance has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and can be reached at Cope Administration Building 116, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132; Christy.Sigler@mtsu.edu; or 615-898-2185. The MTSU policy on non-discrimination can be found at crc.mtsu.edu.

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1301 E. Main St. • Murfreesboro, TN 37132 • 615-898-2300 • mtsu.edu 68