President's letter

RESILIENCE. PURPOSE. HOPE. President's Letter

In the spring of 2020, as the weather warmed, there were no crowds gathered at the Quad, no laughter resonating from the D . P . Culp Student Center . On walks across campus I saw more squirrels than people, but through the heaviness of the silence hope rang loudly from the carillon. Nature also provided signs of the precarious spring semester . In between two cracks in the pavement a small dandelion proudly displayed its yellow petals. Despite its circumstances, the flower was thriving. The unforeseen challenges our university faced did not impede the spirit of our students, faculty and staff. We are thriving. I realize that dandelions are considered unwanted pests for many and our grounds crew does an impeccable job maintaining a manicured campus, but the plant’s presence reminds us that even when our lives drastically change, nature knows and continues to live out its purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us that East Tennessee State University exists to improve the lives of the people of this region . This important work continued as individuals volunteered to offer homework help, built face shields and produced hand sanitizer . The many successes of fall 2019 were not abandoned or forgotten . In fact, the new Center for Rural Health Research, established through a gift from Ballad Health and appropriations recommended by Gov. Lee and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, hired its first director of research and programs and was instrumental in ETSU receiving one of seven federally funded rural health research centers—a $2 . 8 million grant award over four years. We also continued efforts to ensure all high school students have access to a quality, affordable postsecondary education by launching the Promise Plus and Free Freshmen Tuition initiatives and the ETSU Board of Trustees voted to hold tuition and fees steady in order to help students and their families face financial headwinds caused by the pandemic. Throughout this year we focused on what matters most – people . Faculty, staff and our community of alumni and donors provided financial and one-on-one support to students struggling to gain footing as effects of the pandemic became a harsh reality . The Bucs Help Bucs and Bucs Calling Bucs initiatives are only two examples of the countless ways the ETSU community showed its heart and reaffirmed our institution’s purpose. The results of these efforts were made clear this fall as we celebrate the highest fall-to-fall retention rate in our history. Seventy-eight percent of students who started at ETSU in fall 2019 enrolled for fall 2020. The 2019-20 year was one of resilience, hope and purpose . I hope you will take time to read and reflect upon the stories and snapshots from a year unlike any other . Much like the dandelion, I too, am proud of how ETSU has continued to grow even when conditions were quite unfavorable. These accomplishments are shared by each individual who chooses to be part of ETSU and those who guide and support our students and our university every day. Thank you for all you do for ETSU.

Brian Noland President