As the year edges toward a close, it's a good time to take stock of how well our university is meeting its strategic goals established last year to help the university support its vision and mission.

In a report posted on our Planning Office web site, the 2006 Progress on Strategic Plan provides a snapshot of the progress made in four main areas: leadership, access, quality and resourcefulness.

"Our strategic plan makes it possible for us to quantify how well we've performed compared to baseline numbers we gathered last year," said President Bob Bell. "Each objective fits into our vision to be one of the best universities in the nation through a commitment to the life-long success of our students."

In the area of leadership, we posted a large increase (473 percent) in the number of campus activities related to P-16 initiatives, community related projects, workforce development, effective use of technology and research service and outreach. Communications, such as press releases, related to these areas also increased significantly (203 percent).

Access refers to the university's ability to enhance the rate and diversity of participation of higher education by Tennesseans. One focus is increasing enrollment in under-represented counties. This year, the institution increased enrollment from three under-represented counties by more than 20 percent.

Distance education is also allowing the university to be aggressive in meeting the objective of increasing off-campus enrollment, which went up about 20 percent this year also.

Quality measurements included monitoring the increase of alumni involvement in different areas and enhancing student involvement. Almost 300 alumni reported that they mentor current students or new graduates, more than doubling the number from the previous year. Retention rates for first-time freshmen also went up from 70.96 to 72.73 percent.

Resourcefulness is defined by the stimulation of activities that increase external funding and efficiency/cost savings. Externally supported research increased about 30 percent, topping $15.9 million. Composite fundraising reached about $6.2 million, reflecting an increase of 72 percent. The number of cost-saving or entrepreneurial projects leaped 56 percent.

Each year, a summary progress report will be issued to show the actual progress made toward annual objectives and the five-year benchmarks set for 2010.