This past week has been one of the most unusually beautiful and challenging in the 100-year history of Tennessee Tech University. Nature often humbles us and forces us to reassess our priorities and plans. Although any record of campus closings are hard to come by, canceling classes and closing the TTU campus for an entire week due to wintry...
As I frequent our country’s busy airports, I see more and more spontaneous applause and standing ovations for active duty service men and women as they board and deplane. It’s a great pleasure to see respect and honor given every day, not just on formal celebration days, to these special men and women.
We pause this week to formally celebrate...
I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who rolled up their sleeves last Friday to participate in the 2014 edition of TTU Campus Beautification Day. Approximately 400 TTU faculty, staff, and student volunteers spread 1,800 tons of mulch and collected about 350 bags of leaves, twigs, weeds, and litter. Your physical effort is evident in a...
On Saturday, I’m pleased that Gov. Bill Haslam and State Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman will honor and encourage our more than 1,200 graduates. But the day really is about the personal journeys of each individual who walks across the stage. It’s about the first-generation graduate, as well as the student who followed her family’s legacy to become a...
Some TTU graduates in the near future won’t have to spend as much time polishing their resumes; they’ll be busy creating the jobs that inspire them.
https://vimeo.com/91343981
The Volpe Library third floor is on the verge of becoming home to an innovation and discovery center that will change the way our university prepares and teaches students. We don’t have a name...
The sad irony is the value of a college degree in our competitive global economy is greater than ever while access to that degree seems far too limited for most people.
This modern dilemma has been coined the “Iron Triangle” of affordability, access and quality. Improvements in one side of the triangle can cause problems with another. Reducing costs can...
On one of my recent routine, early morning trips to Nashville for yet another meeting of some sort, I lined up at the drive-thru of one of my favorite local fast food establishments to grab and go. Interestingly in our world of multitasking and instant everything, fast food doesn’t even seem fast anymore. So while anxiously waiting in line,...
So what is 63 years of loyal service producing more than 1,600 commissioned officers, including a 4-star general, two 3-stars, two 2-stars, a brigadier general, and a rear admiral worth in today’s world? Apparently, not much. That’s certainly the message I received loud and clear a couple of days ago with a cold, matter-of-fact call from the U.S. Army...
As we remind ourselves of the power and importance of free speech, I invite the campus community to mark Constitution Day with Tennessee Tech this evening. David Kopel, attorney and adjunct professor at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, will discuss the Second Amendment at our annual Nolan Fowler Constitution Day address tonight at 6 p.m. in...
Welcome back. We’ve been waiting for you.
Over the past week, Tech has taken on the wonderful tempo of a new fall semester. Today, students are telling their parents farewell and moving into residence halls. We’re welcoming more than 2,100 freshmen at convocation Friday.
For me, the enthusiasm for the students’ return began last week, when more than 400 TTU faculty...
