The University of Tennessee at Martin Faculty and Staff Newsletter | July 16, 2018 addenda Survey shows students feel connected, confident, safe According to a survey of almost 1,000 students enrolled at UT Martin during the spring 2018 semester, students feel connected to and encouraged by their professors; are confident in the skills they learn in the classroom; and feel safe in the campus community. While UT Martin scored higher than the national average in a number of areas, the results reinforce the continuing message that UT Martin faculty and staff care about the long- term accomplishments of their students and want to help them succeed however possible. Survey respondents show that UT Martin students are more likely than their national counterparts to seek the help and advice of faculty mentors. Sixty-seven percent of respondents say they meet with faculty members two or more times per year (compared to 59 percent nationally), and 61 percent of respondents say they talk to faculty and staff members about their career options often (compared to 45 percent nationally). UT Martin faculty also make an effort to assist students with their career choices, and 79 percent of respondents say they have had a faculty- initiated conversation about their careers during their time at UT Martin. Only 63 percent of national respondents could say the same thing. Students also report having faculty mentors who encourage them, feeling important to their professors on a personal level, and having Since enrolling at UT Martin, how often have you spoken with faculty and staff members about potential career options? UT Martin % Very Often Colleges Nationally % Often %Rarely % Never 23% 38% 32% 8% 12% 33% 41% 14% at least one faculty member who makes them excited about learning. Eighty-eight percent of survey participants either agree or strongly agree that UT Martin is committed to academic excellence, and the same percentage feels academically challenged by their major coursework. Finally, 82 percent of respondents have someone at UT Martin they can count on to help plan their course to graduation, and 89 percent know where to go with questions about degree requirements. UT Martin also surpassed national averages in areas where students were asked about the value, quality and relevance of their education both inside and outside of the classroom. Fifty- seven percent of respondents strongly agree they will graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the workplace, while only 36 percent of students nationally felt the same. UT Martin’s results show almost double the number of positive responses to questions regarding whether the education received at UT Martin is worth the cost, as compared to the national average. In fact, 60 percent of survey respondents say they would still enroll at UT Martin if they could make the decision over again. Finally, UT Martin students report feeling safe on campus (60 percent) and comfortable sharing unpopular ideas in class (33 percent). The national averages for the same questions are 39 and 22 percent, respectively. The survey also indicates that 54 percent of respondents feel that UT Martin would do the right thing if a student reported a sexual assault, as compared to only 36 percent of students nationally who are confident in their institutions. These results were reported in the third and final phase of a two-year research project conducted by Gallup Inc. to determine how academic and social experiences at UT Martin impact both current students and alumni. The phase-three survey gathered responses from 909 students who were enrolled during the spring 2018 semester. Phase one of this project exclusively surveyed university alumni to discover how their UT Martin experiences impacted their lives after graduation. The Gallup, page 4
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The University of Tennessee at Martin Faculty and Staff Newsletter | July 16, 2018
addendaSurvey shows students feel connected, confident, safeAccording to a survey of
almost 1,000 students enrolled at UT Martin during the spring 2018 semester, students feel connected to and encouraged by their professors; are confident in the skills they learn in the classroom; and feel safe in the campus community.
While UT Martin scored higher than the national average in a number of areas, the results reinforce the continuing message that UT Martin faculty and staff care about the long-term accomplishments of their students and want to help them succeed however possible.
Survey respondents show that UT Martin students are more likely than their national counterparts to seek the help and advice of faculty mentors. Sixty-seven percent of respondents say they meet with faculty members two or more times per year (compared to 59 percent nationally), and 61 percent of respondents say they talk to faculty and staff members about their career options often (compared to 45 percent nationally).
UT Martin faculty also make an effort to assist students with their career choices, and 79 percent of respondents say they have had a faculty-initiated conversation about their careers during their time at UT Martin. Only 63 percent of national respondents could say the same thing. Students also report having faculty mentors who encourage them, feeling important to their professors on a personal level, and having
Since enrolling at UT Martin, how often have you spoken with faculty and sta�
members about potential career options?
UT Martin
% Very Often
Colleges Nationally
% Often %Rarely % Never
23%
38%
32%
8%
12%
33%
41%
14%
at least one faculty member who makes them excited about learning.
Eighty-eight percent of survey participants either agree or strongly agree that UT Martin is committed to academic excellence, and the same percentage feels academically challenged by their major coursework. Finally, 82 percent of respondents have someone at UT Martin they can count on to help plan their course to graduation, and 89 percent know where to go with questions about degree requirements.
UT Martin also surpassed national averages in areas where students were asked about the value, quality and relevance of their education both inside and outside of the classroom. Fifty-seven percent of respondents strongly agree they will graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the workplace, while only 36 percent of students nationally felt the same.
UT Martin’s results show almost double the number of positive responses to questions regarding whether the education received at UT Martin is worth the cost, as compared to the national average. In fact, 60 percent of survey respondents say they would still enroll at UT Martin if they could make the decision over again.
Finally, UT Martin students report feeling safe on campus (60 percent) and comfortable sharing unpopular ideas in class (33 percent). The national averages for the same
questions are 39 and 22 percent, respectively. The survey also indicates that 54 percent of respondents feel that UT Martin would do the right thing if a student reported a sexual assault, as compared to only 36 percent of students nationally who are confident in their institutions.
These results were reported in the third and final phase of a two-year research project conducted by Gallup Inc. to
determine how academic and social experiences at UT Martin impact both current students and alumni. The phase-three survey gathered responses from 909 students who were enrolled during the spring 2018 semester.
Phase one of this project exclusively surveyed university alumni to discover how their UT Martin experiences impacted their lives after graduation. The
Gallup, page 4
page 2 | addenda | July 16, 2018
YoUTMs highlighting the excellence of our faculty and staff
Addenda is published bi-weekly during the summer semester. Please send Addenda submissions to Erin Chesnut, Addenda editor, at [email protected]
by noon, July 26, for consideration in the July 30 issue.
Dr. Richard Garlitz, associate professor of history, has published a new book, “A Mission for Development: Utah Universities and the Point Four Program in Iran,” through the Utah State University Press.
Dr. Rachna Tewari, associate professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, presented a talk on the economics of renewable energy and updates on the UT Martin mobile energy classroom during the Western Agricultural Economics Meetings held June 24-26 in Anchorage, Alaska. The presentation was co-authored with UT Martin faculty members John Cole and Dr. Paula Gale and funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture NIFA NLGCA Capacity Building Grant. Tewari also organized and led a teaching symposium panel focused on the changing use of technology in classrooms in partnership with Texas Tech University, Colorado State University, West Texas A&M University, Angelo State University and the University of Arizona.
Dr. Ross Pruitt and Dr. Rachna Tewari, associate professors of agricultural economics and agribusiness, presented research papers during the International Food Marketing Research Symposium held June 12-14 at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom. Their talks focused on the farm-to-school lunch program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture senior farmers’ market nutrition program, respectively.
Dr. Mahmoud Haddad, professor of finance, presented a co-authored paper titled “Using Alternative Investment Vehicles to Replicate Hedge Funds Risk and Return” during the 93rd annual conference of the Western Economic Association International held June 26-30 in Vancouver, Canada.
Dr. Adam Wilson and Erica Bell, both of the Office of Educational Outreach, recently gave presentations regarding UT Martin’s transition to Canvas, new faculty development models and student engagement during the U.S. Distance Learning Association National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Several staff members from the Paul Meek Library, including Cindy Gaylord, Sara Rachels, Lisa Hoskins and Caren Nichter, recently led two workshops for the children in the Martin Housing Authority’s summer program. During the first workshop, children listened to a Dr. Suess story and created their own Cat in the Hat hats and bowties. The second session allowed children to create their own Flat Stanley-inspired characters after listening to the related story.
Follow @utmartin on Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram!
page 3 | addenda | July 16, 2018
YoUTMsDr. Joaquín Goyret, associate
professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is the senior author of a research article titled “Context dependency of in-flight responses by Manduca sexta moths to ambient differences in relative humidity” recently published in The Journal of Experimental Biology. This is the result of a collaborative effort lead by Goyret in cooperation with
Tom Eskew and Dr. Stephanie Kolitsch (mathematics and statistics), Dr. Jennifer Esbenshade (chemistry) and Allen Pounds (English) facilitated a pilot ACT preparation course July 10-11 for 12 teachers from Lauderdale County.
scientists from the University of Arizona and Cornell University.
In Memory
Dr. Earl Norwood, retired chair of the Department of Music, died June 28 at the age of 84. Services were held July 5 in Wenatchee, Washington. Norwood became director in 1978 and led the division of fine and performing arts, developed the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program and introduced graphic design to the department. He retired in 2003. The Earl Norwood Memorial Fund is being established at UT Martin through the Department of Music, and the family has asked that any donations in his memory be made to this account. Contact Dr. Julie Hill at [email protected] for more information.
Dr. Ted Mosch, professor emeritus of political science, died July 3 after an extended illness. He served at UT Martin from 1970 until his retirement in 2002. During that time, he won numerous teaching and service awards from both UT Martin and the UT System, and advised the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program. He attained the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army after serving on the faculty of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Schol at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and earned numerous military honors. Gifts in his memory can be made to UT Martin’s Ted Mosch Scholarship Endowment.
Judy Roberts, former administrative assistant for UT Martin Honors Programs, died July 12 at the age of 70. Funeral services were held July 14 at the Gardner Church of Christ, where she was a longtime member, with burial following in the Gardner Cemetery. Judy is the mother of Dr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science.
UT Martin’s Master of Science in Education degree with a major in counseling has been nationally recognized for excellence and affordability from a variety of sources in the past few months.
CollegeChoice.net ranks the university 13th among the best online master’s degrees in educational counseling in the nation. UT Martin is the second-ranked Tennessee institution on this particular list, with Vanderbilt University appearing at number three.
SR Education Group, an education research publisher founded in 2004, ranks the UT Martin program 20th nationally among the best online colleges for school counseling in 2018 and 23rd for affordability.
GuideToOnlineSchools.com ranks UT Martin’s overall online programs fourth among the best
UT Martin counseling degree is nationally ranked
online colleges in Tennessee for 2018.
UT Martin Online is housed in the Office of Educational Outreach and offers undergraduate degree programs in philosophy; business administration with a major in management; agriculture with a majors in agribusiness or farm and ranch management; and interdisciplinary studies. An RN-to-BSN degree-completion program is also available for registered nurses, as well as a degree-completion program in veterinary technology and management.
Online programs are also available for those seeking graduate degrees in business administration, agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer science, education, and strategic communications.
results from 2,623 responses showed intense alumni pride and attachment to their alma mater. Phase two dealt with qualitative responses from 20 phone interviews with alumni who graduated between 2011 and 2016 and also yielded positive results.
Additional infographics are available in the UT Martin news archive.
For more information on this survey, or to see full demographic information for the response pools from this or any previous phase, contact the UT Martin Office of the Chancellor at 731-881-7500.
Gallup, from page 1 CAMPUS CLIMATE(% STRONGLY AGREE)
UT Martin Colleges Nationally
I feel very comfortable sharing ideas or opinions in class that are probably only
held by a minority of people.
Students at UT Martin look out for one another.
If I raised an issue about sexual assault on campus, I am confident UT Martin
would do what is right.
If I raised an issue about discrimination on campus, I am confident UT Martin
would do what is right.
33%
28%
54%
38%
22%
20%
36%
27%
CAMPUS CLIMATE(% STRONGLY AGREE)
UT Martin Colleges Nationally
I feel very comfortable sharing ideas or opinions in class that are probably only
held by a minority of people.
Students at UT Martin look out for one another.
If I raised an issue about sexual assault on campus, I am confident UT Martin
would do what is right.
If I raised an issue about discrimination on campus, I am confident UT Martin
would do what is right.
33%
28%
54%
38%
22%
20%
36%
27%
CAMPUS CLIMATE(% STRONGLY AGREE)
UT Martin Colleges Nationally
I feel very comfortable sharing ideas or opinions in class that are probably only
held by a minority of people.
Students at UT Martin look out for one another.
If I raised an issue about sexual assault on campus, I am confident UT Martin
would do what is right.
If I raised an issue about discrimination on campus, I am confident UT Martin
would do what is right.
33%
28%
54%
38%
22%
20%
36%
27%
Weakley County WestStar alumni host local candidate forum
MAYORAL DEBATE – Pictured are candidates for Weakley County mayor Jason Plunk (left) and Jake Bynum (right), who participated in a debate during the WestStar county forum. Dr. Richard Robinson (center), associate professor of communications and faculty adviser to WUTM-FM 90.3 “The Hawk,” served as forum moderator.
The WestStar Leadership Program’s Weakley County alumni group hosted a forum July 12 for candidates seeking political office in Weakley County. Nine candidates participated in the event, five running unopposed and four
running in contested races for county sheriff and county mayor.
Candidates were given three minutes to introduce themselves and tell why they are seeking countywide office. Dr. Richard Robinson, associate professor
of communications and faculty adviser to WUTM-FM 90.3 “The Hawk,” served as forum moderator and introduced each candidate in turn. Mayoral candidates Jake Bynum and Jason Plunk ended the event with a formal debate. Debate
questions were developed by a committee that included a Republican, a Democrat and an independent.
“WestStar’s mission is to shape the future of West Tennessee, and that starts at the community and county level,” said Dr. Charley Deal, WestStar executive director. “Our role is to be as non-partisan as possible but to get education about the candidates and where they stand on issues out to the general public.”
An open reception held prior to the forum allowed community members to meet the candidates before they took the stage in the Boling University Center’s Watkins Auditorium.
“I came because I’m familiar with the candidates, and I’ve always been interested in local government,” said Bennie Castleman. “I just wanted to hear what the candidates had to say, and I think they all did a great job. … I appreciate WestStar and the university having (this event).” Castleman and his wife,
WestStar, page 5
page 5 | addenda | July 16, 2018
Barbara, are longtime Weakley County residents and own two Shoe Shack locations in the area.
WestStar alumni groups in other counties have sponsored similar events for local candidates during the current election year. In February, WestStar partnered with the Tennessee Press Association and others to co-sponsor a gubernatorial candidate forum during the Tennessee Press Association Winter Convention in Nashville. In May, the 2018 WestStar class organized and sponsored a Tennessee gubernatorial forum that featured six candidates who are seeking the governor’s office.
The WestStar Leadership Program is sponsored by UT Martin.
WestStar, from page 4
addendaPublished weekly during the academic year and biweekly during the summer by UT Martin, Martin, TN 38238
Dr. Joseph DiPietro – President, University of Tennessee System • Dr. Keith Carver – Chancellor • Erin Chesnut – Addenda Editor UT Martin is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. E05-0425-00-001-19
You Tell Me•Question – I’ve heard a rumor that many trees in the quad may be dying. Is this true, and what is the plan to replacethem?
•Answer – There is not a widespread problem with campus trees dying. However, there was recently a dead tree removedat the corner of Mt. Pelia Road and University Street that fell in a storm, and another near the Alumni Center that willbe removed soon. Otherwise, the campus trees are healthy and thriving. The campus grounds crew tries to plan about 40new trees on campus each year.
Submit your questions to the Suggestion Box link at www.utm.edu.
•July 20 – Transfer and adultorientation; Boling UniversityCenter; 8:30 a.m.•July 23-27 – 4-H Rounduphosted on campus•July 23-27 – Robotics camp;Jackson Center; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.•July 23 – SOAR; BolingUniversity Center; 8 a.m.•July 27 – End of SummerBash; Boling University Centerand Student Recreation Center;1-5 p.m.
Upcoming fall semester dates
•Aug. 24-26 – First-YearInitiative•Aug. 27 – First day ofclass•Sept. 1-9 – TennesseeSoybean Festival•Sept. 3 – Labor DayHoliday; university closed•Sept. 13 – CollegeConnection Day•Sept. 15 – FamilyWeekend; football vs. UTChattanooga•Oct. 12 – Mid-termprogress reports due•Oct. 15-16 – Fall break
CalendarDid you k
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Crisp Hall was constructed in 1930 and originally housed offices and classrooms for the industrial arts program. It was gutted by fire in 1941 and rebuilt, later taking the name Prentice Cooper Hall in 1969. It then housed the Department of Engineering from 1942-1961 and the agricultural engineering program from 1962 until the early 1970s. The Department of Public Safety has occupied the building since that time, with the Office of Information Technology Services joining them in 1989. The building was renamed in honor of businessman Harry L. Crisp Sr. in 1996. (Click here for UT Martin history online.)
Early voting for the Aug. 2 election runs July 13-28. Election days are Aug. 2 for
the federal and state primary election
and general county election, and Nov. 6 for the federal and
