Goal 1: Expand Educational Opportunities

Deliver high-quality, relevant learning experiences.

High-quality, relevant learning experiences are transformative and foster deeper understanding, critical thinking, and skill development. These experiences are thoughtfully designed to align with learners’ needs, interests, and real-world applications.


Sign at the entrance of Zoo Knoxville

Herbert Students Gain Field Experience at Zoo Knoxville

The partnership engages UT students in learning about the habitat needs of exotic creatures in a new course called FORS 492: Practicum in Forestry. In the course, students partner with Zoo Knoxville to inventory current plant species for the safety of its animals, staff, and visitors.


Half quarter and half brain

Family and Consumer Sciences faculty and Extension specialists and agents say they see firsthand the benefits of teaching money management and planning.

Read About UT Extension’s Role in Financial Literacy Across Generations


A robot hand dropping an apple into a human hand

Generative artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of higher education. While concerns about the misuse of AI increase, faculty seek to shift the mindset in Herbert classrooms toward using AI as a tool for learning.

Read Article in Land, Life & Science magazine


a field of flowers with a group of people on a trailer pulled by a tractor in the background

This year brings a full slate of field days for 2026. More than twenty field days will be hosted mostly at UT AgResearch and Education Centers throughout the state, and UTIA researchers and UT Extension specialists will speak about their areas of expertise.

Read More

2023 Key Metrics Baselines


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Herbert College of Agriculture Undergraduate Enrollment
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Percentage of Herbert College of Agriculture Undergraduates who participated in a Study Abroad Program

Strategies and Actions


UTIA will expand access to online learning.

  • Increase the number of online courses and credentialing as well as continuing education programs (degree seeking and non-degree seeking).
  • Increase number of participants enrolled in online learning (degree seeking and non-degree seeking).
  • Increasing access to online information and resources for self-guided learning.

UTIA will expand access to residential and face-to-face engagement.

  • Increase in residential retention and graduation rates.
  • Increase the residential students.
  • Increase participation in face-to-face Extension and outreach programs.

UTIA will provide quality, relevant learning experiences.

  • Increase number of and participation in experiential learning opportunities or high-impact experiences locally and globally.
  • Increase number of opportunities available for stakeholders, leaders, and constituents to provide feedback on program relevancy and needs.
  • Increase number of teaching and learning professional development opportunities offered for and attended by personnel.
  • Increase study abroad participation.

UTIA will build connections with new audiences.

  • Increase access to a broader audience with respect to demographics and workforce categories.
  • Increase number of national and international participants in our programs.
  • Increase partner engagement in developing new programs for an ever-changing landscape.