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.


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

2026 UTIA Field Days for Farmers and Homeowners Across Tennessee

The new year brings a full slate of University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture 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.


Members of the Class of 2025 and farm animal medical resident Lyndsee Miniard, third from left, hold dairy goat kids during a farm animal call. Photo by Andi Lear

Each week four fully equipped mobile hospitals for farm animals and horses take essential veterinary care directly to the fields and farms of East Tennessee.

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Keith Carver, UT Institute of Agriculture senior vice chancellor and senior vice president; food science student Isaac Welch; agricultural leadership, education, and communications student Logan West; wildlife and fisheries science student Gabe Harville; and David White, dean of Herbert

Four Herbert College of Agriculture Students earned scholarships for participation in the Tennessee 4-H Next Chapter Program.

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Liz Eckelkamp, associate professor of animal science and UT Extension dairy specialist, discusses the dairy herd at Sweetwater Valley Farm in Philadelphia, Tennessee, with a program participant as part of the 2025 SDBII Southeast Experiential Learning Course

Dairy farmers, value-added dairy producer-processors, and industry partners across southeastern states are invited to join UT Extension this spring as part of a Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative experiential learning course.

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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.