COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - University leaders announced at Tennessee Tech University’s Dec. 5 Board of Trustees meeting plans for a bachelor’s degree in live audio engineering that would be the first such program in the country to be dually accredited by sanctioning bodies in both music and engineering.

Jennifer Shank, dean of the university’s College of Fine Arts, explained during the board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting that the university will transition its current B.S. in music with a concentration in live audio arts – which launched last year – to a live audio engineering degree that will be offered in partnership with the university’s College of Engineering.

“This will allow our students who pursue that degree to marry their knowledge, interest and passion for the sound of music with their skill and passion for electrical engineering,” said Dean Shank. “I think it speaks to how we as a university both support the fine arts and engineering. It’s a perfect example.”

The retooled degree program aims to be the first in the nation to be accredited by both the National Association of Schools of Music (NASAM) and Accreditation Board for Engineers and Technology (ABET), training students to mix sound for live events and prepare for careers in the commercial music industry.

The name change will take effect at the start of the spring 2025 semester, while the university will seek ABET accreditation in 2026.

The changes come as Tech’s College of Fine Arts has been invigorated by its highest total enrollment and largest marching band in university history. Dean Shank reported that 92 percent of the college’s alumni are employed in their field or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating.

Also during the board’s morning meetings, Provost Lori Mann Bruce delivered an update on the Division of Academic Affairs’ performance metrics. Provost Bruce reported that the university earned an impressive 93 on its latest Quality Assurance Funding (QAF) score from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, including perfect scores on subcategories for general education, major field assessment, academic programs and student equity.

Provost Bruce noted that Tech has consistently outperformed other locally governed institutions in the state on QAF scoring, with the state average for the last two recorded years standing at a score of 88.

“It is truly a testament to the quality of our programming and the quality of what we do – and honestly it’s a testament to our ability to document the excellence of what we do,” Provost Bruce explained.

In research and service, another metric used to determine Academic Affairs performance, Provost Bruce noted that the university achieved $46.1 million in research activations in the last fiscal year, setting an all-time university record.

“All of those [research activations] are led by the faculty who are driving the proposals and garnering the funding,” Provost Bruce added.

In the board’s Audit and Business Committee meeting, Emily Wheeler, associate vice president for business and fiscal affairs, provided an update on the university’s composite financial index (CFI), reporting that Tech has the healthiest CFI of any locally governed institution in the state.

Discussing the university’s primary reserve ratio – a financial metric that compares the institution’s expendable net assets against its total expenses – Wheeler noted that Tech’s cash reserves are double the recommended industry standard.

Later in the committee meeting, trustees approved three new disclosed projects, including $4 million to renovate the Crossville building recently purchased to house the university’s new wind tunnel, $1.1 million to improve student parking with the paving and landscaping of a gravel lot along Willow Avenue on the west end of campus and $5.4 million for the construction of a new competition track and field facility with a multipurpose athletic field.

The university’s existing running track is being removed as part of the construction of Tech’s new west-side football stadium. A new and improved running track has been championed and generously supported with a significant donation by Trustee Tom Jones.

In other business:

• President’s report: In his quarterly report to trustees, Tech President Phil Oldham discussed how the university has invested heavily in students, faculty, staff, academic programs and campus improvements – all while maintaining a healthy balance sheet.
  
  President Oldham noted that the university has launched 10 new academic programs in the last five years, invested $750 million in capital projects over the last 12 years, and has acted quickly on a compensation plan previously approved by trustees that has boosted investments in employee salary packages, now placing all employee categories at or near market median pay for their unique classification.
  
  He explained that the university has been able to balance these investments with sound fiscal management.
  
  “I’m really, really proud to be able to stand here and tell you unequivocally that Tennessee Tech is the best financially managed public institution in the state of Tennessee. There’s no doubt about that,” Oldham added.
  
  
• Update on the Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness: Vice President for Student Affairs Cynthia Polk-Johnson and Counseling Center Director Christina Mick provided an update on the center’s services, including its recent name change to “Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness.”
  
  “This new name speaks to a more holistic approach that includes care navigation with our clinical coordinator and a focus on life skills development,” explained Polk-Johnson, who also noted that the center underwent renovations to provide a more welcoming space to students.
  
  Polk-Johnson added that the center has seen the volume of counseling sessions return to pre-COVID levels, following a spike during the pandemic. She also noted that the center is seeing a higher proportion of requests for couples counseling and that seniors utilize the center’s services more than any other student classification.
  
  
• Recognition of students: Trustees heard from members of the Golden Eagle women’s soccer team, including Maggie Conrad, Katie Toney and Meredith Nye. The team recently won its third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship and took home the conference’s team sportsmanship award for the second straight year.
  
  Later, trustees recognized Golden Eagle football captains Aaron Swafford and Tim Coutras. The team, led by Head Coach Bobby Wilder, recently earned its 11th conference title as a member of the OVC with its first seven-win season since 2011. The team ended the season on a five-game winning streak to finish 6-2 in the conference.
  
  “All of the alumni players are super proud of what you guys have accomplished,” said Trustee Fred Lowery, himself a Tech football alum. “Congratulations.”

Materials from today’s meeting and video of the full board meeting will be available at the board’s website, www.tntech.edu/board.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2025