UT campuses across the state will celebrate the University of Tennessee’s first ever State of the University Celebration today. UTM will join all UT campuses, institutes and units in celebrating via two-way simulcast, which will take place in Watkins Auditorium at 10:30 a.m., with the celebration itself beginning at 10 a.m.

During the simulcast UT President John Petersen will discuss UT’s new strategic plan, which focuses on helping more students in Tennessee earn bachelor’s degrees and on research that supports economic development in the state.

UTM Chancellor Nick Dunagan and Charley Deal, Director of Alumni Relations and Master of Ceremonies for UTM’s part in the celebration, will introduce the simulcast and preview UTM’s role in the plan.

The plan was adopted by the UT Board of Trustees June 21 and includes six areas of emphasis: student access and success, research and economic development, and outreach and globalization. The plan was spurred on by the relatively low number of college graduates in Tennessee and the resulting $19 billion economic impact.

Although Petersen outlined the plan Aug. 2 at UTM during a statewide campus tour, many details have yet to be disclosed.

“What UTM does well is providing a high quality undergraduate education,” said Bud Grimes, Director of University Relations and UTM’s portion of the celebration. “UTM’s role is to continue teaching role and public service role in the region,” Grimes said, speaking on UTM’s role in the strategic plan.

The celebration will also serve as the launch for UT’s new Branding Campaign, which will bring each UT campus under an identifiable logo.

The logos, which will have a common theme while representing individual campuses will be unveiled at the celebration.

“The UTM logo is going to change somewhat. The color scheme we use to identify ourselves will change,” Grimes said. “We’re being allowed to adapt the logos to our use but stay in the guidelines they want us to.”

The simulcast will include a brief shot of each campus prior to Petersen’s address. The UTM celebration will include refreshments, door prizes and several unannounced speakers and performances.

“We’re trying to keep an element of some surprise for the people on campus who attend,” Grimes said. “Nothing quite like this has ever been done. It truly is a celebration.”