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January 2025 Newsletter

January 21, 2025
Middle Tennessee State University logo

As part of my effort to keep the University community informed, I have just completed my Newsletter for this new semester.

You may find the newsletter at 
https://www.mtsu.edu/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/sites/160/2025/01/4703-Spring-2025-Presidents-Newsletter-0125987-UPDATED1_21_2025.pdf or go to https://www.mtsu.edu/newsletter/ and click on the Jan 21 newsletter button.

I invite your feedback on any items in this edition of the newsletter or any other matters.

Your comments are always appreciated.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President

Spring 2025 Salary Update

January 21, 2025
Middle Tennessee State University logo

On Dec. 4, the MTSU Board of Trustees took formal action on my salary enhancement recommendations, which went into effect Jan. 1. Upon my recommendation, the Board authorized us to use a total of $1.5 million to continue to address the gap between actual employee salaries and market salaries as reported by the College and University Professional Association (CUPA) for 2020–21, along with covering any benefits associated with these salary increases. These adjustments applied to employees on the payroll as of Dec. 31 and were effective Jan. 1 (and reflected in the Jan. 31 payroll). This funding allowed the University to provide an increase to all full-time employees with an actual salary below the 2020–21 CUPA reported salary as outlined in the University’s approved compensation plan. This adjustment was designed to provide an increase of 65% of an employee’s calculated difference. The methodology used for the market adjustment calculations has been posted to the MTSU website. This action was another major step to addressing this long-standing priority for the University. Please know how much I value each of you and appreciate your good work. I am pleased that our board was in agreement and that we were able to give these salary increases to our employees.

Salary Increases

January 7, 2025
Middle Tennessee State University logo

Dear Campus Community:

On December 4, 2024, the Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees took formal action on my salary enhancement recommendations which will go into effect January 1, 2025.  

Their approval allows the University to utilize a total of $1.5 million to continue to address the gap between actual employee salaries and market salaries as reported by CUPA for 2020-21, along with covering any benefits associated with these salary increases. These adjustments will apply to employees on the payroll as of December 31, 2024, and will be effective January 1, 2025 and reflected in the January 31, 2025 payroll. 

This funding allows the University to provide an increase to all full-time employees with an actual salary below the 2020-21 CUPA reported salary as outlined in the University’s approved compensation plan. This adjustment is designed to provide an increase of 65.0% of an employee’s calculated difference.

The methodology used for the market adjustment calculations has been posted to the University’s website. Click on the following links to access the information based on your employee classification:

Faculty

Administrative/Classified Staff

Market adjustments, along with the new salary for each employee, will be provided to Deans and Department Chairs in mid-January once all calculations have been completed and verified for accuracy.

This action is another major step to addressing this long-standing priority for the University. Please know how much I value each of you and appreciate your good work. I am pleased that our Board was in agreement and that we are able to give these salary increases to our employees.

Sincerely
Sidney A. McPhee
President

Happy Holidays from MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee

December 19, 2024

In this season of gratitude, we are thankful for your friendship and support.

Wishing you and yours peace, happiness, and prosperity in the coming New Year.

And most of all, please be safe and stay healthy.

Press play for a special holiday greeting from Middle Tennessee State University.

Links to topics in the video can be found below.

Sincerely,

Sidney A. McPhee, president

MTSU lands prestigious rankings in The Princeton Review, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report

College of Business offers new cybersecurity management program

MTSU cuts ribbon on $8 million outdoor tennis complex

College of Media and Entertainment’s “We Do It All” commercial wins Regional Emmy

True Blue Core launches with revamped general education requirements

Recording Industry turns 50, as several alums capture Grammys

MTSU to upgrade Kirksey Old Main, Rutledge Hall with $54M renovation

Autism advocate Temple Grandin touts “different thinking” in guest lecture

Lady Raiders win C-USA Championship, compete in the NCAA tourney

Men’s Tennis Team wins 5th straight C-USA title

MTSU merges areas to create Department of Political and Global Affairs

Record growth for MTSU Online

Equestrian Team wins National Championship

Digital resource programs save students $2M in textbook costs

Peter Grandjean named dean of College of Behavioral and Health Sciences

Khalilah Doss becomes new Vice President of Student Affairs

Overall and first-time freshman enrollment rises

College of Education, Nissan partner to train technical educators for high schools

Aerospace professor soars with 2024 Career Achievement Award

Football Coach Derek Mason takes helm; Party in the Grove anchors home pregame

MTSU plans to build hotel on campus to train hospitality students

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks for Constitution Day

Blue Raider Rodeo takes over annual Homecoming Parade, game day festivities

STEM efforts attract over $10M in new funding 

MTSU alumni contributed over $15B in business revenue to state 

Retired Gen. Jim Mattis praises Daniels Center as fundraiser nets $400K-plus 

Assurant awards $100K to MTSU toward lab in new Applied Engineering building 

Theatre and Dance delights audiences with “She Loves Me” musical 

MTSU launches new Master of Science in Legal Studies program 

4,810 new alumni celebrate at 2024 commencement ceremonies

 

Additional Administrative Closing Day

December 10, 2024
Middle Tennessee State University logo

Campus Community,

I am pleased to announce that Monday, December 23rd, will be added to our 2024 holiday schedule as an administrative closing day.  This decision has been made to provide everyone with an opportunity to spend more time with family, celebrate the special occasion, rest, and recharge.  Normal operations will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025.  For a complete Holiday Schedule, please visit https://hrs.mtsu.edu/holiday.

I appreciate your dedication and continued hard work for the University.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee

Finding Strength in Each Other

October 29, 2024
Middle Tennessee State University logo
To the University community,
 
It is difficult to put into words the pain and sorrow we feel when a tragedy such as we experienced Monday falls upon our community. Please know that as president of this university, I urge you to reach out for help whenever you need it. Grief is hard to process and does not easily fade. You may need support to sort through what happened or a professional to help you deal with other burdens you may be facing.
 
As we reopen Wednesday (Oct. 30), I hope that, together, we will find strength in each other and be mindful of those around us who need our friendship and support. And, to that point, I hope you will join me at the Student Government Association vigil in front of the James E. Walker Library at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 30) so we may reflect upon our loss and find comfort in each other’s company.
 
Here are some additional updates:
  • The James E. Walker Library will remain closed until Thursday (Oct. 31). You can reach out to Tutoring, Adaptive Technology, and the Writing Center online if you need assistance rescheduling an appointment or have other questions.
  • Student crisis support is provided through MTSU Counseling Services, located in Room 322 in the Keathley University Center. Its operating hours this week have been expanded (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
    • The MTSU Mobile Crisis Number is available 24/7 at 1-800-704-2651.
    • A three-digit Suicide Hotline is available 24/7 at 988.
  • Faculty and staff may contact the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services for crisis support at 615-898-2271. Walk-in appointments are available for Wednesday (Oct. 30) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
    • Employees also have support available 24/7 through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided by Optum Behavioral Health, at 855-437-3486.
As I said before, please remember that you are not alone.
 
Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President

Death on Campus

October 28, 2024
Middle Tennessee State University logo

To the University community,
 
The Blue Raider family is mourning the loss of a student who died by suicide this afternoon at the James E. Walker Library. 
 
The student’s emergency contact has been notified of the student’s passing, and we are working to offer counseling support to the campus community. 
 
Community members who need support can meet our counseling team in the KUC, room 322, where our trained counselors will offer support and crisis services in group and individual settings, beginning at 4:15 pm today.
 
The library will be closed until further notice. More information will follow.
 
Counseling Services is available
KUC 326-S
(615) 898-2670
For after-hour emergencies call Mobile Crisis: 1-800-704-2651. Or go to the nearest emergency room
Suicide Hotline 988

University Closed Tuesday

October 28, 2024
Middle Tennessee State University logo

To the University community,
 
In light of today’s tragic death on campus, I have decided to cancel classes and close offices Tuesday. My hope is that our community will use this time to grieve and reach out for support resources being made available. Essential services, including counseling resources, will remain open and available.
 
Counseling services are available and can be accessed in these ways:
  • Students crisis support through MTSU Counseling Services, located in Room 326-S in the Keathley University Center will be open for students Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • The MTSU Mobile Crisis Number is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-704-2651.
    • A three-digit Suicide Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 988.
  • Faculty and staff crisis support will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom (Section B). Outside of those times, faculty and staff may contact the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services at 615-898-2271.
    • Employees also have support available 24 hours a day through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided by Optum Behavioral Health, at 855-437-3486.
The James E. Walker Library, and all centers and operations housed in the building, will be closed Tuesday. Campus activities scheduled for Tuesday can continue at the discretion of event organizers. Normal operations will resume Wednesday.
 
Our Student Government Association is holding a vigil at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 30) in front of the library. SGA President Michai Mosby said he hopes it will allow our community “to find comfort, and to support one another in strength.”
 
I want to extend our deepest sympathies on behalf of our entire community. Please reach out if you need help or support. You are not alone.
 
Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President

Fall 2024 Strategic Plan

August 26, 2024

Last year, I appointed a Strategic Planning Committee to craft a new roadmap for the University, uniting elements from three existing plans—the Academic Master Plan, the Quest for Student Success, and the Strategic Plan.

This new 2025–2035 Strategic Plan is being created through the work of four pillar committees: academic quality, student success, engagement, and innovation.

The committee includes faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community leaders. The foundation for their efforts was the articulation of a new mission statement, approved by the Board of Trustees in April of this year.

MTSU community members also provided significant input through participation in multiple listening sessions as well as surveys and online response forms. This feedback was instrumental to the work of committee members during their May retreat and to the leaders who have been drafting a plan this summer to share with the University community during the upcoming fall semester.

I encourage our faculty, staff, and students to look for opportunities to provide their feedback on the draft plan and to offer ideas for how we can effectively implement the plan beginning in the summer of 2025. You will be able to do so through additional surveys and listening sessions that will occur throughout the fall. More details will be sent to you in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your participation in and contributions to the development of the 2025–2035 Strategic Plan. I look forward to our continued work together as we seek to strengthen this already outstanding institution and readily proceed to our True Blue future.

Accreditation Update

The 2024–25 academic year is the year of record for MTSU’s reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

As part of our reaffirmation, the University is developing its third Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) to improve student learning and student success, following in the footsteps of Experiential Learning (EXL) and MT Engage.

In fall 2023, the QEP Leadership Team worked with the QEP Topic Selection Committee to identify potential topics. The topic selection committee included students, faculty members, and Student Affairs representatives. In spring 2024, the committee, along with QEP leadership, worked diligently to review institutional data and consider emergent information from the University strategic planning process. Based on the committee’s findings, program topics for consideration are Digital Fluency, Career Readiness, Belonging, and Mental Wellness.

During summer 2024, QEP leadership completed literature reviews on the proposed topics, which will be presented to stakeholders, including faculty, students, and administration, during fall 2024. One topic will be selected in the fall, after gathering feedback from the University community.

I invite and appreciate your participation in this process to promote student learning and success. You may view QEP progress at mtsu.edu/qep.

Fall 2024 True Blue Core

August 26, 2024

Summer 2024 marks the official launch of MTSU’s new general education curriculum, the True Blue Core. 

Highlights of the new curriculum include:

  • Enhanced Learning Outcomes and Flexibility: The True Blue Core introduces eight Student Learning Outcomes, providing students with more choices and greater flexibility in their educational journeys.
  • Course Approvals: Over the past two years, the True Blue Core Committee has approved more than 90 courses for the new Core, including all the courses from the previous general education lineup, creating an innovative yet transfer friendly program.

On May 13, 2024, the University also established the Center for the True Blue Core (CTBC). Led by Susan Myers-Shirk, True Blue Core director, and Christina Cobb, assistant director, the CTBC will spearhead several key initiatives:

  • Program Marketing and Recruitment: Engaging True Blue Core faculty, staff, and students in marketing efforts through the True Blue Tour, True Blue Preview Days, and CUSTOMS to attract new students.
  • Assessment Plan Execution: Completing and implementing an assessment plan to ensure program quality and enhance the Core classroom experience through reflective practices and microgrants.
  • Communication and Advocacy: Promoting the value of a Core education at MTSU to potential, incoming, and current students. Highlighting how the Core supports students in their majors, careers, and personal growth.

I anticipate several exciting True Blue Core developments in the upcoming year. They include:

  • Course Expansion: Adding new courses that align with Core values.
  • Blueprints Implementation: Developing an implementation plan for Blueprints, which are collections of thematically related Core courses to help students navigate their Core requirements.
  • Study Abroad Integration: Creating an implementation plan for incorporating study abroad experiences into the Core.
  • Assessment Cycle: Initiating the first cycle of the new assessment plan to evaluate and improve the program.

The upcoming year promises to be an exciting and transformative period for the True Blue Core, fostering an enriched educational experience for all MTSU students.

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