Please join the Staff Senate via Zoom for the next scheduled meeting at 2:00 pm on Sept. 17. Any staff member at UT Health Sciences is welcome to attend the meetings on Zoom, and it is a great way to stay in the know about activities at the university. Watch for the Zoom meeting link in the next Staff Senate email.
At the Aug. 20 meeting, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Kristi Forman, DBA, presented the university’s strategic enrollment plan, which has three priorities: marketing and recruitment, partnerships, and the student journey. The goal is to have 3,450 students enrolled by 2030. According to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Decision Support, the university had 3,062 full-time students in Fall 2025.
Chancellor Buckley’s Updates
Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, also shared some updates, highlighting two initiatives connected to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. An honors pathway will provide eligible UTK Honors College students with an accelerated pathway into selected UT Health Sciences programs. And a pre-health advising initiative will provide UTK students with guidance, mentorship and exposure to health sciences careers. These initiatives are intended to strengthen the health professions pipeline.
The university breaks ground on the College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building (COMIB) on Oct. 8. First Horizon has provided a $5 million gift in support of this project.
Communication and Events
The Staff Senate has hosted four staff appreciation events so far for Facilities, Police, Pharmacy, and Nursing staff members.
Employee Appreciation Day is scheduled for Sept. 25 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.
A Staff Senate gathering is tentatively planned for Oct. 22 for UT Health Sciences staff members.