addenda UT Martin named a top-20 best value school Online MBA listed among top accredited programs

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1 addenda The University of Tennessee at Martin Faculty and Staff Newsletter January 11, 2016 UT Martin named a top-20 best value school Bestvalueschools.com has included UT Martin in its recent top-20 list of the best value colleges and universities in Tennessee for UT Martin s listing describes the institution as one producing leaders in green and environmental technology on an ecologically friendly and sustainable campus. All schools included were evaluated based on graduation and acceptance rates, net price and a 20-year return on educational investment. A school s graduation rate is determined by how many students complete their degrees in six years or fewer, and acceptance rate is calculated based on the percentage of applicants who receive acceptance letters. These criteria help determine how selective an institution is, which often indicates popularity and quality, as well as how likely an accepted student is to remain at the same institution for a four- to six-year period. Net price is determined by the average cost of attendance BEST VALUE Bestvalueschools.com has included UT Martin in its recent top-20 list of the best value colleges and universities in Tennessee. Juniors Morgan Acuff (left) and Marcus Cherry are shown enjoying the beautiful campus quadrangle this past fall semester. each year, taking into account tuition, room and board, fees and living expenses, as well as offsets such as available scholarships, grants and other financial aid packages. Information used to determine a student s 20year net return on investment is taken from the National Center for Education Statistics information on average income per year for alumni from a particular institution. Bestvalueschools.com estimated a graduate s average salary earned over the first 20 years after graduation and subtracted the cost of tuition to calculate this figure. Online MBA listed among top accredited programs Discover Business has included UT Martin s online Master of Business Administration program in its first Top Accredited Online MBA and Graduate Business Programs Guide, available at education/online-mba/. The guide focuses on those programs that are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, are not-for-profit or public institutions, and offer nearly identical program versions in a physical, on-campus option. Our goal here is to acknowledge the best online MBA programs that are pushing the education experience into the future and building up the next generation of business leaders, said Mark Koning, a Discover Business representative. The guide includes the top 53 online programs in alphabetical order. For more information on the MBA program, contact the College of Business and Global Affairs at or bagrad@utm.edu.

2 page 2 addenda January 11, 2016 YoUTMs faculty, staff and student excellence In Memory Dr. Glenda Rakes, professor, Department of Educational Studies, co-authored an article with Dr. Karee Dunn, of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, titled Exploring Online Graduate Students' Responses to Online Self- Regulation Training. The article was recently published in the Journal of Interactive Online Learning. The study found that the use of training modules to address certain variables critical to success in online learning environments have the potential to improve retention and student learning outcomes. Dr. Melvin Hill, associate professor of English, has edited and contributed to an essay collection from Lexington Books titled Existentialist Thought in African American Literature before The essays center on the argument that African American literature embodied existentialist thought. Closely examining eight major texts, ranging from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass to Passing, the collection addresses a wide range of philosophical concepts, including authenticity, bad faith and existentialism from the Christian point of view. Larry Holder, of Information Technology Services, was recently featured in the country music section of rollingstone. com for a song he wrote in 1987 titled More Than A Child. The song was performed by a young Hunter Hayes, named the Country Music Association s New Artist of the Year in 2012, on an independently released album in More Than A Child is Holder s most recorded and performed song worldwide, and the song s website has received more than 81,000 visits since More information about his music can be found at larryholdermusic.org. Tina Harris assists Office of Equity and Diversity Tina Harris, who coordinates UT Martin position searches, is now located in the Office of Equity and Diversity in room 303 of the Hall-Moody Administration Building. She can be reached by phone at or by at tharri46@utm.edu. Thel Ward Taylor Sr., associate professor emeritus of fine arts, passed away Dec. 30 at the age of 86. He lived in Union City. Taylor received his bachelor s degree from UT Martin before earning a master s degree from Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville and continuing his postgraduate studies at Florida State University. His teaching career included five years teaching art and biology at Obion County Central High School before joining the UT Martin family in Taylor helped establish the art education licensure program at UT Martin and was one of the original faculty representing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program before his retirement in Taylor s daughter, Melanie Taylor Hollis, is a lecturer of theatre and a costumer for the Vanguard Theatre in the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts. REPRESENTING UT MARTIN Several UT Martin representatives attended a career fair at Dresden Middle School on Dec. 17. Pictured (l-r) are Bob Shumake, UT Extension; Jessie Kowalewski, Sodexho Dining Services; Patricia Sanders, Paul Meek Library; and Natalie Medling, Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Send your Addenda news to Nathan Morgan at nmorga15@ utm.edu.

3 page 3 addenda January 11, 2016 Caixa Trio to premier new compositions at Jan. 17 concert The Caixa Trio, created by percussionists Dr. Julie Hill, Julie Davila and Amy Smith, will premier two newly commissioned pieces during a concert at 3 p.m., Jan. 17, in the Fulton Theatre. The trio has performed internationally and presents clinics and master classes at universities and public schools across the country. The first commission, Van Gogh from Space by composer Steven Snowden, displays a variety of new percussive sounds and techniques. The second, Doubting Thomas by composer Ben Wahlund, requires the three performers to use all four limbs simultaneously. The most difficult piece ever performed by the trio, Wahlund s work calls for different rhythms and pitches played on multiple instruments by the same artist. The trio will also add a new piece to their regular repertoire called Tandori, which is played using three Zimbabwean mbiras or thumb pianos. Hill, associate professor of music at UT Martin, is the current president of the Percussive Arts Society and has received worldwide recognition for her academic and musical works. She received a bachelor s degree in music education from UT Martin, a master s degree in TRIO PERFORMANCE The Caixa Trio, which includes percussionists (l-r) Amy Smith, Julie Davila and Dr. Julie Hill, will premier two newly commissioned pieces during a concert at 3 p.m., Jan. 17, in the University of Tennessee at Martin s Fulton Theatre. percussion performance from Arizona State University and a doctoral degree in musical arts from the University of Kentucky. Davila, drumline instructor and adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University, currently serves on the Percussive Arts Society s board of directors. She earned her bachelor s degree from the University of North Texas. Smith, former band director for Murfreesboro City Schools, has performed with many orchestras, including the Nashville Symphony, the Evansville Philharmonic, the Boulder Philharmonic and the Sewanee Festival Orchestra. She received a Bachelor of Music Education and a performer s certificate from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Music in percussion performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she was awarded a Chancellor s Fellowship. There is no admission charge for this concert, and the public is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Hill at or by at jhill@utm.edu. Recap: 31st annual Santa s Village More than 18,000 visitors enjoyed the 31st annual Santa s Village holiday celebration held Dec in the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex in Martin. The Martin Parks and Recreation Department collected thirty-two 55-gallon bags of toys, 12 bicycles and more than 23,000 food items from attendees for distribution to needy area residents. The city of Martin and UT Martin co-sponsor the event annually. Additional sponsors include Zaxby s, Casey s General Store, Simmons Bank, MTD Products and Savant Learning Systems. For more information about Santa s Village, contact the Martin Parks and Recreation Department at Schedule a university photographer early! Call University Relations at

4 page 4 addenda January 11, 2016 Photo Gallery: December Retirement Receptions Janice Lee (center) and her husband, Donnie (left), speak with Interim Chancellor Bob Smith during Janice s reception Dec. 10. Janice worked with the offices of Curriculum and Development and Equity and Diversity. (l-r) Trudy Henderson, athletics; Vickie Higgs, athletics; Tara Tansil-Gentry, Department of Health and Human Performance; and Ryne Reynolds, Vickie s son, are pictured during Vickie s reception Dec. 10. (l-r) Cheryl Branon, Martha Barnett, Cherie Edwards, Sandra Holland, Sandra Brackett and Teresa Erwin, all of the Office of Academic Records, gather for a photo during a reception for Edwards held Dec. 11. Dennis Kosta, custodial manager, is pictured with Dr. Angie MacKewn, professor, behavioral sciences, during his retirement reception held Dec. 15. She presented Kosta with a plaque from UTMRecycles! recognizing his work to support environmental sustainability. (l-r) Chuck Burlison, is pictured with his wife, Sheila Burlison, and Vachik Lazarian, both of the Office of International Programs and International Admissions, during a reception held in Sheila s honor. (l-r) Earl Wright and Debbie Ferrell, both of the Office of Housing, and Phil Bright, Office of Human Resources, paused for a photo during Ferrell s retirement reception Dec. 16.

5 page 5 addenda January 11, 2016 (l-r) Lt. Darrell Simmons and Cpt. Ray Coleman, both of the Department of Public Safety; Ann Adams, Skyhawk Printing and Mail Services; Vachik Lazarian, International Programs and International Admissions; and Lt. Steve Sherfield, Department of Public Safety, are pictured during a reception held Dec. 16 in the Tennessee Room. All retired from UT Martin on Dec. 31. (l-r) Interim Chancellor Bob Smith, and Petra McPhearson and Nancy Yarbrough, both of the Division of Finance and Administration, are pictured with Nancy s husband, Sonny Yarbrough, during a reception held Dec. 19 in her honor. McPhearson is now serving as the interim vice chancellor for finance and administration following Yarbrough s retirement. Attention! Title IX training is mandatory for all employees! 2-3:30 p.m., Jan. 11, or 9-10:30 a.m., Jan. 12 Contact Lori Beth Wilson at x7940 Calendar The City of Martin and the Black Student Association at The University of Tennessee at Martin invite you to attend the fourth annual MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION AND BREAKFAST Monday, January 18 9 a.m. Duncan Ballroom Boling University Center RSVP by January 13 to Brad Thompson at or bthompson@cityofmartin.net Jan. 12 Technology Student Assoc. Middle and High School STEM Competition; main campus Jan. 12 Spring fee payment and confirmation deadline; 5 p.m. Jan. 13 Final advising Jan. 13 Women s basketball vs. Tennessee Tech; Elam Center; 11 a.m. Jan. 13 Campus open forum; Holt Humanities Building, Campbell Aud.; 3:30 p.m. Jan. 13 Men s basketball vs. Tennessee Tech; Elam Center; 6 p.m. Jan. 14 Spring Semester begins Jan. 16 Men s basketball at Jacksonville State; noon Jan. 16 Women s basketball at Jacksonville State; 2 p.m. Jan. 17 Concert series: Caixa Trio percussion concert; Fulton Theatre; 3 p.m. Jan. 17 Concert series: Dr. Jessie Thoman, chamber recital; Blankenship Recital Hall; 5 p.m. Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (university closed); Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and breakfast; 9 a.m.; Duncan Ballroom (RSVP required) addenda The University of Tennessee at Martin Published weekly during the academic year and biweekly during the summer by UT Martin, Martin, TN Dr. Joseph DiPietro President, University of Tennessee System Dr. Robert M. Smith Interim Chancellor Nathan Morgan Addenda Editor UT Martin is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. E