The Education, Research and Service Committee of the University of Tennessee System convened on June 30, 2025, to discuss the current standing of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) in relation to peer institutions. The meeting highlighted key indicators of research performance, including citations, federal expenditures, and faculty awards.

A significant point of discussion was the increase in citations, which serve as a measure of research excellence. UTK has seen an 11% rise in citations year over year, marking a remarkable 200% increase since 2014. This growth outpaces that of both current Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions and aspiring non-AAU institutions, which reported increases of 79% respectively.

Federal research expenditures at UTK also showed a slight increase of 2% year over year. However, this growth is below the average increase for AAU institutions and R1 aspiring institutions, which stood at approximately 3%. This indicates that while UTK is making progress, it still has room for improvement in securing federal funding.

The committee also noted a 10% increase in major faculty awards, such as Nobel Prizes and national academy memberships. Despite this positive trend, the total number of awards remains relatively low. The discussion revealed that over 400 faculty members at UTK are performing at levels significantly above the mean for their disciplines but have not yet received the recognition they deserve. This presents an opportunity for the university to enhance its visibility and prestige in the academic community.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored UTK's encouraging growth in research metrics while also identifying areas for further development. The committee expressed optimism about the potential for increased recognition of faculty achievements and the importance of continued investment in research initiatives.