Tusculum building on past with new president, major initiatives to produce further success

GREENEVILLE – As Tusculum University prepares for the next academic year in its distinguished 225-year history, the first higher education institution in Tennessee approaches the future with optimism built on a solid foundation.

This is an aerial photo of Tusculum University.

Classes start Monday, Aug. 19, and faculty and staff members are excited to welcome students at Tusculum’s locations in Greeneville, Knoxville and Morristown.

“Tusculum is proud to provide opportunity for young adults to flourish, particularly first-generation college students,” said Dr. Nancy Dishner, a member of the Tusculum Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee and chairwoman of Academic Effectiveness Committee. “We are also grateful to serve our adult and online population as they expand their knowledge to advance their careers.”

The university enters the year seeking a successor to Dr. James Hurley, who has provided strong leadership for two years as president. Dr. Hurley accepted the presidency of Tarleton State University, a much larger academic institution in Texas, as the next stage in his career growth.

“We thank Dr. Hurley and his family for serving Tusculum and congratulate them as they move to the next step in their lives,” said Dr. Greg Nelson, the board’s chairman. “Dr. Hurley is a dynamic leader with long-term goals for advancement like many in his profession. We understand that, and he leaves with our support and best wishes for a successful career.”

Dr. Nelson said the board is in the process of naming an interim president to serve during the search for the best candidate to lead the institution long term.

“Tusculum has exceptional faculty and staff members who are elevating the quality of our university and making us a first-choice destination for students,” Dr. Nelson said. “That will no doubt make Tusculum attractive to the best and brightest applicants for the presidency. Our board also has full confidence in the leadership of our Executive Cabinet members.”

The university begins this search and the academic year having strengthened its facilities and enhanced its programs in recent years.

  • Tusculum launched the nursing program, and the first class to graduate from the Master of Science in nursing achieved a 100 percent certification pass rate on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Qualifying Exam.
  • The university opened the Meen Center, a 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in 2017 for the sciences, nursing and math that will now additionally serve the Niswonger College of Optometry.
  • The College of Business earned accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs in 2018.
  • The university began planning a renovation of Tredway Hall, the former science building, to serve as the new home for the College of Business and the College of Education.
  • Tusculum constructed a new 2,400-seat baseball stadium that serves as the home for the Pioneers and the Greeneville Reds of the Appalachian League.
  • The university added several new athletic teams – most recently beach volleyball, men’s volleyball and bowling – and now has 24 teams for men and women.

“Tusculum’s focus on providing an optimal educational experience for students, as well as the faculty and staff, has been phenomenal,” said Dr. Scott Niswonger, a board member and member of the Executive, Institutional Advancement and Finance and Operations committees. “This forward-thinking approach has enabled Tusculum to be on the cutting edge with new programs and facilities that attract students and position them for success after graduation.”

Recently, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges notified Tusculum that it was continuing the university’s accreditation for good cause but placing it on probation for 12 months. This status, which does not affect students’ degrees, relates to Tusculum needing to address a subsection of one standard related to student outcomes.

This matter first arose 2016, and the Tusculum team has since proactively strengthened the educational structure at Tusculum and instituted a new assessment process of student learning outcomes. Tusculum is enhancing the way it documents and shows this progress, is working collaboratively with SACSCOC and anticipates a successful resolution of this matter.

At the same meeting, SACSCOC approved Tusculum to move from a Level III to Level V institution, which gives the university permission to offer as many as three doctoral degrees. The first of these will be a Doctor of Optometry as part of the development of the Niswonger College of Optometry.

Designed to address the prevalence of ocular disease in Central Appalachia, the Niswonger College of Optometry is another example of Tusculum’s commitment to civic engagement. The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education has designated the Niswonger College of Optometry as a “Stage-Two Applicant.” This stage is not a pre-accreditation or accreditation status, but rather a step towards potential accreditation.

The Niswonger College of Optometry is engaged in the process of developing the program to meet accreditation standards. The recent move from Stage 1 to Stage 2 clears the way for a site visit this year from the ACOE. When it receives preliminary approval of accreditation, Tusculum will have the 24th college of optometry in the nation and the fifth in the Southeast.

“We are motivated to assist unserved and underserved residents of our region and other parts of rural America,” said Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, founding dean of the Niswonger College of Optometry and executive vice president of the College of Health Sciences. “We are developing the premier college of optometry in the country, one concentrating on the modern methods of optometric care. The Niswonger College of Optometry will dovetail nicely with the progress occurring throughout Tusculum.”

Furthering this momentum, Tusculum will hold events to honor its 225-year heritage of service to Appalachia. A Charter Day ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 11:30 a.m. on campus will mark the beginnings of Tusculum. The community is invited to celebrate Tusculum’s history, enjoy a meal with the Tusculum family and visit the beautiful and historic campus.

Tusculum will also hold its annual homecoming celebration Oct. 1-6 with many events for alumni and guests from the community.

For more information, please visit www.tusculum.edu.