McPhee: MTSU freshmen admissions trending higher amid increased recruiting efforts

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s undergraduate admissions efforts to date has resulted in a 14% increase in admitted freshmen compared to last year, according to figures presented to the institution’s Board of Trustees at its quarterly meeting Tuesday, March 18.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee told trustees the university has admitted 10,154 freshmen and transfers for the Fall 2025 semester as of March, which compares to 8,919 last year at the same time.

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee gives his report to the university’s Board of Trustees during its quarterly meeting held Tuesday, March 18, in the Miller Education Center on Bell Street on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

McPhee cited the inaugural Admitted Student Day, held Feb. 22, among the new initiatives launched by the undergraduate admissions team that helped fuel the increase. The day allowed students who committed to MTSU special access to deans, department chairs, faculty and advisors for academic sessions.

More than 1,400 prospective students — plus family members — received blue-carpet treatment at the campus event to encourage those students to complete the enrollment process. Major scholarship recipients were invited to a Celebration of Scholars event at the President’s House, hosted by the president and first lady Elizabeth McPhee.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, right, twins Maxine and BiBi Beasley and their mother, Beth Beasley, of Shelbyville, Tenn., hold the “MTSU Bound” yard sign they received while attending Admitted Student Day and a Celebration of Scholars visit to the President’s House Saturday, Feb. 22, on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The twins plan to study graphic design in the College of Liberal Arts. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

“This was the first time (for MTSU) to host such an event,” McPhee said, after thanking Laurie Witherow, vice provost for enrollment management, for her team’s work. “But based on its success, I believe it will become something we will host annually.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, trustees approved the university’s 2035 Strategic Plan, which outlines priorities and strategies for the institution and unites its three existing plans into a single document with an annual progress assessment. More information can be found at www.mtsu.edu/strategicplan.

Trustees also approved changes to the residential life and housing policy, including provisions and changes in cancellation and refund provisions, restrooms for non-resident visitors and allowance of toaster ovens and coffee pots in apartments.

From left, Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees members J.B. Baker, Tom Boyd and Pete DeLay attend the board’s quarterly meeting held Tuesday, March 18, in the Miller Education Center on Bell Street on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Special faculty presentations

Aliou Ly, second from left, Department of History professor at Middle Tennessee State University, shares details with MTSU Board of Trustees members about his study abroad trip with a group of students learning the history of the African nation of Senegal during special faculty presentations following the board’s quarterly meeting held Tuesday, March 18, in the Miller Education Center on Bell Street on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. To his immediate right inside the MEC’s atrium are Trustees Pam Wright and Bill Jones. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli) — Kevin Corns, left, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations at Middle Tennessee State University, explains some of the drone technology used to train students to MTSU Board of Trustees members during special faculty presentations following the board’s quarterly meeting held Tuesday, March 18, in the Miller Education Center on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. From right, listening on inside the MEC atrium, are Trustees Bill Jones, Pete DeLay and Mary Martin. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

After the meeting, trustees were hosted for a special presentation organized by the university Faculty Senate that spotlighted the work of selected faculty. The exhibit featured:

• Kevin Corns, Department of Aerospace, on drone technology (College of Basic and Applied Sciences).

• Ben Stickle, Department of Criminal Justice Administration, on making communities safer (College of Behavioral and Health Sciences).

• Aliou Ly, Department of History, on learning history in Senegal (College of Liberal Arts);

• Richard Tarpey, Department of Management, on bridging students and industry partners (Jennings A. Jones College of Business).

• Donald Walker, Department of Biology, on emerging fungal pathogens, microbiomes, and host health (College of Basic and Applied Sciences).

• Kahler W. Stone, Andrew Owusu, Marie Patterson (Physician Assistant Studies) and Gabrielle Chesak, Department of Health and Human Performance, on strengthening public health (College of Behavioral and Health Sciences).

• Lauren Shouse, Department of Theatre and Dance, on her work as a theater director at Nashville Repertory Theatre (College of Liberal Arts).

• Katie Schrodt, Joan Boulware, Bonnie Barksdale, Janna McClain and Stacey Fields, Department of Elementary and Special Education, on family literacy (College of Education).

• Kristine Potter, Department of Media Arts, on her work in contemporary photography (College of Media and Entertainment).

• Michael Hein, Judy Van Hein, Patrick McCarthy, Mark Frame and Alexander Jackson, Department of Psychology, on the No. 1 national ranking in our Industrial-Organizational Psychology’s master’s degree program (College of Behavioral and Health Sciences).

You can view a pdf of the presentations here.

— Andrew Oppmann (Andrew.Oppmann@mtsu.edu)