CBAS dean paints solid future, successful past year

Dr. Tom Cheatham

MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Tom Cheatham shared a look into the college’s past year, present status and future during his annual State of the College address on Sept. 8 in the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building.

The college’s top 2011-12 goal is to secure funding for the new science building, which will be located near the James E. Walker Library. The facility has topped the list for State of Tennessee capital building projects for about five years.

Other priorities this year include:

a successful Southern Association of Colleges and Schools mid-term review in Spring 2012;
a successful second year for the college’s three new doctoral programs, the Master of Science degree in horse science and MTeach;
improving chemistry equipment;
moving into the new $4.3 million MTSU Dairy at the MTSU Farm;
working to improve retention and graduation statistics;
increasing extramural funding;
successfully completing a large Department of Aerospace initiatives; and
hiring new department chairs in biology, chemistry and computer science to replace retiring longtime chairs Drs. George Murphy (biology) and Earl Pearson (chemistry) and interim computer-science chair Dr. Chrisila Pettey.

The college recognized recent faculty and staff award winners, and Cheatham talked about CBAS highlights for programs, facilities and data pertaining to students and more. Cheatham also announced that he will be stepping down as dean after this academic year.