After acknowledging the many accomplishments the university has made during the past year, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee had a straightforward message to faculty and leaders during the Aug. 22 Fall Faculty Meeting inside Tucker Theatre: “We must ensure that we recruit, retain and graduate students.”

Now in his 14th year of leading the Blue Raider campus, McPhee gave his traditional State of the University address before the hundreds of faculty and staff who have returned to campus to start the fall semester.

McPhee touted the ongoing improvements to campus infrastructure and facilities, including the opening of the new Science Building this fall ahead of schedule.

The president also pointed to academic improvements such as the launch of the mechatronics engineering program and increases in research funding in graduate studies.

An extended, half-hour version of the president’s remarks can be watched below:

You can read more about the State of the University remarks at www.mtsunews.com/fall-faculty-address-2014, which also includes a link to a transcript.