Fueling the Future
East Tennessee State University is once again the recipient of substantial state support, as the Tennessee General Assembly and Gov. Bill Lee included tens of millions of dollars for ETSU in the 2025-26 budget.
“These are not just budget line items – they are investments in our students’ futures and the well-being of our communities.”Dr. Brian Noland, ETSU President
The allocations include $53.4 million to complete Phase II of the Brown Hall renovation and $3 million for critical scientific equipment at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine. The budget also includes $3.5 million to repair and maintain facilities across campus.
“We are incredibly grateful to Gov. Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for their continued investment in our students, our research, our employees, and our mission,” said ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland. “This funding is not only a commitment to higher education but a powerful affirmation of ETSU’s role as the flagship institution of Appalachia.”
Brown Hall has been ETSU’s central science building for over half a century.
The ongoing renovation project modernizes labs and classrooms to support the university’s growing enrollment and evolving research needs. Phase I, already underway, was funded at nearly $48 million. Phase II funding ensures the full transformation of the facility into a 21st-century hub for the university’s Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy departments.
“Long before ETSU students make lifesaving decisions at a patient’s bedside or conduct breakthrough research, they build a foundation in spaces like Brown Hall,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “This investment will ensure they have access to the equipment and learning environments they need to succeed.”
In addition to the Brown Hall funding, the state has committed $3 million to replace aging equipment at the Quillen College of Medicine, bolstering ETSU’s mission to train rural health care providers and serve as a top-ranked producer of physicians for health professional shortage areas.
“These are not just budget line items – they are investments in our students’ futures and the well-being of our communities,” said Noland. “Every dollar helps ensure that ETSU continues to be a driver of progress and opportunity in East Tennessee and beyond.”
By O.J. Early
Read more incredible stories in the Summer 2025 Edition of ETSU Today. #BucsGoBeyond
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