Office of the Vice Provost for Research
ETSU's New Research Strategic Plan
At East Tennessee State University, research is a commitment to discovery, innovation, service, and meaningful impact across Appalachia and beyond. It is a commitment because research is integral to fulfilling our mission of improving the quality of life for the people of our region. Over the past decade, ETSU’s research enterprise has grown through collaboration among faculty, students, and community partners who are addressing real-world challenges. While we have made significant progress, there is more work to be done and impact to be realized. I am therefore pleased to share ETSU’s 5-year research strategic plan.
Our new vision is that ETSU is recognized, through funding, rankings, and impact, as one of the premier regional public research universities in the nation. The vision statement is aspirational, achievable, and exciting.
The Research Strategic Plan presents the task force’s recommended key strategic actions and expected outcomes. The plan is organized around four strategic pillars:
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- Pillar 1: Research Vision and Identity: Establishing a clear, mission-aligned research identity and five strategic emphasis areas.
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- Pillar 2: Infrastructure, Systems, and Investment: Strengthening the administrative, compliance, and operational foundations that support research growth and innovation.
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- Pillar 3: Student Success Through Research Engagement: Expanding ETSU recruitment and enrollment through expanded research pathways and resources for undergraduate and graduate students.
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- Pillar 4: Community, Industry, and External Partnerships: Deepening and coordinating external partnerships to advance research and regional impact.
ETSU's research stories and efforts reflect the ETSU Trailblazer spirit: curiosity applied to action and discovery translated into impact. Inspired by our proximity to the Appalachian Trail, the Trailblazer identity represents exploration, resilience, and the pursuit of new paths in research, innovation, and community impact.
We look forward to achieving our research vision and invite you to join us as we blaze new trails.
Dr. Nick Hagemeier, Vice Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer
The Office of the Vice Provost for Research
World renowned researchers and scholars call ETSU home. For this reason, ETSU is a hub of creativity, innovation, and knowledge generation. ETSU researchers literally improve the quality of life of the people of the region and beyond through the work done here. And that critical thinking, idea generation, and passion for knowing are taught to and modeled for students. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research has the privilege of supporting the faculty, staff, and students who blaze trails through their research, scholarship, and creative activity endeavors.
The R2 Designation
ETSU is an R2 institution with premier R2 aspirations. That means ETSU values and prioritizes research and is recognized for it. Through training graduate students, competing for and being awarded research grants and contracts, and engaging undergraduate and professional students in research activities, ETSU contributes to the research and innovation economy. And we desire to contribute even more.
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