MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) – Fall semester classes are getting underway on a number of Middle Tennessee university campuses.
Students at Austin Peay State, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Trevecca, and Middle Tennessee State begin classes this week. The school year got underway at Lipscomb, Belmont and Fisk universities last week.
MTSU got it’s fall semester off to a memorable start this past weekend. On Friday the University opened its brand new $65 million, 211,000 square foot student union. Also on Friday, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee welcomed more than 900 faculty members back to campus, noting a new focus on student retention and graduation.
“It becomes even more critical that we develop support systems – effective support systems – that will help all of our students to succeed.”
On Sunday, MTSU held Convocation to welcome new students. The featured speaker was Dr. Tori McClure, the current president of Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. McClure was the first woman to row across the Atlantic, and shared the experience with students, including a story about being caught at sea in a hurricane.
“Waves were washing over the boat and it was doing this really annoying submarine thing. When your ears pop because the boat’s gone so far under the surface of the water, it’s a bad thing.”
MTSU is expecting an enrollment of about 26,000 students. A final headcount will be available next week.
The Blue Raiders kick off the football season Thursday with a game against McNeese State, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Floyd Stadium. That game can be heard right here on WMOT.
