Fall enrollment up despite challenges; Jazz series opens Sept. 17

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Courtesy of Middle Tennessee State University

Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University.

Fall enrollment up 1.7% despite FAFSA challenges Middle Tennessee State University boasts a second consecutive year of enrollment growth, recording a 1.7% year-over-year increase this fall, President Sidney A. McPhee recently told the institution’s Board of Trustees.

MTSU’s official reported enrollment, commonly known as the census, stands at 20,540 for 2024-25, an increase of 342 students over last year, McPhee said during board’s quarterly meeting Sept. 10 at the Miller Education Center.

Most notably, the president said, the university saw an increase of 1% in new freshmen this year, which is on top of a record 12% increase in this category the previous year.

Transfers were up almost 3% year over year, while graduate enrollment was just 67 students shy of last year.

McPhee praised the work of MTSU’s undergraduate admissions team for its hard work overcoming problems in the rollout of a new federal financial aid form, known as FASFA. It led to confusion among enrolling students nationwide, especially those in the greatest need of financial aid.

“I appreciate the work of (Vice Provosts) Laurie Witherow and (David) Butler, our academic deans, and faculty in keeping our enrollment headed in a positive direction,” McPhee said.

Meanwhile, McPhee also relayed to trustees that The Wall Street Journal recently recognized MTSU for the first time on its list of America's Best Colleges 2025.

The list was produced by the newspaper in collaboration with College Pulse and the independent market research firm Statista. It was compiled from around 110,000 independent surveys of undergraduates and recent alumni, anonymously asked on topics like career preparation, learning opportunities and campus life.

“Being named one of America's Best Colleges for 2025 means MTSU is a leading college in the nation, known for its exceptional learning environment, outstanding student outcomes, and commitment to diversity,” McPhee said.

McPhee also informed trustees MTSU issued an intent-to-award notice to select Nashville-based Sila Developments as the best evaluated proposer for its public-private hotel development project. The concept includes a four-story, 122-key hotel that would be built on the existing parking lot at the southwest corner of the Middle Tennessee Boulevard and Greenland Drive intersection.

Sila’s leadership team includes two MTSU graduates, who the president said are “excited about the future partnership with MTSU that will not only provides convenient lodging, but also experiential learning opportunities for MTSU students in various academic programs including the MTSU Tourism and Hospitality Management program.”

He added, “The Sila team brings experience in hospitality developments in Middle Tennessee including the Motif on Music Row (hotel) and the Holiday Inn Express-West End in Nashville,” he said.

In other business, trustees approved a road-and-safety Improvement project to enhance traffic flow and safety at the northern perimeter of campus, specifically along Middle Tennessee Boulevard and Greenland Drive. The U.S. Department of Transportation provided a $2.5 million grant for the project.

The proposed scope of work includes a pedestrian bridge over Middle Tennessee Boulevard, improved lighting and signaling, and upgraded crosswalks.

Jazz Artist series opens Sept. 17 with pianist Stevens, drummer Lillard The first concert of the MTSU Jazz Artist Series will feature pianist Michael Jefry Stevens and drummer Art Lillard and include music from the new “Keepers of the Flame” album.

The concert will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building, 1439 Faulkinberry Drive. A parking map is available at https://bit.ly/MTSUParking.

The program will feature arrangements of standard jazz tunes by Duke Ellington, the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, as well as original compositions and arrangements by Lillard and Stevens.

“The concert will showcase the sound of two musicians that have played together since 1972 and represent music-making at its best,” said Director of Jazz Studies Jamey Simmons.

Tickets are $10 for the public and free for MTSU students, faculty and staff. Discounts for area band students and educators are available.

Tickets are also available in the lobby of the Wright Music Building before the concert. Only cash or checks will be accepted. For reserved tickets, call 615-898-2724 or email James.Simmons@mtsu.edu.

Featured as a part of the sextet will be East Tennessee trombonist Rick Simerly and MTSU faculty members Don Aliquo (tenor sax), Jack Aylor (bass), and Simmons (trumpet).

Sextet members will give a free and open masterclass for the public on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 4:20 p.m. in Saunders Fine Arts room 101 in the MTSU School of Music.

MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations.

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