The past eight years have marked a period of unprecedented development and growth for the University of Memphis. This era of progress has been achieved behind the leadership of President M. David Rudd and the expertise of the UofM’s Board of Trustees, which held its first meeting in 2017. As Rudd transitions out of his role as President this spring, we take a look at the remarkable accomplishments during his tenure.
2014 
NIH Center of Excellence solidifies UofM’s research capacity
The National Institutes of Health awarded the UofM a prestigious $10.8 million Center of Excellence grant to focus on the rapidly growing mobile health field. The grant was part of a $32 million NIH investment to establish 12 Centers of Excellence across the country to tackle specific data science challenges.
The grant led to the formation of the UofM’s Center of Excellence for Mobile Sensor Data-to-Knowledge (MD2K). Led by the UofM’s Dr. Santosh Kumar, MD2K was formed with leading scientists from 11 universities — the UofM, Cornell Tech, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rice, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UMass Amherst and Michigan.
Rudd team lauded for soldier suicide risk study
UofM President M. Rudd helped lead a research team that was selected to receive the 2014 Military Health System Research Symposium Research Accomplishment Award. The team conducted a two-year study on suicide among soldiers and identified risk and prevention factors.
2015
Commitment from FedEx Corporate Services advances UofM technology and research
FedEx Corporate Services Inc. made a $3 million commitment over three years to the UofM FedEx Institute of Technology. The gift underscored President M. David Rudd’s vision for the institute to advance interdisciplinary research and faculty collaborations in partnership with global technology organizations.
The renewed support from FedEx allowed the UofM to strategically invest in existing areas of strength to build nationally recognized centers of applied research through the FedEx Institute of Technology. As a result of this investment, the University also entered into a partnership framework with the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, the Epicenter Memphis program, the Chairman’s Circle of the Greater Memphis Chamber and other corporate partners to advance logistics innovation.
Community Health Building opens on Park Avenue Campus
At nearly 200,000 square feet, the UofM Community Health Building is one of the largest facilities for community health-related education and research in the Mid-South. It houses the Loewenberg College of Nursing, the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center.
The $60 million facility was funded by private support from individuals, foundations, corporations and a State of Tennessee matching grant. It features research and clinical sound suites for audiology research, nursing simulation suites, nursing skills labs, health assessment labs, classrooms and conference rooms. An anechoic chamber, the only one of its kind in West Tennessee, allows for world-class research on hearing devices and hearing problems that can be conducted only in such a unique environment.
Washington Monthly names UofM among top national universities
The 2015 Washington Monthly College Guide ranked the UofM No. 40 in its listing of national universities. The UofM was ranked fifth in the category of service staff, courses and financial aid support. The publication rates schools based on their contribution to the public good in three categories — social mobility, research and service.
UofM-Memphis Symphony Orchestra partnership makes campus premier destination for music education
In a groundbreaking collaboration, the UofM and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra partnered to create the premier destination for music training, performance and outreach in the Mid-South. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra in Residence at the UofM offers a series of world-class symphonic music on campus while retaining a presence at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. These top-quality performances at the UofM create a rich opportunity for students, faculty, patrons and citizens of the Mid-South to experience the full range of musical offerings created by the partnership.
2016
Google names Memphis its Tennessee eCity
Google named Memphis its Tennessee eCity, citing research at the UofM’s Center of Excellence for Mobile Sensor Data-to-Knowledge as a primary reason.
“Memphis is a musical city — it’s the birthplace of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll and a hotspot for country,” Google said. “The city also has a technology focus. The University of Memphis has a specialty in sensor research and has pioneered fully reconfigurable modular body-worn sensors for easy and portable vitality, cardiac and neurological monitoring.”
$53 million residence hall opens
Shirley C. Raines Centennial Place, the UofM’s $53 million residence hall, was opened at the beginning of the 2016 spring semester. The facility on the corner of Patterson Street and Norriswood Avenue features a modern design with private study areas, classrooms, collaboration areas and multiple safety and security features. The structure exceeds Tennessee’s sustainable guidelines, lessening the global footprint of the student body. Shirley C. Raines Centennial Place houses nearly 800 students and more than 125 staff.
UofM leads $4 Million NSF Cyberinfrastructure Project
The UofM was tabbed to lead a team of researchers from three other universities — UCLA, UC San Francisco and the University of Pennsylvania — on a data cyberinfrastructure grant from the National Science Foundation. The purpose of the grant was to develop a new cyberinfrastructure, called mProv, to annotate high-frequency mobile sensor data with data source, quality, validity and semantics to enable sharing of such data with the wider research community.
University creates integrated center to serve international students
With nearly 670 international students from 55 countries enrolled at the UofM, the University created the Center for International Education Services (CIES). The center is home to the UofM Study Abroad Office, the Intensive English for Internationals program and International Student Services Office.
CIES serves the needs of the University’s international community and prepares students to become global citizens while enhancing efforts to expand its national and international reach. Consolidating these services allows the UofM to provide a more welcoming environment for international students and scholars, helping them engage with other students, faculty and staff.
2017
UofM welcomes inaugural Board of Trustees
The UofM Board of Trustees held its inaugural meeting on March 17, 2017, which now stands as one of the most important days in the history of the University. Change has been the only constant in the years that have followed. With the power of a fully independent Board and the vision of President Rudd, the UofM has implemented an incredible number of programs and initiatives that have allowed the University to grow in a positive direction and become a national leader in many areas.
UofM opens one of the nation’s top basketball facilities
Opened ahead of the 2017-18 season, the $20 million Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center set the standard for the next generation of facilities in college athletics. The home of Tiger men’s basketball, it features the latest amenities, technology, student-athlete involvement and fan engagement. The facility undoubtedly contributed significantly to assisting Penny Hardaway’s program in landing the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2019 and 2021.
The center sets itself apart with its commitment to donor and VIP cultivation, a public Hall of Traditions, academic support for multiple teams, state-of-the-art training facilities, enhanced technology and connectivity and a practice court that is significantly larger than the normal size.
Record number of patents
The Office of Technology Transfer hosted the 2017 UofM Inventor Celebration to honor and recognize those who have received patents for their inventions and/or intellectual property. The celebration culminated an extraordinary year for the University, as it received a record 10 patents — an achievement that highlights the research capabilities at the UofM.
First to offer paid parental leave for new parents
The UofM Board of Trustees approved a six-week paid parental leave policy, making the University the first public higher education institution in Tennessee to offer paid leave for new parents. The policy is offered to paternal or maternal faculty and staff adopting or having a biological child. This policy has been monumental in the University’s efforts to recruit and retain young professionals and be recognized as family friendly.
2018
LiFE program opens doors for FedEx employees
FedEx Express and the University of Memphis launched the Learning inspired by FedEx (LiFE) program in 2018. The initiative is powered by UofM Global — one of the top online bachelor’s degree programs in the country — and allows employees of several FedEx hub locations the opportunity to earn a degree at potentially no out-of-pocket cost.
In addition to largely eliminating financial barriers, LiFE empowers enrollees with its prep academy, a robust system of academic coaches and the flexibility of completing coursework strictly online.
UofM among three universities to share $5M NSF STEM grant
The UofM was one of three urban universities to receive a portion of a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program. The grant brought together the UofM with the University of Colorado at Denver and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis to provide academic, social, professional and peer networking; career preparation; and scholarship support to approximately 150 engineering and mathematical sciences majors at the three institutions. At the UofM, $1 million of the $1.7 million received from the grant was dedicated to scholarships.
Commitment to affordability on display
In 2018 alone, the UofM implemented a simplified four-tier tuition structure, approved the Tuition Transparency and Accountability Act and had the lowest tuition increases in Tennessee over the previous five years.
The simplified tuition structure significantly reduced attendance costs for out-of-state students, particularly those with a 250-mile radius of the University. The Tuition Transparency and Accountability Act established guidelines for considering increases in tuition and mandatory fees at the University. All the while, the UofM achieved the lowest tuition rate increases in the state (1.7%) over the previous five years.
UMRF Ventures opens command and call centers
UMRF Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of the University of Memphis Research Foundation, hired 45 UofM graduate students in 2018 to establish an IT Command Center supporting FedEx employees. The success of the call center led to an expansion on the UofM’s Park Avenue Campus a year later, which allowed the number of student employees to grow to more than 300 with students working flexible hours to accommodate their class schedules.
River City Partnership launches
The River City Partnership — a collaboration between the UofM, Shelby County Schools and the Achievement School District — was created in 2018 as an umbrella initiative intended to strengthen the teacher pipeline in the Memphis area. The program introduces high school students to a possible career in education, preparing teachers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and implementing retention strategies for new and existing teachers.
2019
Hunter Harrison Memorial Bridge completed
The UofM opened the $18 million Hunter Harrison Memorial Bridge in August 2019 after 15 months of construction and decades of anticipation. A long-needed campus safety enhancement, the bridge allows students a safe passage over the railroad tracks between Southern Avenue and Walker Avenue. Construction of the bridge also included an amphitheater and an $18.5 million six-level parking garage that can accommodate 1,140 vehicles.
The namesake of the bridge attended the UofM before leaving school to begin what would be a successful career as a railroader. Harrison served as CEO of four railways — the Illinois Central, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and CSX.
UofM achieves U.S. News & World Report Tier 1
In 2019, the U.S. News & World Report rankings listed the UofM in its top tier among national universities for the first time. The University has maintained this distinction while also improving its overall ranking each of the past three years. This accomplishment comes after being unranked just seven years ago. Additionally, the UofM has improved its ranking among top public schools for four consecutive years.
UMRF Research Park brings talent, innovation and opportunity to campus
Opened in early 2019 as a co-working space for startups, the UMRF Research Park has served as a thriving innovation hub attracting global talent and, as a result, enhancing the UofM community. Tenant companies have used their access to the University to recruit UofM students. This mutually beneficial relationship gives the businesses convenient access to talented employees while students are given a fast-track opportunity to a career. The Memphis community is made better by keeping promising companies and talented students in the city.
Athletics receives record $13M commitment
The UofM Athletics Department announced a $13 million commitment in July 2019 to support athletics through the establishment of the Gary W. and Barbara Bryant Family Trusts. The generous gift is the largest commitment in Memphis Athletics history and the second-largest gift in UofM history.
“Barbara and I have been pretty athletic throughout our years, and we both believe strongly in obtaining a quality education to open more doors and opportunities,” Gary W. Bryant said. “We have made this commitment to the University of Memphis Athletic Department to enable future student-athletes to obtain a great education and play their gifted sport at my alma mater. I feel very fortunate to be able to do this and only hope more alumni do the same, and financially support our Tigers and our University. Go Tigers Go!”
UofM launches African American Male Academy
In 2019, the UofM launched the African American Male Academy, an initiative tailored to increasing graduation rates for African American males. Starting in middle school, the Academy identifies, recruits and inducts students into a culture of inclusive excellence. It initially provides African American males at a critical age the assistance to overcome potential obstacles to getting on track toward earning a degree through well-established and newly developed culturally responsive programs. Going further, the Academy gives students support and guidance from freshman year through degree completion once enrolled at the UofM and assists them in pursuing graduate degrees at the University.
Thriving enrollment, retention and graduation rates
Fall 2019 enrollment reached 22,044, surpassing 22,000 at the UofM for the first time since 2012. This made the UofM the second-largest public university in Tennessee, a distinction it has maintained. At the same time, an 81% retention rate among students entering their second year at the UofM set a new institution record and outpaced the 71% national average. The freshman class increased by 5.5% from the previous year with out-of-state freshmen increasing by 28%. The six-year graduation rate has risen from 42.6% with the 2010 freshman cohort to an institutional high 54.3% among the 2015 freshman group.
2020
UofM once again announces no tuition increase
For the fourth time in seven years, the University of Memphis announced there would be no tuition increase ahead of the 2020-21 academic year. The average tuition increase over those seven years was just 1.5%, as the UofM led Tennessee in higher-education cost containment throughout President Rudd’s eight-year tenure.
UofM announces Eradicating Systemic Racism and Promoting Social Justice initiative
President Rudd announced to the campus community in 2020 a transformative reform and change initiative — Eradicating Systemic Racism and Promotion Social Justice. The initiative aligns with the UofM’s commitment to academic excellence via diversity and was put in place to become a national model of institutional transformation to address the challenges of race and social justice.
The initiative has set out to impact and enhance all major levels of University programming, alumni, regional and national engagement. It has created 14 focus areas and workgroups that are co-led by a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, alumni and community leaders.
Economic impact report highlights UofM’s $1B contribution to local economy
A 2020 economic impact analysis revealed the UofM contributes more than $1 billion in economic activity annually, supports nearly $500 million in labor income and is directly or indirectly responsible for 9,900 Memphis-area jobs.
Additionally, a single UofM graduating class increases incomes within Tennessee by nearly $110 million annually. Over the previous decade, graduating classes earned a combined $2.1 billion statewide. Almost two-thirds of graduates reside in Memphis and 80% remain in Tennessee for more than 10 years following degree completion.
University pitches in to combat COVID-19
From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UofM stepped up in a multitude of ways to help the community it serves.
In partnership with food service provider Chartwells, the UofM took on an effort to provide more than one million meals to Shelby County Schools students to help make up for food insecurity during the public health emergency. The Metal Additive Manufacturing Lab at Herff College of Engineering used 3D printers around the clock to create face-shield frames provided to Tennessee hospitals, including Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. The Loewenberg College of Nursing donated personal protective equipment to local hospitals and long-term care facilities and established a designated email helpline to submit questions in an effort to support students, faculty and staff. In the School of Communication Sciences and disorders, students created communication boards for area hospitals designed to help patients who are intubated or in isolation and may not be able to speak.
First world ranking by Times Higher Education
The UofM was ranked among the world’s top universities for the first time in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The University was one of only three institutions in Tennessee — along with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Vanderbilt University — to receive the honor among the 181 U.S. institutions ranked globally. In total, the publication ranked 1,527 institutions from 93 countries, drawing on data points from almost 2,000 of the world’s leading research universities and more than 22,000 academic reputation survey responses.
Safest large campus in Tennessee
For the sixth time in eight years, the UofM was named the safest large campus in Tennessee by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Crime on Campus Report. The large-campus classification includes the state’s 10 universities with a student population of more than 5,000.
While crime increased 3.6% across all Tennessee colleges and universities in the report, incidents at UofM campuses decreased 1.8% from 12.2 per 1,000 student population to 11.9 — the lowest since the University began tracking crimes per 1,000 in 2001. The other Tennessee institutions ranged from 12.8 to 40.4 with a median of 19.7.
Campus historical marker dedicated to trailblazer Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis (Sugarmon)
Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis (Sugarmon) became the first African American faculty member at the University of Memphis in 1966, less than a decade after she was denied entrance to graduate school at the University. In December 2020, the UofM dedicated a historical marker in her honor on campus in front of Jones Hall, just northwest of the Administration Building. A trailblazer throughout her life, she earned her MA and PhD degrees from John Hopkins University, becoming one of the first African Americans to do so at the school. At the UofM, she taught Spanish, was the advisor to the Black Student Association and helped organize the Faculty Forum. She passed away in January 2021 at age 86.
2021
18 scholarships established in response to Mike Bruns Scholarship Challenge Fund
An unprecedented 18 endowed scholarships were created over a seven-month period in response to the Mike Bruns Scholarship Challenge Fund. The $1 million fund, established by University of Memphis Board of Visitors member Mike Bruns and his wife, Marian, provides a 1:2 matching opportunity that challenges donors to establish new, need-based endowed scholarships at the University. The primary purpose of the matching fund is to increase the number of students who graduate from the University by addressing one of the biggest obstacles students and their families face – affordability.
Larry Finch Plaza unveiled on Park Avenue Campus
The UofM unveiled the Larry Finch Plaza in October 2021 on the Park Avenue Campus. Celebrating one of the University's most beloved and accomplished figures, the plaza features a statue of Finch flanked by panels commemorating his time as a basketball player and coach at the UofM.
As a player, the Orange Mound native led the Tigers to a 63-21 record and an appearance in the 1973 national championship game. Finch joined the Memphis coaching staff as an assistant in 1981 and excelled as a recruiter who helped lay the foundation for the Tigers' 1985 Final Four team. He was named head coach in 1986 and led the program to nine postseason appearances in 11 seasons, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 1992. His 220 wins as a head coach are a school record.
Record $26.5M reached in academic fundraising
The UofM secured a record $26.575 million for the fiscal year 2021. It eclipsed consecutive records of $26.3 million in 2019 and $23.1 million in 2018. The totals include gifts of cash, pledges and planned gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to the University of Memphis Foundation.
UofM reaches $50M in research awards for first time
The University reached $50.23 million in research awards in the 2021 fiscal year, a new institution record and a 23.2% increase from the previous year. This continued a year-over-year upward climb in research awards as the UofM reached $40.76 million in FY 20, $32.59 million in FY 19 and $31.86 million in FY 18. The UofM had 144 award-winning principal investigators with 20 departments securing $1 million or more in FY 21.
$31M R. Brad Martin Student Wellness Center and Plaza opens
The UofM opened its $31 million R. Brad Martin Student Wellness Center and Plaza just ahead of the 2021 fall semester. The two-story facility is located at 3735 Southern Avenue, adjacent to the $18 million Hunter Harrison pedestrian cable bridge and $18.5 million, five-story, 1,140-space parking garage. It features expanded cardio and weight training areas, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, four fitness studios, a teaching kitchen, an indoor track, three tennis courts, an outdoor pool, classroom space and more.
Early Childhood Academy completed in Orange Mound
A partnership between the University of Memphis and Porter-Leath has brought an innovative Early Childhood Academy to Memphis’ Orange Mound neighborhood. Opening in January 2022, the Academy is located alongside and will work in conjunction with RedZone Ministries. It is designed to help address a critical need for early childhood care in the community while also serving as a learning and training space for current and prospective childhood practitioners. The Academy features state-of-the-art research and observation technology, wraparound services for children and families and child-centered spaces for learning.