Interview with President Brian Noland from East Tennessee State University

Today we’re talking with President Brian Noland from East Tennessee State University .  Brian was previously the Chancellor of West Virginia Higher Education Policy Division, giving him a unique perspective.

Brian says TSU is doing optimistically well, hoping for a somewhat normal return in the Fall.  He says no one was prepared for the intensity of the pandemic issue or the weight of daily decisions.  As power has shifted to the individual university, they’ve been working on rewriting all policies, having been aggressive on social distancing and moving things online.  He said on their worst day they had 50 students on quarantine, compared to 1000 at other institutions with less control.

As an advocate for innovation across the state, Brian says it was a great honor to serve on the cabinet and lead policy change.  As President of TSU, Brian wasn’t prepared to be the face of the community but says it’s an extremely humbling opportunity.  With 75% of regional healthcare providers having graduated from TSU, the regional universities impact is driving economic force.

From a policy perspective, Brian says challenges are as pronounced as ever.  They’re having to work hard on adjusting their portfolio of aid.  With a lot of talk around loan forgiveness, Brian says the best way to look at student loan debt is to ensure it doesn't happen.  As a tuition dependent university, 70 cents on the dollar to run the institution comes from non-state sources.  With a need in the area for engineers and nurses, TSU is saving resources by partnering with other colleges in the area.

There is some fear that competition for students can be a deterrent to collaboration.  Brian suggests schools focus on the region, not on the campus, as he says we’ll get further faster by working together.   Cross institutional collaboration is more important than ever in the time of COVID-19.  Brian says for inspiration during these trying times he’s turned to many great books including How Colleges Work by Robert Birnbaum, The Soul of America by Jon Meacham, and Promise Land by Barack Obama.

As we begin 2021, Brian says the college’s focus is on celebrating successes.  It’s a time to refocus on what they’ve been able to accomplish and to remind themselves of the beauty of hope.  As we continue to battle a pandemic, Brian will focus on hope and transformation.

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Welcome to innovating together, a podcast produced by the University Innovation Alliance. This is a podcast for busy people in higher education who are looking for the “aha moments” that can propel their work forward. Innovating Together curates the best insights, research, and experts. To connect with us further, visit www.theuia.org.