University of Tennessee Tackles 'Grand Challenges' Facing State

UT System President Randy Boyd emphasizes the power of education and the importance of a college degree amid political pressures.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Leaders from the University of Tennessee system hosted a two-day summit in Franklin, Tennessee to discuss the 'grand challenges' facing the state. UT System President Randy Boyd delivered the keynote address, highlighting the transformative power of education and defending the value of higher education against those who question it. The summit featured discussions on issues like rural healthcare access, where Tennessee ranks 44th in health outcomes nationwide.

Why it matters

The summit comes at a time of political, social and cultural tensions that have put pressure on UT and other Tennessee universities. By focusing on shared challenges and solutions, the university system aims to demonstrate the positive impact it can have on the state, despite external criticism.

The details

The Grand Challenges Summit brought together educators, leaders and others from across the UT system and the wider Tennessee education community. Discussions covered issues like the widening gap in life expectancy between rural and urban counties, and the compounding problems facing struggling Tennesseans that impact their healthcare needs. UT has been central to expanding access to dental care, creating a rural health care task force, and establishing a center dedicated to closing the gap in health outcomes for rural areas.

  • The two-day summit was held on February 10-11, 2026.
  • UT System President Randy Boyd delivered his annual State of the University Address on February 10, 2026.

The players

Randy Boyd

The president of the University of Tennessee system, who was the first in his family to attend college and has had a career as an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader and public official.

J.W. Randolph

The Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Health, who said the state ranks 44th in health outcomes nationwide.

Christi Granstaff

The leader of the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, who said health issues often stem from compounding problems facing struggling Tennesseans.

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What they’re saying

“There are too many people in the public space that are questioning the value of higher education. And unfortunately, they conflate everybody in higher education. They'll find an example of one university somewhere that's doing something that they don't like, and then assume everyone else is doing the same thing.”

— Randy Boyd, UT System President (The Tennessean)

“Rural populations have a lower life expectancy than urban counties. That gap is widening.”

— J.W. Randolph, Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Health (knoxnews.com)

“We know that if families are struggling with access to food, or another pressing need, their health care needs are going to come after that.”

— Christi Granstaff, Tennessee Charitable Care Network Leader (knoxnews.com)

What’s next

The UT system plans to continue its efforts to address the 'grand challenges' facing Tennessee, including expanding access to healthcare in rural areas and working to close the gap in health outcomes between urban and rural counties.

The takeaway

Despite political and cultural pressures, the University of Tennessee system is focused on using its resources and expertise to tackle the state's most pressing issues, demonstrating the positive impact that higher education can have on communities across Tennessee.