Fulfilling Our Mission
CCI researchers aim to impact not just our community, but the state, country, and beyond with the research we conduct.
CCI Strategic Plan Goal 5
Connect with Tennesseans and with industries and communities around the world, securing support for the College and inspiring future Volunteers to join our community.”
The Land-Grant Mission
What does it mean to be a land-grant institution?
In 1869, the Tennessee Legislature designated East Tennessee University as the recipient of federal land-grant funds provided by the Morrill Act of 1862. After the Civil War, the legislation was extended to former Confederate states including Tennessee. The Morrill Act helped meet the demands of our industrializing nation by establishing land-grant institutions that provided instruction in agriculture, mechanical arts, and military tactics along with classical curriculums. The Herbert College of Agriculture was also founded in 1869. UT is one of two land-grant institutions in Tennessee. The other is Tennessee State University in Nashville, designated with 18 other historically Black colleges under the Morrill Act of 1890.
How is RIC fulfilling this mission?
The Research and Innovation Center supports faculty, staff and students in fulfilling the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Land-Grant mission to serve the state. CCI envisions how it will meet this mission in its strategic plan, in Goal 5.