University of Tennessee Receives Historic $130M Investment

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT), has received the largest philanthropic investment in its history—a transformative $130 million gift from alumni Dee and Jimmy Haslam, the CEO and chairman, respectively, of Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Cleveland Browns and holds a controlling interest in the Milwaukee Bucks, among other business ventures.

The landmark investment will strengthen student success initiatives, enhance faculty recruitment, and further elevate UT’s position as a national leader in higher education. A significant portion of the funding will support the university’s Haslam College of Business, while also advancing campus-wide efforts to attract world-class faculty and expand UT’s impact across Tennessee and beyond.

“We are honored to make this investment in UT and the Haslam College of Business,” Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a joint statement. “The university is experiencing extraordinary momentum, and we are proud to help elevate its national reputation, attract world-class faculty, and support the next generation of leaders—all while keeping the best and brightest here in Tennessee.”

Of the total gift, $100 million will be directed to the Haslam College of Business to recruit distinguished faculty and further strengthen student success programs, graduate scholarships, and the undergraduate honors program. The college is UT’s largest undergraduate academic unit, enrolling more than 30 percent of the university’s undergraduate students.

“When I shared with Dee and Jimmy our vision to take UT to the next level, they immediately recognized the possibilities before us,” said Chancellor Donde Plowman. “I am deeply grateful for their counsel, vision, and generosity. This historic investment will help propel our pursuit of excellence and expand the positive impact our university has on the people and communities we serve across Tennessee and beyond.”

The gift builds upon the Haslams’ longstanding commitment to the university. With this latest contribution, their lifetime giving to UT now exceeds $195 million.

The investment will further strengthen UT’s nationally recognized student success initiatives by deepening collaboration between the Division of Student Success and the Haslam College of Business. The partnership aims to ensure that every business student has access to the resources, mentorship, and support needed to graduate and enter the workforce fully prepared.

“At the Haslam College of Business, we are committed to attracting and educating exceptional students, recruiting faculty who are leaders in their disciplines, and bringing them together in world-class programs and facilities,” said Dean Stephen L. Mangum. “Excellence attracts excellence, and this investment will further enhance our ability to deliver meaningful research, transformative learning experiences, and expanded opportunities for our students.”

Since its establishment in 2019, UT’s Division of Student Success has made significant strides in improving student outcomes. More than 92.4 percent of first-year students returned for their sophomore year last year—an increase of six percentage points since 2019. Improved retention rates have contributed to record enrollment growth and a 40 percent increase in the number of UT graduates during the same period.

“This investment gives us the opportunity to think bigger than ever before,” said Amber Williams, senior vice provost for student success and chief honors officer. “By bringing together the strengths of the Haslam College of Business and the Division of Student Success, we are creating one of the nation’s strongest talent pipelines. Together, we are building a model for student success that will set the standard for years to come. I am incredibly grateful to Dee and Jimmy for their confidence in our vision.”

The remaining $30 million will support a university-wide initiative to recruit internationally renowned faculty across a broad range of disciplines, reinforcing UT’s growing reputation for research, innovation, and discovery.

In recent years, the university has gained national recognition for advances in areas ranging from nuclear energy and cancer research to next-generation computing technologies. By investing in both students and faculty, the Haslams’ historic gift is expected to generate lasting benefits not only for the university but also for the state of Tennessee, helping ensure that highly talented graduates educated by leading scholars contribute to the state’s future workforce and economic growth.

About the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been shaping leaders, changemakers and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to the Volunteers — more than 40,000 students and 10,000 employees who uphold the university’s tradition of leadership and service. UT Knoxville offers more than 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.