UT Knoxville is a part of the University of Tennessee System which is the state’s oldest and largest public system of higher education founded in 1968. As Tennessee’s flagship university, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville), positions itself among the nation’s elite universities. Its goal is to become a preeminent public research institution and create a student experience that reaches beyond the ordinary. UT Knoxville serves the state by educating its citizens, enhancing its culture, and making a difference in people’s lives through research and service. UT Knoxville embodies excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, outreach, and engagement.