Union University is pleased to partner with the churches of the Tennessee Baptist Convention as we work to
fulfill our mission of providing Christ-centered higher education that serves the Church and society.
To fulfill this mission in accordance with our core values, Union developed and is now pursuing seven strategic
themes in our new strategic plan, United in Spirit. Grounded in Truth. The plan’s strategies and accompanying
goals and activities will enable Union to pursue ongoing distinctiveness in its academic programs, constantly
seeking after the ultimate embodiment of truth: Jesus Christ.
As a part of our strategic plan, we will be about the work of bearing witness to the transforming power of the
gospel of Jesus Christ, expanding enrollment across the University, enhancing operational effectiveness and
efficiency to advance the mission, revising the liberal arts core curriculum, supporting meaningful research
among faculty and students, developing leaders for the future, and bolstering student life and building community.
Collaborating with the churches of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, Union is working to establish programming
(e.g., Church Revitalization Conference, Bivocational Pastors Conference, Director of Missions and Wives
Retreat, West Tennessee Evangelism Rally, Reformation 500 Conference, and others) that will contribute toward
the realization of the TBC’s Five Objectives.
Among the highlights at Union University during the 2015-2016 academic year:
• In November we dedicated and opened The Logos, a 54,000-square foot library building and academic
resource center that has become a focal point on the Union campus.
• We completed our first year of the EDGE program for students with intellectual and developmental
disabilities.
• We added a 49-bell carillon to Miller Tower, thanks to a gift from the Opha Miller Trust.
• Hundreds of students participated in dozens of GO mission trips around the world.
• We hosted the West Tennessee Evangelism Rally in February, which drew over 800 people.
• Union graduate and Trustee Steve Gaines, Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, was elected president of the
Southern Baptist Convention.
• We presented the Dodd Award for denominational service to Kevin Ezell, a Union alumnus and President of
the North American Mission Board.
• Our student publication, the Cardinal & Cream, was named the best college magazine in the South for the
second year in a row at the Southeastern Journalism Conference.
• Christian Universities Online named Union the top Christian university in the South.
• We received a grant, along with Lane College, from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in
Theology and Religion to promote collaboration in teaching and racial reconciliation.
We are grateful for the prayers and support of TBC churches who help us in our efforts of equipping students to
be salt and light in a world that desperately needs wise and thoughtful citizens, employees, church members,
parents, ministers and ambassadors for Christ.
With a grateful heart,
Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, Ph.D.
President
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