General Support Fund
The Smith Center exists to empower University of Tennessee faculty, staff, and students to be global change agents who partner with others to develop and deploy sustainable solutions to the world’s complex agriculture-related challenges.
The Smith Center manages a broad portfolio of global programming, partnering with University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) faculty and staff, Herbert College of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine students, and a range of international collaborators. Together we:
- Design and implement complex, multidisciplinary projects.
- Coordinate inbound and outbound exchanges for students, scholars, and volunteers.
- Support U.S. embassies in developing strategic plans.
- Build long-term partnerships globally with local organizations and stakeholders to help them meet their needs.
- Strengthen U.S. agriculture by building the next generation of global leaders and developing trade and other collaborative relationships that make U.S. agriculture stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
Your donation to the Smith Center General Support Fund will help UTIA faculty and staff make a global impact through projects and partnerships and support our mission to establish UTIA the go-to organization for global engagement in the agricultural-related sciences among U.S. land-grant institutions.
Study Abroad Support Fund
The Herbert College of Agriculture has a goal of ensuring that 50 percent of students graduate with an international experience by 2027. The primary avenue for students to achieve this goal is through academic study abroad programs.
A variety of factors influence student decisions to participate in study abroad, but one of the most commonly identified barriers is financial cost. Studying abroad facilitates students’ intellectual and professional growth by exposing them to knowledge, concepts, and experiences that reflect different cultural contexts, specifically within their field of study. This helps students increase their global awareness, challenge and dispel held stereotypes, gain a better understanding of themselves, engage in leadership development, and develop the skills to engage in further experiential learning. Research also finds that participation in study abroad contributes to improved grade point averages, increased student retention, higher graduation rates, and lower transfer rates.
Your donation to the Smith Center Study Abroad Support Fund will help reduce financial barriers for students wishing to study abroad and help us reach our goal of 50% of Herbert students graduating with an international experience.