UT Knoxville’s Collaboration with Arizona State University
As a land-grant institution, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville has a mission to serve – and that mission doesn’t stop at the borders of our state. Through a groundbreaking cooperation with Arizona State University, UT is scaling that mission to reach more learners nationwide by expanding access to high-quality online education.
In March 2024, Chancellor Donde Plowman announced UT’s collaboration with ASU, one of the country’s most recognized leaders in online learning innovation. Together, these two flagship public research universities are reimagining what’s possible in digital education – building on each institution’s unique strengths to meet learners where they are.
This partnership reflects who we are as a land-grant university. It’s about embracing our responsibility to serve more students in more places in ways that are meaningful, scalable, and student-centered.
Donde Plowman
Chancellor
A Shared Commitment to Public Good
This alliance is more than a technical collaboration – it’s a values-driven alliance grounded in service and academic excellence. Both universities believe in the transformative power of education and the importance of making it accessible to all.
Through this collaboration, UT is working to:
Expand the number and variety of high-quality online programs.
Build flexible, student-centered learning experiences.
Leverage research and data to support student success.
Serve adult learners, working professionals, and others who need accessible educational pathways.
By working with ASU, UT is not outsourcing its academic identity – it is enhancing its capacity to deliver on its mission. The UT faculty remains central to curriculum and academic oversight, and the university retains control over program development and quality.
As UT leaders have emphasized, the affiliation allows Tennessee’s flagship university to scale impact without compromising academic integrity. It also reinforces UT’s role in leading innovation across the higher education landscape – especially in how public institutions collaborate to solve big challenges.
What About the Course Exchange?
A key component of the agreement is the UT–ASU course exchange, which allows UT students to access select online courses offered by ASU and vice versa. This exchange gives students more flexibility and more pathways to progress toward their degrees.
To learn more about how the course exchange works—including eligibility, registration, and available courses – visit our ASU/UTK Course Exchange FAQs.
The connection with ASU reflects a national shift in how public universities can work together to meet the evolving needs of students. It’s a bold step forward – one that positions UT to serve more learners, expand educational opportunity, and help define the future of online learning.
At Digital Learning, we are proud to be a key part of this effort. The work ahead is both ambitious and deeply rooted in the university’s core purpose: to educate, to serve, and to lead.
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