TSU board charges president to lead five-year strategic plan after AGB overview

The Tennessee State University Board of Trustees voted Sept. 11 to formally charge President Gentry Tucker to lead a five-year strategic-planning process and return the resulting plan to the board for approval.

Kamal Atkins of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB), the consulting firm engaged to support the work, gave a detailed overview of the process and timeline. Atkins described guiding principles—including “students, students first” and a leadership‑led, stakeholder‑informed approach—and said the engagement is structured around discovery, alignment and execution. “Our role is to help support the development of the institution’s strategic plan,” Atkins said, urging measurable goals and early wins to build momentum.

During discussion, trustees stressed the board’s oversight role and requested regular opportunities to provide strategic direction. Trustee (mover) offered the motion that “the board formally charge the president with leading the strategic planning process currently underway with the board providing strategic direction and guidance throughout the process and resulting strategic plan returning to the board for approval.” The motion was seconded and passed by roll-call vote.

Why it matters: Trustees will be involved in shaping priorities for enrollment, financial stability, curriculum alignment and the student experience. Atkins said the initiative has already launched with task-force events in July 2026 and a roughly 53-member task force in the discovery phase; the board’s approval to memorialize the president’s charge preserves the sequence of stakeholder work and ensures the plan returns to trustees before adoption.