MC, Tremont announce intention to partner on strategic initiatives
May 28, 2021
Maryville College and the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT) have announced their intention to partner, with a shared focus on educational programming and research that celebrates ecological and cultural diversity, fosters stewardship, promotes sustainability and nurtures the appreciation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“Maryville College is fortunate to be in a location like none other, and we believe our future focus can be found to our south and east, as we become the college of and for this unparalleled region,” said Dr. Bryan F. Coker, president of Maryville College. “We look forward to formally partnering with Tremont, embracing this region as the amazing learning laboratory that it is.”
The respective governing boards of the College and the GSMIT have endorsed four areas of collaboration and partnership where they intend to provide support and further explore initiatives currently under discussion and consideration. Those include:
- shared employee roles/positions between the two institutions that are of mutual benefit to both organizations;
- creation of new programming, inspired by the College’s Great Smokies Experience course, for the purpose of helping Maryville College students better understand the region and the relationship between people and place;
- envisioning a Graduate Programs Center for Maryville College, utilizing GSMIT’s proposed second campus in Townsend, to offer future graduate-level programs focused on environmental and sustainability studies, and other potential offerings consistent with GSMIT’s mission and focus; and
- dedicated space for GSMIT use and programs in Maryville College’s planned new science center.
With the help of the National Park Service, Tremont was originally established in 1969 as the Maryville College Environmental Education Center. The Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association assumed control of the education center in 1980, and in 1985, the name was changed to “the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont” to further acknowledge its ties to the national park.
Coker said partnering with GSMIT comes naturally for the College. This most recent action by their respective boards builds on a 2014 memorandum of understanding that formally brought together the two entities after nearly 34 years of a loose association.
Catey McClary, GSMIT’s president and CEO, said she was excited about recent discussions and endorsements.
“The connections between Maryville College and Tremont date back more than 50 years. While the formality and intentionality of those connections have fluctuated, our complementary missions have not,” she said. “We both highly value experiential learning, self-exploration, critical thinking, effective leadership and a personal connection with nature.
“The timing of these renewed discussions could not be better,” she added. “Both Tremont and Maryville College share ambitious goals and plans for expanding our outreach, accessibility and impact when it comes to education. We also share an enduring commitment to educating future citizens and leaders who are committed to making the world a better place.”
Faculty members and staff from both organizations will be gathering for a workshop at GSMIT later this summer to begin discussions about new programs and planning for a unique current student experience in the park.
