East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. Although it is part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee, the university is governed by an institutional Board of Trustees. As of May 2017, it is the fourth largest university in the state and has off-campus centers in nearby Kingsport, Elizabethton, and Sevierville.
ETSU is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity." It hosts the James H. Quillen College of Medicine which is often ranked as one of the top schools in the United States for rural medicine and primary care education; the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, and the recently formed College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. Unique programs include an accredited program in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music, America's lone master's degree in Storytelling, and the Appalachian Studies programs, focused on the surrounding Appalachian region.
Presidents
• Sidney G. Gilbreath, 1911–1925
• Charles C. Sherrod, 1925–1949
• Burgin E. Dossett Sr., 1949–1968
• D.P. Culp, 1968–1977
• Arthur H. DeRosier Jr., 1977–1980
• Ronald E. Beller, 1980–1991
• Bert C. Bach (interim), 1991–1992
• Roy S. Nicks, 1992–1996
• Paul E. Stanton Jr., 1997–2012
• Brian Noland, 2012–present
In April 2002, the 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) Basler Center for Physical Activity (BCPA) was opened. The building contains recreational facilities such as an indoor 40-foot (12 m) climbing wall, walking / jogging track, racquetball / basketball courts, an indoor swimming pool, meeting rooms and a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) weight room. The Basler Center also offers a diverse selection of fitness classes from yoga to martial arts.
ETSU Campus Recreation completed an expansion of the BCPA in 2013 and also opened the Campus Recreation Field Complex. The BCPA expansion included a volleyball / indoor soccer/basketball court, a martial arts studio, a yoga studio, a change room, an extra 4,000 square foot area for the weight room, and a cycling studio.
The Campus Recreation Field Complex includes Field 1- a multi-use field designed for softball and flag football and Field 2- a natural grass multi-use field designed for softball but can also accommodate flag football, soccer and other sports. There is a field house and a covered pavilion overlooking Field 1 which provides a great location for teams to gather before or after an intramural game.
Just thirty minutes from campus students can hike on the Appalachian Trail, view wildflowers in a national wilderness area, or explore the world-famous rhododendron gardens atop Roan Mountain (elevation 6,285 feet).
Nearby mountain streams attract students who love trout fishing and/or waterfalls. These streams also create recreation opportunities on nearby TVA lakes for skiing, boating and bass fishing. Over the mountain ridges in North Carolina, students in winter can find snow ski resorts and lodges. An hour away to the west awaits the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and to the east the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.