text: Middle Tennessee State University, Nashville boom are closely linked
  Middle Tennessee State University has a key role in Nashville's booming economy | Opinion
  As the largest higher education institution in greater Nashville, MTSU ranks as the top producer of college graduates for the Nashville economy.
  Sidney McPhee is president of Middle Tennessee State University.
  If you asked someone 25 years ago to name two of Nashville's leading industries, country music and hot chicken would likely top the list.
  Certainly, this winning combination continues to be one of the reasons that tens of thousands of people decide to move to the Music City each year.
  Today, however, they are more likely to be drawn by the large number of new jobs resulting from the region's unparalleled growth and expansion. With newcomers AllianceBernstein, Mitsubishi, Pilot.com, SmileDirectClub, Medacta and Harrow Health, joining long-time residents HCA, Nissan, Dollar General, Asurion and Caterpillar, never before have so many corporate headquarters decided to call this area home.
  Add to this the employment forecast for Amazon's Operation hub, and we're looking at 10,000 new jobs for Middle Tennesseans. And there's no slowdown in sight.
  Never before has it been more important for higher education to have a clear understanding of industry workforce needs and align its academic offerings accordingly. As Nashville and Middle Tennessee continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, so does the demand for college graduates with skills and talents to fulfill the emerging roles that drive and sustain our economy.
  As the largest higher education institution in greater Nashville, Middle Tennessee State University ranks as the top producer of college graduates for the Nashville economy. More than half of Metro Nashville high school graduates attend MTSU.
  With a large majority of our college graduates choosing to remain, live and work in the Midstate area after graduating, MTSU is deeply invested in this region and committed to serving the people of this state through education and mentorship that is intricately linked to the needs of employers.
  MTSU degrees closely tied to workforce expectations
  Students seeking a first-class, relevant education look to MTSU because of our workforce driven degrees. Employers seeking highly skilled ready-to-work graduates know they'll get an employee who is well prepared to fulfill educational, technical and vocational demands when they hire a student who's earned an MTSU degree.
  We listen when employers tell us that they need employees who possess advanced digital skills, as well as the ability to communicate face-to-face with colleagues and clients with authenticity and compassion. And, we respond by providing an education rooted in the fundamentals of basic and applied sciences, liberal arts, health and human sciences and other core disciplines that provide the foundation for reason, logic and human interaction.
  We rely on industry input to ensure that our students in Aerospace, Agriculture, Business, Construction and Concrete Management, Nursing, and Tourism and Hospitality Management, to mention just a few programs, are graduating with skills that correspond with workplace needs and with the talents that employers seek. Thanks to this industry advice, MTSU is able to offer customized programs that address the educational, technical and vocational requirements for jobs that are forecasted for the near horizon, but don't yet exist.
  Mechatronics, a multidisciplinary field that includes a combination of systems, mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, control and computer engineering, is a prime example of an industry-driven program developed to meet the requirements of today's leading manufacturing companies. MTSU offers the only Level 3 certification program in the U.S by the tech giant Siemens Digital Industries Software.
  High praise from the governor
  Recently, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visited MTSU's campus as we welcomed leaders from Siemens to thank them for a generous donation of computer-aided design software for our Mechatronics program.
  With his background in mechanical engineering and his keen business acumen, Lee understands the significance of an academic-industry partnership of this magnitude. As he shared his vision for Tennessee's future, his remarks pointed to the tremendous value such partnerships hold for our state's economic future.
  "I have talked about how we must create an education system that is aligned with the needs of the job creators of today and tomorrow. And that's exactly what's happening here, an engagement with industry and our educational system, "Lee said.
  We do not take such praise lightly. Nor do we take for granted the trust that Tennessee's students have placed in us by choosing MTSU. We pledge to challenge ourselves by continually asking how can we best educate and prepare students for the jobs in places where they're most needed.
  MTSU is proud to have recently made The Princeton Review's list of "The Best 385 Colleges" in the nation. We are honored to be a model of how colleges can lead as we educate the future workforce, to be a part of Gov. Lee's vision and to help Tennessee lead in America.