The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved a historic low tuition increase for the third straight year.

The 1.8 percent undergraduate tuition increase trustees approved is the lowest increase since 1984 and marks three consecutive years of increases at or below 3 percent—a first since the UT system was established in 1968. Trustees approved a 2.2 percent increase in 2016 and a 3 percent increase in 2015. The majority of fees will not increase. Of those for which a change was approved, the net increase at each campus ranges from 0 percent to less than 3 percent.

“Since we began self-limiting tuition and fee increases in 2015, our goal has been and continues to be keeping college tuition affordable for all Tennesseans,” UT President Joe DiPietro said.

Increased state funding and University-wide efforts to control spending have led to three years of UT self-imposed limits on tuition increases. It’s part of the University’s efforts across campuses to help Tennesseans toward better futures through higher education, DiPietro said.

“Together, we are stronger,” he said. “Together, we’re making Tennessee stronger through our efforts.”

A recent gathering of leading researchers and laboratory officials in Washington, D.C., had a distinct Tennessee flair.

The University of Tennessee is on track to achieving its most important operational and performance goals and making progress toward long-term sustainability, UT President Joe DiPietro told the Board of Trustees Friday.

DiPietro, who was elected by the board five years ago this month to serve as UT’s 25th president, provided a data-driven update. He cited progress toward goals set for him by the board for a three-year evaluation period of July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015. That period and the evaluation are based on a board-initiated performance and retention plan begun in 2012.

Plan objectives are to drive achievement of strategic institutional goals, promote accountability and excellence at the chief executive level, and encourage retention of high-performing officers.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will host more than 200 university leaders and heads of industry this week at the 21st General Meeting of the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership. UIDP21 will be held Oct. 13-16 at the Hilton Downtown Knoxville and the ORNL campus.

UIDP21, an organization of 140 universities and companies, brings people from academia and industry together to have tactical conversations about innovation and research and development.