UT System and Martin Methodist College: History, timeline of events leading up to vote The Knoxville News-Sentinel 12/10/2020 Daniella Medina, Knoxville News Sentinel University of Tennessee, Martin Methodist College announce partnership Replay Video UP NEXT The University of Tennessee System's move to acquire Martin Methodist College, its fourth undergraduate college, is in its final stages. The merging process that started in September is drawing to a close following a Board of Trustees vote Wednesday. The next step is to have it approved by the General Assembly and attorney general. The acquisition of Martin Methodist College would be UT's newest campus in over 50 years. The last was UT Chattanooga in 1969. Martin Methodist was established in 1870 and is the only four-year and graduate institution between Sewannee in the east and Freed-Hardeman in the west.