KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee has identified proposed budget cuts across its statewide system to address the $21.1 million less in revenue from the state’s reduced budget appropriations.
UT President John Petersen said, “The very difficult revenue circumstances impacting our entire state have required our campus and institute leadership to make some difficult decisions about resource allocation. We have sought to be very strategic in identifying areas for budget reduction to protect our priorities while minimizing the impact on effectiveness.”
Petersen said the budgets are based on limiting proposed tuition increases to 6 percent, which holds the line on increases to the same as last year. Final tuition determination and budgets are subject to approval by the UT Board of Trustees.
The UT Knoxville campus reduction totaled $11.1 million. Included is the phase-out or elimination of three academic programs, which include the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology in the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Business’ Industrial and Organizational Psychology graduate program, and a dance program which is a minor concentration in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. These specific eliminations of academic programs require board of trustee approval and will be reviewed at the June 19-20 board meeting.
In addition, the Knoxville campus eliminated 44 unfilled faculty and staff positions and made reductions in planned maintenance, repairs, contracted services, travel and purchase of technology and instructional resources.
The state appropriation reductions at UT Chattanooga amounted to $2.6 million, UT Martin totaled $1.9 million and the UT Health Science Center $2.6 million. These expense reductions were primarily in travel, repair and maintenance, unfilled positions and similar elements.
The remaining $3 million appropriation reduction was spread over the Space Institute, Institute for Public Service and Institute of Agriculture, as well as system administration, and a number of smaller initiatives.
Petersen said, “In taking a strategic approach, we are looking to the future, recognizing that adequate funding is an ongoing concern. Our first step has been to make immediate reductions to meet the short-term challenge. Going forward we will continue to institute lean management principles and seek to fund our operations on a priority basis.”
Specific questions about the programs should be directed to the colleges.
Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology –College of Arts and Sciences, call Heather Cockrum at (865) 974-4377 or e-mail artscidean@utk.edu
Dance program – College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, call Dulcie Peccolo at (865) 974-5200.or e-mail her at dpeccolo@utk.edu
Industrial and Organizational Psychology doctoral program – College of Business Administration, call Cindy Raines at (865) 974-5061 or craines1@utk.edu.