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Regents
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Degree Programs
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1415 Murfreesboro Road, Suite
350
Nashville, TN 37217
Phone (615) 366-4400 Fax (615) 366-4464
Press Release
Manning Calls for TBR Schools to Provide Contingency Plans in the Event “DOGS” Budget Passes
Estimated Cuts to TBR System Would Be Over $66,000,000
CONTACT: Mary Morgan
615.366.4414
Nashville, Tennessee, March 25, 2002—In meetings last week with the presidents of TBR universities and community colleges and the directors of the state’s technology centers, TBR chancellor Charles Manning asked all institutions to prepare and submit contingency plans for implementing the cuts in the “Downsizing Ongoing Government Services Budget” now under consideration by the General Assembly. That budget would cut an estimated $56,109,300 from the base budgets of TBR institutions, plus make an additional $10,373,800 in cuts by eliminating state funding for centers of excellence and emphasis in the universities and community colleges. The chart attached shows the estimated budget cuts by institution.
In discussing the situation, Manning said, “The Regents and I understand that the steps our schools will propose to take if this budget or a similar one passes may vary from campus to campus. Options include enrollment reductions, caps or freezes; hiring freezes; eliminating faculty and staff, and eliminating programs. We also expect that tuition increases in the double digits will be on the table. And unfortunately, given the uncertainty of the budget situation, many schools will have to take steps now to preserve their options in the event cuts of the magnitude of those in the DOGS budget become a reality. TBR policy requires our schools, for example, to inform first year, tenure-track faculty no later than April 1 whether or not their contracts will be renewed. We have already had a situation at Austin Peay State University, which had an internal March 15 deadline for that action, in which the university had no responsible choice but to inform their first-year, tenure-track faculty that given the budget uncertainties, their contracts might or might not be renewed. We expect this may happen at a number of our schools. It obviously creates a very unsettling situation on the campuses, but we must be prepared for worst-case scenarios that seemed highly unlikely only a year or two ago.”
Planning for budget alternatives will continue until the General Assembly finishes its work and an appropriation level is known. The Tennessee Board of Regents is scheduled to approve tuition and fees and the 2003 budget at its June board meeting.
The Tennessee Board of Regents’ system includes six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26 technology centers, providing programs in 90 of Tennessee’s 95 counties to over 180,000 students.
Other Information
of Interest
Downsizing Ongoing Government Services Budget (DOG budget in PDF format)
DOG Budget Estimated Reductions by TBR Institution (PDF format)
