1415 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 350
Nashville, TN 37217
Phone (615) 366-4400 Fax (615) 366-4464
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Mary Morgan
615.366.4414
(o)
615.262.5789
(h)
615.545.7377
(cell)
BOARD OF REGENTS
INSTITUTIONS
TO SUSPEND
OPERATIONS JULY 3
Classes Will Meet
as Scheduled July 1 and 2
Nashville,
Tennessee, June 30, 2002--The Tennessee Board of Regents tonight voted
unanimously that if the General Assembly does not approve a budget tonight,
operations at all TBR institutions will be suspended effective Wednesday, July
3. This action will be taken in
accordance with the Essential Government Services Act of 2002, which the
General Assembly approved at the request of Governor Sundquist. This means that all students and
faculty whose courses are already underway and scheduled to meet Monday, July
1, and Tuesday, July 2, should report for class as usual at the six
universities, thirteen community colleges and twenty-six technology centers
governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. This applies to online students as well as those on
campuses. No new classes will
begin next week, nor will registration for future classes go forward.
Under the
Essential Government Services Act, TBR schools are permitted to expend funds
from student fees, and those funds will support the two days of classes next
week, which will permit a more orderly shutdown and will allow faculty to make
assignments for the period during which classes are suspended.
The
following actions will be taken at TBR campuses:
1.
No new
classes will start the week of July 1, 2002
2.
Existing
classes will be suspended beginning Wednesday, July 3, 2002
3.
Universities,
colleges, and technology centers will maintain staff necessary to carry out the
essential functions including:
·
Business
and finance
·
Maintenance
·
Security
·
Federally
funded programs
·
IT support
·
Maintenance
of research projects
·
Care of
animals
·
Administration
4.
Staff
deemed non-essential may take any accrued sick or annual or compensatory time
during the covered period
5.
Dormitories
and food services will remain open for students enrolled in credit programs,
for international students, and for participants in Geier camps
6.
The ETSU
medical clinics and residence program will continue
7.
Community
service/contract programs for high school students and other off-campus people
will be closed in an orderly manner, ensuring the safety and well-being of
those on campus
8.
Activities
funded by external fees and charges and not supported by state funds may
continue
9.
All federally
funded programs will continue operation as normal.
Administrative
staff on TBR campuses should check with their immediate supervisors for
instructions regarding reporting to work this week. Students with questions about the impact and/or rescheduling
of classes and other events should call their home campus.
Assuming
the General Assembly passes a budget bill this week, normal activities on TBR
campuses will resume July 6. The
Tennessee Board of Regents recessed its meeting at the call of the chair, in
the event further action is required later in the week.
The Tennessee Board of Regents is the nation’s
sixth largest higher education system, governing 45 post-secondary educational
institutions. The TBR system
includes six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26 technology centers,
providing programs to over 180,000 students in 90 of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
***