KNOXVILLE -- Speaking to the UT board for the first time in seven years, Gov. Phil Bredesen delivered tough words Thursday, telling officials to stop whining about falling state appropriations and be more careful about whom they choose as the system's next president.
"(UT's growth) has been slowed up by what's happened with a couple of the presidents here," said Gov. Bredesen. "There was information that could have been known about these people that could have helped with judgment."
Gov. Bredesen described the address to trustees as his last chance to weigh in on UT's future since he'll be leaving his post in only a few months.
The governor has been a major booster for higher education reform and an architect of recent legislation to improve college graduation rates and better connect community colleges with universities.
The statewide UT system has been rocked by multimillion-dollar cuts in state funding and by what the governor called several failed presidencies.
Former UT President John Petersen, who served less than five years, left in February 2009 after tangling with the board over administration, donors and other problems. John W. Shumaker, who resigned in 2003, and Wade Gilley, who resigned in 2001, both left the UT system embroiled in scandal.
"We could have avoided those situations," said Gov. Bredesen.
The main goal for the coming years, he told trustees, should be making the University of Tennessee in Knoxville -- now ranked 52nd among 600 U.S. universities -- into a top 25 school.
But trustees need to find the right person to lead the UT system and recognize that future financial support will have to come mainly from private donors, not state appropriations, the governor said.
"The days where you just go to the Legislature to get more money are long gone," he said. "Let's move beyond that discussion. I would appreciate it."
IMPACT OF CUTS
Also Thursday, trustees approved the most aggressive tuition hike in recent years and finalized a $1.1 billion budget. They warned the system's budget will take a $110 million cut in 2012 when federal stimulus funding is gone.
Looking ahead, campus leaders from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, UT and UT Martin delivered grim reports on the likely impact of the historic cuts even as enrollment grows.
SUPPORTING UT* Percent of total revenues from state appropriations2002: 53 percent2005: 51 percent2008: 49 percent2011: 48 percent* Percent of total revenues from tuition and fees2002: 28 percent2005: 31 percent2008: 33 percent2011: 39 percentSource: University of Tennessee
About 60 positions could be cut, they said, mostly at the Knoxville campus.
UTC officials said no layoffs are expected on the Chattanooga campus, but the school has shifted from hiring full-time, tenure-track professors to less-expensive -- and often less-experienced -- adjunct instructors. Tenure-track positions at UTC are now only 58 percent of faculty, while 80 percent of faculty at UT are tenure track, officials said.
"I am not saying we are unhealthy, but I am concerned about the trend line," said UTC Provost Phil Oldham.
UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said the university would pursue the aim of being a top 25 university "with abandon," but it could take longer than a decade to reach the goal.
Officials said the UT system -- without permanent leadership until October, when the system's high-profile presidential search concludes -- now is in grave condition.
Some board members said the system needs to beef up its fundraising staff, raise tuition and increase faculty salaries to compete for top professors.
"We are starting a long journey with half a tank of gas," said trustee Don Stansberry Jr.
Chattanooga trustee Jim Hall said he is concerned the system would back UT's ambitions and forget about its smaller campuses.
"We need to move forward as a system," Mr. Hall said. "We need to look at these other campuses and not leave them behind."
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