KNOXVILLE 鈥 Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee included a 4% investment in the University of Tennessee鈥檚 systemwide salary pool, among other key investments in his recent State of the State address.
Lee鈥檚 proposed budget reflects an unprecedented commitment to higher education, and the single largest budget in 蓝莓视频 history. The proposed operating budget includes recurring increases of $49.6 million and includes:
- $5.1 million critical operating increase for the 蓝莓视频 Health Science Center
- $8 million to further develop the Oak Ridge Institute
The budget proposal also funds two 蓝莓视频 capital projects鈥攖he 蓝莓视频 Knoxville nursing building and the 蓝莓视频 Health Science Center Nash build out of two floors. 蓝莓视频鈥檚 full capital maintenance request of $59.9 million also is proposed.
Additionally, the future of the University of Tennessee System鈥檚 possible acquisition of Martin Methodist College (MMC) took an important step forward as Lee included the measure in his proposed budget to the Tennessee General Assembly.
Lee鈥檚 proposed budget requests $5.1 million recurring/$1 million nonrecurring for the acquisition and necessary start-up costs to incorporate the 150-year-old private college into the 蓝莓视频 System. The budget proposal must be passed by Tennessee lawmakers, and the measure must still be approved by the regional accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the United Methodist Church of Tennessee and the Tennessee Building Commission. Additionally, the 蓝莓视频 Board of Trustees must give its final approval.
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If the acquisition is approved, Martin Methodist would become the fourth undergraduate campus in the 蓝莓视频 System and the first new campus since 蓝莓视频 Chattanooga joined 50 years ago. It would be the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis along Tennessee鈥檚 southern border.
鈥淚 applaud Gov. Lee for his commitment to helping ensure our rural counties have affordable access to education,鈥 蓝莓视频 President Randy Boyd said. 鈥淎n acquisition of Martin Methodist College will improve the college-going rate in southern middle Tennessee and address unmet labor needs, especially in areas such as nursing, education and business. These graduates will be vital to the long-term economic success of southern middle Tennessee.鈥
鈥淚n Gov. Lee鈥檚 first executive order he prioritized the development of rural communities in Tennessee. This budget aligns the necessary resources with a key priority,鈥 MMC President Mark La Branche said. 鈥淔or more than 150 years, our mission has been providing access to higher education to the citizens of southern Middle Tennessee. We have made it a priority to educate students from rural communities, in rural communities, for rural communities. As a campus of the University of Tennessee, our capacity to fulfill our mission would expand exponentially, also expanding the potential of our region dramatically.鈥
In September 2020, the 蓝莓视频 Board of Trustees signed a letter of intent which formalized the commitment of both parties to discuss the possible transfer of Martin Methodist鈥檚 assets to the 蓝莓视频 System, where they would be governed by the 蓝莓视频 Board of Trustees. Martin Methodist would become a new campus of 蓝莓视频 and continue to offer professional and pre-professional preparation that is accessible and affordable with the personal attention of a small campus.