New state plan to focus on smoother credit transfers
By: Jared Hudson
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: News
Tennessee Governor. Phil Bredesen has unveiled his new higher education plan, which calls for improved graduation rates and a better relationship between the state's community colleges and universities.
Although the details of the plan haven't been decided, Tennessee Board of Regents spokeswoman Mary Morgan said the plan would increase graduation rates by making it easier for students to transfer credits from community colleges to universities.
"The plan will be centered around assuring that students move forward with their degrees and graduating," she said. "Not so much the amount of registered students."
Morgan said that the plan could be completed and implemented as early as spring of next year.
The plan comes after the state reported having the third lowest four-year graduation rate in the United States at 36 percent earlier this year, only better than Arkansas and Louisiana.
University of Memphis Provost Ralph Faudree said the plan seemed "very positive" for The U of M, although it's unclear how the plan will affect students.
"I think it is good for community colleges to have their own goals apart from universities, but the fact that Governor. Bredesen and his staff are trying to better connect the two will help," he said.
Besides improving graduation rates, Bredesen said the plan would call for improving the research status at both The University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The two schools are currently the only two research universities in the state.
But the potentially multi-million dollar plan, which is in its early stages, faces many hurdles, including a tough economy and funding cuts.
Morgan said the plan will more than likely not be funded by the state but federally funded through grants, which have not yet been dispersed.
Tom Smith, organizer of the United Campus Workers-Communication Workers of America, said he has had regular meetings with Bredesen's staff. Even they don't know how the plan will be funded, he said.
"To be honest, I don't see where the funding is going to come from," Smith said. "Tennessee is in the middle of a revenue crisis. Our per capita spending is lower than our neighboring states. And the longer (Bredesen) and his staff put off addressing the funding of this plan, the worse off higher education will be."
Although the details of the plan haven't been decided, Tennessee Board of Regents spokeswoman Mary Morgan said the plan would increase graduation rates by making it easier for students to transfer credits from community colleges to universities.
"The plan will be centered around assuring that students move forward with their degrees and graduating," she said. "Not so much the amount of registered students."
Morgan said that the plan could be completed and implemented as early as spring of next year.
The plan comes after the state reported having the third lowest four-year graduation rate in the United States at 36 percent earlier this year, only better than Arkansas and Louisiana.
University of Memphis Provost Ralph Faudree said the plan seemed "very positive" for The U of M, although it's unclear how the plan will affect students.
"I think it is good for community colleges to have their own goals apart from universities, but the fact that Governor. Bredesen and his staff are trying to better connect the two will help," he said.
Besides improving graduation rates, Bredesen said the plan would call for improving the research status at both The University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The two schools are currently the only two research universities in the state.
But the potentially multi-million dollar plan, which is in its early stages, faces many hurdles, including a tough economy and funding cuts.
Morgan said the plan will more than likely not be funded by the state but federally funded through grants, which have not yet been dispersed.
Tom Smith, organizer of the United Campus Workers-Communication Workers of America, said he has had regular meetings with Bredesen's staff. Even they don't know how the plan will be funded, he said.
"To be honest, I don't see where the funding is going to come from," Smith said. "Tennessee is in the middle of a revenue crisis. Our per capita spending is lower than our neighboring states. And the longer (Bredesen) and his staff put off addressing the funding of this plan, the worse off higher education will be."