Gov. Bredesen leaves U of M out of higher education plan
By: Jasmine Hockett
Issue date: 1/20/10 Section: News
Some Memphians are upset about a possible funding decrease for The University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center while UT Knoxville research funds may double to $400 million.
During a one-week special session of the Tennessee General Assembly, Gov. Phil Bredesen proposed a bill that left out research funding for the Memphis area.
"We are meeting with the governor now," said Kevin Roper, executive assistant on government affairs to President Shirley Raines. "We are working on an amendment to the bill."
The amendment may include The U of M's interactions with several other research institutions and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in hopes of getting more research dollars.
UT-Knoxville and the Oak Ridge National Lab proposed collaboration to increase their research funds. According to Bredesen, it was not his idea to leave The U of M out of the bargain. He told Knoxville reporters that Memphians should "just relax a little bit," and come to him with their own plan.
Provost Ralph Faudree, however, said U of M officials were not aware that they could or should submit a proposal. The U of M currently receives $50 million for research, which is one-fourth of what UT-Knoxville receives.
"The money we receive depends on our initiatives," said Faudree, "not through the state."
In a time of tremendous state budget cuts, many students and administrators said they wondered why such a large amount of money should be given to a single university.
"This school is such a jewel that we do need the money," said Rosie Bingham, vice president of student affairs. "It's my hometown. It's my university. We should be supported too."
This isn't the first year The U of M has faced financial woes. In Raines' first year at Memphis, The University was pulling in about $20 million a year in research and grant dollars. Since then, The U of M has boosted funding to $43.4 million in 2007.
Roper said Shelby County legislators and University administrators are in Nashville this week to present for The U of M at the Tennessee General Assembly.
During a one-week special session of the Tennessee General Assembly, Gov. Phil Bredesen proposed a bill that left out research funding for the Memphis area.
"We are meeting with the governor now," said Kevin Roper, executive assistant on government affairs to President Shirley Raines. "We are working on an amendment to the bill."
The amendment may include The U of M's interactions with several other research institutions and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in hopes of getting more research dollars.
UT-Knoxville and the Oak Ridge National Lab proposed collaboration to increase their research funds. According to Bredesen, it was not his idea to leave The U of M out of the bargain. He told Knoxville reporters that Memphians should "just relax a little bit," and come to him with their own plan.
Provost Ralph Faudree, however, said U of M officials were not aware that they could or should submit a proposal. The U of M currently receives $50 million for research, which is one-fourth of what UT-Knoxville receives.
"The money we receive depends on our initiatives," said Faudree, "not through the state."
In a time of tremendous state budget cuts, many students and administrators said they wondered why such a large amount of money should be given to a single university.
"This school is such a jewel that we do need the money," said Rosie Bingham, vice president of student affairs. "It's my hometown. It's my university. We should be supported too."
This isn't the first year The U of M has faced financial woes. In Raines' first year at Memphis, The University was pulling in about $20 million a year in research and grant dollars. Since then, The U of M has boosted funding to $43.4 million in 2007.
Roper said Shelby County legislators and University administrators are in Nashville this week to present for The U of M at the Tennessee General Assembly.