January 12, 2009
The last few months has been a trying time for the University as we
learn more about our budget situation and realize there are more
difficult days ahead as we plan for the pending budget reductions.
Where are we now in the process? Campus and institute leaders as well as
my staff and I are continuing to compile plans for potential savings and
cuts to meet what we anticipate will be a budget reduction of $66
million for FY2010. The state could increase that another $25 million if
economic conditions continue to worsen.
I understand everyone is concerned about the future of the University of
Tennessee and our students, faculty and staff. More than 1,400 of you
tuned into the Webcast of the Effectiveness and Efficiency for the
Future Committee meeting last week, and we have received more than 600
suggestions from UTALK. I want you to be engaged and a part of the
process.
Every day I hear concerns from faculty and staff about their job
security. The fact is that today I do not have answers to all questions,
and that is because we are taking time to properly deliberate and
collaborate on every decision. The long-term future of the University is
counting on all of us to be thorough. These decisions affect you and
those we serve, and I am committed to making you aware of them as soon
as we can.
The next step is the meeting of the Board of Trustees' Executive and
Compensation Committee on Wednesday in Knoxville. During this meeting, I
will update the members on the budget process to date, and we will
discuss the proposed framework for the process to review academic
programs. We have worked together to determine metrics for these
assessments, including a clear understanding of the long-term impacts.
Preservation of our core mission will be the premise behind every
decision.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to this University. If you
have questions or concerns, please continue to use the UTALK feature at
http://president.tennessee.edu/utalk/.
John D. Petersen
