June 4, 2008

Alabama and Tennessee Institutions Announce Program and Job Cuts

Amid further belt-tightening by state governments, the leaders of public universities in Alabama and Tennessee announced proposals today for trimming their institutions’ budgets.

Jan Simek, interim chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, wrote in a memorandum to faculty and staff members that the flagship campus would deal with some of the $11.1-million it must cut by phasing out three academic programs: an undergraduate minor in dance, a graduate business program in industrial and organizational psychology, and the department of audiology and speech pathology. Mr. Simek had previously announced that there would be no raises in the next budget year. The executive committee of the university’s Board of Trustees will discuss the cost-saving proposals on Friday.

The University of Alabama system, meanwhile, is planning to cut about 300 jobs and cancel construction projects, The Birmingham News reported. In a speech to the Rotary Club of Birmingham, the system’s chancellor, Malcolm Portera, said the cuts would be spread across the university’s three campuses, in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa, the newspaper reported. The chancellor said the system was facing a shortfall of $75-million or more. —Charles Huckabee

Comments

1. My wife has a Ph.D. in audiology from UT Knoxville. It’s a good speech path/audiology program, and it’s unfortunate that it’s on the chopping block One wonders if there isn’t some fat in the UT athletic department that couldn’t be eliminated first.

   — hsmiley    Jun 5, 08:36 AM    #

2. How odd. I thought UT’s speech pathology dept was ranked as one of the best in the US?

   — Jilly    Jun 5, 09:27 AM    #

3. hsmiley,
   The UT athletic budget is a totally separate budget than the rest of the campus’ operating budget. The athletic department is a self-supporting entity. Even though they are one of the few in the country to be in such position, I am quite sure that any competent administrator would consider cutting the budget of athletics, just as they did the rest of campus, if needed. Athletics has some issues, but make sure that you are clear on the facts before bashing them without those facts.

   — Mpope    Jun 5, 09:49 AM    #

4. Any data to show that the UT Audiology program is low in enrollments, weak in retention, weak in degrees conferred? Why is it a liability? What does the UT Knoxville academic senate say about the procedures on the decision making?

   Also, respondent Mpope might add that the UT Audiology Dept is housed in Neyland Stadium — so the academic and athletic units do have some literal grounds for conversation.

   — Professor    Jun 5, 10:48 AM    #

5. The academics/athletics funding issue at UT is fascinating. I remember when I was a grad student there in the late 80s and early 90s. A headline in the “Daily Beacon” read something like: “$11 million dollar indoor football practice facility to open today.” In the lower corner was a reference to an article inside: “Library to close on weekends due to lack of funds.”

   Even if the athletics department is self-supporting, they directly benefit from their association with the University. Why not share the wealth?

   — JB    Jun 5, 11:40 AM    #

6. Academics and athletics do have a symbiotic relationship. Take a look south of Tennessee and you’ll see that the Athletic Association at the University of Georgia has given millions to support academic initiatives of the University. Additionally, the retired Athletic Director has personally donated funds to support the library, a horticulture professorship and other academic endeavors.

   — CM    Jun 5, 02:18 PM    #

7. Mpope, my intent was not to bash UT Knoxville’s athletic program, but I do find it ironic that the Speech Path department was moved into the former athletic dorms on the outside of Neyland Stadium when the new and improved athletic dorms were completed.

   — hsmiley    Jun 5, 06:21 PM    #

8. One of my alma mater shut down its football program years ago instead of building a new stadium. They have produced famous athletes in other sports since but the campus is located in a major urban area, and enrollment is at a constant high. Another alma mater of mine built a new stadium and raised the profile of its football program, probably to overcome its geographic disadvantage. I see a definite correlation between location and the need for a high profile athletic program.

   — the matrix    Jun 6, 10:05 AM    #

9. To hsmiley:
   Athletics is self supporting to the point that it defaluts. The University of Tennessee is one corporate entity. If it defaults on state bonds, the corporate university is responsible. Note: State School Bond Authortity bonds. Also, athletic facilities set on state property; property not available to academic buildings when occupied by practice facilities, aquatic centers , and soon, a new volleyball facility where the Physical Plant (Facility Services) now sits.

   — former UT employee    Jun 10, 07:32 PM    #

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