The University of Tennessee will work to increase its graduation rates by 20 percent in the next decade, said UT Interim President Jan Simek during a online broadcast to UT faculty and staff today.
“There will be a fundamental refocusing on outcomes rather than growth,” said Dr. Simek. “The University of Tennessee is strong (on graduation rates), but it can improve.”
Dr. Simek’s address to faculty staff comes on the heels of Gov. Bredesen’s state of the state address in which he said all state agencies can expect further budget cuts because of falling state tax revenue.
When federal stimulus funding runs out in 2012 it will be a “slightly deeper slope to find the bottom of,” Dr. Simek said. “There will be deeper cuts than anticipated… It won’t be pleasant but it will be manageable.”
Although no permanent increases are budgeted for university faculty and staff base salaries, Dr. Simek said there may be a 3 percent salary bonus for university employees.