Colleagues,
Last night, Governor Bill Lee presented the 2023 State of the State to the General Assembly. The Governor's address, which outlined the priorities and vision for our state, was a testament to the fiscal responsibility, strong leadership and commitment to progress that characterizes Tennessee.
For the UT System, the governor has proposed:
- $66.42 million to fund UT Chattanooga’s Fletcher Hall/Rollins College of Business
- $24.5 million for salary increases at academic campuses and institutes
- $22.74 million for five capital maintenance projects across the UT System
- $5.1 million through the state’s higher education funding formula for UT Chattanooga, UT Knoxville and UT Martin
- $75,000 recurring to fund operating increases at UT Southern
- $18 million to support the Healthy Smiles Initiative, aimed at increasing the number of dentists practicing in Tennessee in partnership with UTHSC
In a year where resource constraints are felt across the board, the continued support from Gov. Lee and our state legislators for higher education is especially commendable. It underscores that the state of Tennessee values education and understands its role as a cornerstone for economic and workforce development.
We remain proud to be part of this great state's story and are excited to contribute to its bright future.
