Memphis, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee’s commitment to self-limiting tuition increases means 2018 will mark a fourth straight year and a new record for holding increases at or below 3 percent, President Joe DiPietro said March 23 at the spring meeting of the UT Board of Trustees.
The board met on the UT Health Science Center campus, where the administration has already determined tuition will not increase in 2018 for in-state or out-of-state undergraduate, online or College of Graduate Health Sciences students. The colleges of nursing and pharmacy will see a 1 percent in-state tuition increase, while the colleges of dentistry and health professions will see an in-state tuition increase of 2 percent.
“I’m proud UT is a national leader in proactive efforts to hold down tuition increases,” DiPietro said.
Trustees approved the UT Health Science Center tuition proposal during the spring meeting because the campus’ academic year begins July 1. Leadership of other UT campuses, where the academic year begins in August, will submit tuition proposals for 2018 at the UT trustees meeting in June.
Trustees also approved changes to the Board Policy on Academic Freedom, Responsibility and Tenure, including periodic post-tenure review. Approved changes will require tenured faculty to have a comprehensive performance review at least every six years. DiPietro is responsible for working with each campus to develop procedures for the review, which will be brought back to the trustees for approval.
While DiPietro acknowledged the importance of tenure in protecting academic freedom, he said the university has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure tenure doesn’t mean unconditional job security regardless of performance. He said post-tenure review of all tenured faculty is not uncommon in higher education, and he is convinced that requiring it will enhance academic excellence, accountability and transparency system-wide. Further, DiPietro said, the approved changes will recognize faculty accomplishments and achievements, rejuvenate underperforming faculty, identify inadequate annual faculty evaluation procedures and support removal of faculty who are performing unsatisfactorily.
“I only make recommendations to this board that will make us better,” he said. “From the bottom of my heart, I believe putting post-tenure review in place will help us do that.”
Photo: University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro is shown addressing the Board of Trustees during its spring 2018 meeting March 22-23 on the campus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.
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