News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The state’s new 2018-2019 fiscal year budget treated Tennessee Tech well, according to President Dr. Phillip Oldham.
“It’s been a great legislative session for us,” Oldham said. “This is really the culmination of a number of years of work, working with legislative leaders to really showcase what we’re doing here at Tennessee Tech to help produce more graduates and make them career ready.”
The budget passed this week includes $51,066,700 in higher education funding. And the budget reflects work across campus, Oldham said, to improve performance. Tennessee Tech ranked number one in the state among the six locally-governed institutions.
“That’s based on performance of the institution and largely based on the number of graduates you produce,” Oldham said. “We picked up some additional funding through the formula.”
The legislature also recognized Tennessee’s Tech upgraded Carnegie Classification. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education groups like-minded universities nationwide. Oldham said several years ago, Tennessee Tech moved to a category three classification.
“The state has recognized that in the past so the funding levels are higher,” Oldham said.
Tech now one of four public R3 institutions in the state, providing a $700,000 increase in funding for Tennessee Tech.
As the state continues to focus on workforce development and job recruitment, Oldham said he heard from legislators that results will be important.
“They hold us accountable,” Oldham said. “They make clear what their expectations are. But they also recognize the value that Tennessee Tech brings to the Upper Cumberland and the whole state of Tennessee.”
