Dueling Amendments Adopted to UT FOCUS Act; Conversations to Continue Next Week
The UT FOCUS Act, which would reconstitute and restructure the UT Board of Trustees, was heard this week in both the Senate and House Government Operations Committees, where two different amendments have now been adopted by the respective committees. The Haslam Administration has proposed the measure in an effort to help the UT Board of Trustees operate … Continued
Compromised Diversity Bill Passed
With the legislature rapidly approaching adjournment, sponsors of SB 1912 and its companion bill HB 2248 came to a compromise on a bill that will defund the University of Tennessee- Knoxville’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The bill would restrict all state funds from being expended by the University to promote the use of gender … Continued
Bill Impacting UT Diversity Advances; Diversity Amendment Fails
A newly amended version of SB 1912 was passed out of full Senate Education Committee Wednesday afternoon by a 7-1 vote. The bill, which targets the University of Tennessee- Knoxville, would restrict all state funds from being expended by the University to promote the use of gender neutral pronouns, to promote or inhibit the celebration … Continued
Governor’s FOCUS Act Is One Step Closer to Becoming Law
The Governor’s Focus on College and University Success (FOCUS) Act passed on the House floor Thursday morning on a 71-19 vote, bringing the bill one step closer to becoming law. The FOCUS Act is Governor Haslam’s major higher education initiative that creates individual governing boards for each of the six four-year universities housed within the … Continued
Governor’s FOCUS Act Passes Senate Education Committee
The Focus on College and University Success (FOCUS) Act, Governor Haslam’s major higher education initiative, passed the Senate Education Committee this week on an 8-1 vote. The FOCUS Act restructures the Tennessee Board of Regents and increases the regulatory authority of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). In addition to creating individual governing boards for … Continued