Bills Impacting UT Diversity Funding Shelved for Session; Concerns Over Budget Amendments Remain
Quietly and without fanfare, a bill seeking to divert state resources from UTK’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion was sent to “general sub” during a Senate Education Committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon. “General sub” essentially means that the bill will not be considered further unless the bill’s sponsor seeks to re-calendar it, but that does … Continued
Diversity Legislation Update
The House Education Administration and Planning Subcommittee yesterday considered two bills impacting diversity and inclusion efforts at the University of Tennessee. The first proposal, HB2248 by Representative Micah VanHuss (R-Jonesborough), originally sought to prohibit state funding from being spent in support of the UTK Office of Diversity and Inclusion. As initially drafted, it diverted all … Continued
Diversity Legislation Heads to Committee
Outside of the surprise budget amendment that was recommended last week by the Senate Education Committee, little legislative debate has yet to officially occur on two primary pieces of legislation that impact diversity and inclusion efforts at the University of Tennessee System. This is all about to change over the next two weeks as the … Continued
Senate Expands Guns-in-Trunks to College Campuses; House Vote Approaching
The Senate has passed legislation that forbids public colleges and universities from maintaining institutional policies that prohibit permit-holding students or employees from storing a firearm or ammunition in their parked vehicle while on campus property. The measure, sponsored by Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) and Representative Courtney Rogers (R-Goodlettsville), gained traction early in the legislative session … 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