Dear All,
         I wonder how we can be considered an involved urban university
when three of our greatest means of reaching out into the immediate
surrounding community are being so drastically cut. These facilities serve
the University in a most vital manner, but they have also developed into a
vital resource for our neighborhood. The dividends of good will for the
University generated by this, as well as service offered to University
personnel, students and the downtown community will be severely impacted by
these proposed cuts.
         In the face of such cuts in important services, in consideration
of the adverse impact on the involved families, and the damage to the
University's reputation in the community, I question the wisdom of these
reductions. And, I ask, once again, why is no thought given to the
possibility of cutting elsewhere, such as over-financed, non-productive
sports programs, eg. football?


Katheryn A. Thompson Phd
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures
Brock 208D, Dept. 2152
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga






At 12:23 PM 2/27/2004 -0500, Nancy Fell wrote:
>Sherri,
>
>It appears the rumors are true...as a parent of a child enrolled at the
>Children's Center.... the proposed cuts (made by the provost) are
>dramatic.  I must admit I did not attend the budget committee meeting where
>these cuts were first presented.  Perhaps someone who was present can
>clarify more...
>
>I'm not sure of the actual effect to the Challenger Center or Cadek, but
>for the Chidren's Centers I understand that it means closing one Center
>entirely ... displacing 64 children, laying off 14 employees, and
>increasing the fees for the remaining 64 children by ~$160/month.
>This would take my fee from $540 to $700/month - how am I to afford
>this???  My husband and I are already reevaluating whether I should remain
>in the workforce.  It is an issue brought on by considering the cost
>differential - but also in recognition of the extreme lack of high quality,
>reliable day care in the downtown area; I want my son close to me while I
>am at work.
>In my opinion, these cuts will also have dramatic negative effect on the
>city's promotion to move more highly educated and professional families to
>the Chattanooga area, with parents working, and (as the Mayor hopes with
>all of the new, ultra-expensive condos) living downtown.
>
>I know that there is an active movement on the part of Children's Center
>parents to facilitate careful consideration the Provost's
>recommendation.  The Provost did not, however, offer any alternatives,
>which makes it an even more difficult up-hill battle.
>
>You can also refer to Sunday and Monday's Chattanooga Times/Free Press.
>
>Nancy
>
>At 11:55 AM 2/27/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>>The following is posed as a question, and if my info is wrong, someone
>>please correct me.  Someone told me the other day that they saw on the news
>>how the university was going to be further cutting budgets in the Challenger
>>Center, Cadek, and even closing one of the brand new Child Development
>>Centers (which plenty of parents would be upset about, I'm sure!).....and
>>that we probably would not see a raise at all this year.  Has anybody else
>>heard the same thing, or can anyone confirm or deny?  What's going on with
>>the budget now?  Haven't we seen enough cuts already?
>>
>>             <---Sherri--->
>>--
>>Sherri L. Hobart, CPS
>>Administrative Assistant
>>Southeast Center for Education in the Arts
>>The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
>>615 McCallie Avenue - Dept 6706
>>Chattanooga, TN  37403
>>offices at: 723 McCallie Avenue
>>Phone: (423) 425-5204
>>Fax:    (423) 425-4632
>>http://www.utc.edu/SCEA
>
>Nancy Fell, PT, PhD, NCS
>Assistant Professor
>Department of Physical Therapy
>University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
>615 McCallie Avenue
>Chattanooga, TN 37403
>
>(423)425-2240 Phone
>(423)425-2215 Fax
>[log in to unmask]  Email