I want to thank Gavin for the compliments--we were a good team on UT Day on the Hill, I think, in advocating for UTC with Tennessee Senators and Representatives. Gavin is being far too modest. Chancellor Roger Brown was a very strong advocate for our University too, and was also recognized by President Petersen.

But we have a lot of work ahead of us. The UT System priorities are $32M for the Knoxville Cherokee Campus, $78M for the Knoxville switchgrass biorefinery, and $350M for the Knoxville mega-computer--over the next 10 years. President Petersen promises a trickle-down effect, but our budgetary needs have languished for nearly 40 years since our merger with the UT System--an agreement that has not been kept by the System.

This is a time to be strong advocates for ourselves and our wonderful University, with legislators and with the community. Let your representatives know about the hard work that you do. And if you are serving on one of our Strategic Plan task forces or Council, think outside the box. I hope that we go in a global and green direction, but whatever we choose, it is time to strongly advocate for our needs, or settle for the status quo, and a very small slice of the UT System pie, for a long time to come.

Your colleague,
Lyn Miles

* UTCSTAFF home page:  http://raven.utc.edu/archives/utcstaff.html *
* unsubscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]  *
*   subscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]    *