Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

I have been in Nashville since Friday evening meeting with the Governor,
legislators and government leaders regarding the current state budget
situation. In an effort to continue to keep our campus communities
informed, I would like to share the following information with you.

As you know, the Tennessee General Assembly is continuing to work today,
Sunday, on revenue issues and  a state budget for FY 2002-03. A bill has
been adopted that permits services deemed essential to the state to
continue for the next five days.

I assure students that providing quality services for you has been and
continues to be our main objective. I want to assure each faculty and staff
member that you are each valued. Unfortunately, under the provisions of the
essential services bill, we must limit our activities over the next week.
Therefore, your respective Provost/Chancellor will post e-mails/messages
regarding which employees are to report to work next week. Under the
essential services bill, we will be able to continue with summer term
classes which are currently in progress; however, we are unable to begin
new summer term classes until further notice.

Please check your campus web sites, listen to your campus radio stations,
and watch your local news coverage regarding updates on reporting to work.
I sincerely appreciate your cooperative spirit and resolve to remain
focused on our mission during this budget crisis.

Cordially,

John W. Shumaker
President, The University of Tennessee