Dear Colleague,

If summer Commencement is over, the summer must be gone!  I write to
welcome all of us back for another great year at UTC.

Here of late, if it has not been a budget squeeze, it has been a swirling
controversy of university leadership that has co-inhabited with the
continuing efforts of all of us to sustain a high quality engaged
metropolitan university.  The good news is that, by all objective
standards, you are
succeeding in your efforts to achieve quality, diversity,  access, and
impact.  You are enabling personal successes, and you are contributing
mightily to the public good.

As we enter 2003-2004, the budget, such as it is, has been allocated.  No
surprises are likely.  State revenues seem well on track to justify the
appropriations level awarded, and enrollments seem to be larger than
anticipated or budgeted.  Similarly, the Board of Trustees will quickly name
an Interim President to handle system business.  We on the campus will be
challenged  and allowed  to pursue our mission, goals, and objectives
as appropriate to our SACS accredited status.  The Board is fully apprised
and supportive of our ambitions and efforts.

This year holds much promise for our campus as we continue to focus on
teaching and learning, continue to develop a variety of  initiatives,  and
see the completion of many projects.

As you look around campus, you will see tremendous progress has been made
on a couple of the construction projects that were underway last
year. We have broken ground on another (and there's still a few others in
works).  Plus, we have regained access to over 100 improved parking
spaces near the new building.

Faculty and staff have moved into our new Engineering, Mathematics and
Computer Science Building, which stands as a monument to the
technological transformation that has swept across the campus.  The Student
Technology Fee has infused more than $6 million worth of
equipment and personnel over the past few years. Access to instructional
technology has been greatly increased through the generosity of the
Lupton Renaissance Fund.  In fact, every faculty member is slated to
receive a new computer in the three-year replacement plan. Nearly a
thousand computers are available across campus for general student use.

The University Center will begin a phased in opening process with an
expanded food service area and an expanded menu.  An additional 77,000
square feet will be added to the building before it is completed.

UTC Place continues to grow as Phase III construction has begun, adding an
additional 574 beds next fall.  Nearly 200 more parking places are
planned to join the 570 parking spaces already on the South Campus.  If
necessary or feasible,  perhaps another parking garage could be
constructed in the future near the old Medical Arts Building.

Fall enrollment projections for 2003 are encouraging. We plan to host more
than 200 extra freshmen on campus compared with 2002, and early
reports have housing at 95 percent occupancy. So far, accepted freshmen
have an average high school GPA of 3.26 and an average ACT of 22,
both up from last year. UTC will also continue a trend toward a
successfully diverse student body, improving on last year's 19 percent
minority
enrollment.

Our academic foundation continues to grow. We enter this school year with
full accreditation from SACS and the American Association of
Colleges and Schools of Business has invited UTC to be one of 32 schools
nationwide to participate in their new accreditation process. We are
emerging as a doctoral granting institution with the program in Physical
Therapy ready and the Ph.D. in Computational Engineering offered
jointly with UT Knoxville and progressing rapidly toward a freestanding UTC
program.

The SimCenter, which has brought internationally renowned scientists to our
campus will soon occupy the renovated solar energy building on
M.L. King Blvd., marking our campus' first dedicated research facility.

In closing, I encourage you to enjoy the year without being distracted by
events up the road in Knoxville.  We have many goals to be
accomplished on this campus, and I know that with your great efforts, our
students and the citizens of this region will benefit.

Thank you for being here.  It is ultimately not the place, but the people
who matter.  I look forward to working with you again in 2003-2004.

Bill