The following message is from Dr. John W. Shumaker, UT President:



March 6, 2003

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Today I updated the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees on the
university's action to date to comply with the $38 million cuts that are
UT's share of total state budget reductions.

The university is committed to doing its part to help solve the state's
budget problems. I told the trustees that our efforts to identify UT's cuts
are still in progress and won't be completed until the end of the month. As
the chancellors, vice presidents, and I work through the unwelcome task, we
are looking carefully at all operations. Our primary emphasis is on
protecting crucially important academic areas. We are looking for and
finding more administrative cost savings and efficiencies, but
unfortunately as many as 375 positions, some of them filled, are likely to
be cut. Even more regrettably, about 1,000 students stand to be affected.

We maintain our commitment to our core mission, while realizing the state
has a serious fiscal crisis. We are approaching this cost cutting as part
of an ongoing process of making the university more efficient and
effective. While cutting in some areas, we also will continue to invest in
other areas that are strategically important to the future of Tennessee and
Tennesseans, such as the new Tennessee College of Public Health.

You will be notified if cuts impact your area. We will implement cuts that
affect people in the most humane manner possible.

We shall continue to consult fully with faculty, staff, and students and
keep you informed as this process evolves.

Cordially,
John W. Shumaker
President