Message from President Fly...

Statement from Acting President Eli Fly
To UT Faculty and Staff at all campuses
June 25, 2001

As you know, the Tennessee General Assembly has been working for nearly six
months to find a long-term solution to our state's revenue problem.
Achieving this goal is critical if UT is to maintain the momentum begun
with this year's budget, which was the best in more than a decade.
Unfortunately, an agreement has not been reached.

In the event that the legislature does not resolve the impasse before the
start of the new fiscal year on July 1, the University of Tennessee expects
to continue normal operations. We have been told that the General Assembly
will pass a "continuation" budget for state government by June 30 if
legislators cannot agree on a longer-term budget solution. Accordingly, on
June 28, the UT Board of Trustees will be asked to approve a continuation
budget, as they did last year, which would insure the continuation of
regular UT functions.

You should continue work as usual, recognizing that any of the budget
improvements recommended by Governor Sundquist will not be possible unless
and until his budget is approved. We know that this budget issue has been
most difficult for every member of the UT family. Coupled with the other
challenges of the past month, these are trying times for each of us. I very
much appreciate your patience and hard work in behalf of our university.