NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee higher education officials say they'll be forced to continue raising tuition if the state doesn't provide adequate funding to help with costs at their institutions.
Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor John Morgan and University of Tennessee System President Joe DiPietro addressed Gov. Bill Haslam at a higher education budget hearing on Friday.
DiPietro’s assessment was blunt.
“We have a business model that’s not very sustainable. In fact, you might call it broken. What I mean by that, is that we’ll not be able to achieve the state’s priorities – I don’t think – or fulfill our mission by continuing to raise tuition and putting the burden on students and families."
DiPeitro noted that there hasn't been a substantive increase in state funding in about 30 years.
Haslam says DiPietro and Morgan have a valid argument and that he and the Legislature will take a look at figures provided by the two systems.