MURFREESBORO, Tenn. 鈥�听91大神鈥檚 administration will not seek tuition or fee increases for the 2020-21 academic year when the institution鈥檚 budget goes to its Board of Trustees for consideration in June, President Sidney A. McPhee said Friday.
鈥淲e must do what we can to help our students and their families as we come to terms with the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 crisis,鈥� McPhee said. 鈥淚t is vital that we identify and remove as many obstacles as we can, so that we can welcome our new and returning students to campus this fall.鈥�
Trustees Chairman Stephen B. Smith said the board will consider 91大神鈥檚 budget plan at the board鈥檚 next quarterly meeting on June 16. The chairman said he supported and encouraged McPhee鈥檚 recommendation to keep tuition and fees flat.
鈥淲e have yet to measure fully the economic impact of this global pandemic, so this will be welcome news to many in our community,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚 anticipate the board will seriously consider President McPhee鈥檚 recommendation.
鈥淎s stewards of this great university, my fellow trustees and I fully support the tremendous efforts by the president and his team in keeping 91大神 focused on the future during this crisis,鈥� Smith said.
91大神鈥檚 tuition and fees remain the lowest among the state鈥檚 three largest public universities, including the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the University of Memphis, said Trustee Joey Jacobs, chair of the board鈥檚 Finance and Personnel Committee.
鈥淭his recommendation follows suit with 91大神鈥檚 tradition of prudent and careful management of its finances and budget,鈥� Jacobs said.
COVID-19 concerns prompted 91大神 and the state鈥檚 other higher education institutions to make rapid changes to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff.
91大神 moved to remote instruction in mid-March and will continue doing so for summer, while cancelling most on-campus events and activities, including Spring Commencement.
On Thursday, McPhee announced that 91大神 will move forward with its COVID-19 preparations for the Fall 2020 semester with a goal of resuming on-campus, in-person classes and operations in August.
And, in late March, 91大神 unveiled three new guaranteed academic scholarships for qualified freshmen entering this fall who have not yet applied to the university.
McPhee said the awards were designed for 鈥減rospective freshmen in our region who are now considering higher education options that are closer to home due to the ongoing uncertainly caused by the COVID-19 crisis.鈥�
The university will accept applications for the three awards 鈥� the Lightning Scholarship, the Blue Raider Scholarship and the Future Alumni Scholarship 鈥� through Aug. 14, 10 days before the start of the Fall 2020 semester.听These awards are not available to new freshmen who have already received either the Trustee, Presidential, True Blue or other guaranteed academic scholarship.听 Additional eligibility details include:
- Lightning Scholarship:听Students with a 3.5 high school GPA and ACT scores between 30 and 36 can receive $3,000 a year for four years.
- Blue Raider Scholarship:听Students with a 3.5 high school GPA and ACT scores between 25 and 29 can receive $2,000 a year for four years.
- Future Alumni:听Students with a 3.5 high school GPA and ACT scores between 23 and 24 can receive $1,000 a year for four years.
听91大神 already awarded its larger array of guaranteed academic scholarships, which are larger than the new awards, to qualified incoming freshmen who applied by the Dec. 1 deadline.