University separates from TBR and governs its own affairs
After more than 40 years of governance by the Tennessee Board of Regents, Tennessee Tech will be governed by its own Board of Trustees.
The Tennessee General Assembly passed the FOCUS Act last session. The act, one of Gov. Bill Haslam’s legislative priorities, allows the TBR to focus its efforts on community colleges and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology while providing greater autonomy for TBR’s four-year state universities.
“With the passage of the FOCUS Act, Tennessee Tech will be embarking on a new chapter in its history,” said Phil Oldham, Tech’s president. “This gives us the autonomy to move freely, thoughtfully and quickly to adapt to changing public needs, providing the most relevant, cost-effective educational opportunities to drive Tennessee’s future economies.”
There are 10 members of Tech’s board; nine voting and one nonvoting. The governor appointed eight of the members last fall (six who are alumni). The two members not appointed are a Tech faculty member, who was elected by the Faculty Senate, and a Tech student. The student is the nonvoting member and will be selected by the board from a list of three students provided by the university’s Student Government Association.
More information about the Board of Trustees can be found at tntech.edu/board.