UTC faces tough fiscal decisions
Editorial
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: Editorial
Over the next two years UTC will be the beneficiary of $24.1 million from the federal stimulus package approved by President Obama in February. The state of Tennessee originally received $5.6 billion out of the $787 billion total, and it has since doled out portions to educational institutions.
With all of the budget cuts from last year, this seemed to be just what Chattanooga needed.
Four million dollars has already been spent, according to a recent article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The article said it has gone to new computers, making the university more energy efficient and hiring some part-time staff to handle the record enrollment numbers received this fall.
While those sound like worthy causes, there may be a better way to spend some of the money.
It seems like in recent years, the money going into furthering education is being put in new computers, better classrooms or fancy projectors for more high-tech PowerPoint presentations. But in reality should we not start from the ground up?
All of those are tools for education.
The people really teaching and deciding what goes on those computers and presentations are the teachers.
Perhaps the best investment an educational institution at any level can make is in those that have the most direct influence on students.
Education cannot be overvalued, and even at the college level it is not too late for a single teacher or teaching philosophy to have a big impact on the future of many students.
So maybe this influx of money is this university's chance to make a difference. While we have the opportunity, why not bring in as many new ideas as we can?
Give the money to new teachers. Instead of bringing in part time teachers with limited experience, pay teachers who have new ideas to better prepare students for a career in their selected field.
In the end, the extra money may come back to UTC from alumni who have found high-paying jobs because of their excellent education and feel compelled to give back.
With all of the budget cuts from last year, this seemed to be just what Chattanooga needed.
Four million dollars has already been spent, according to a recent article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The article said it has gone to new computers, making the university more energy efficient and hiring some part-time staff to handle the record enrollment numbers received this fall.
While those sound like worthy causes, there may be a better way to spend some of the money.
It seems like in recent years, the money going into furthering education is being put in new computers, better classrooms or fancy projectors for more high-tech PowerPoint presentations. But in reality should we not start from the ground up?
All of those are tools for education.
The people really teaching and deciding what goes on those computers and presentations are the teachers.
Perhaps the best investment an educational institution at any level can make is in those that have the most direct influence on students.
Education cannot be overvalued, and even at the college level it is not too late for a single teacher or teaching philosophy to have a big impact on the future of many students.
So maybe this influx of money is this university's chance to make a difference. While we have the opportunity, why not bring in as many new ideas as we can?
Give the money to new teachers. Instead of bringing in part time teachers with limited experience, pay teachers who have new ideas to better prepare students for a career in their selected field.
In the end, the extra money may come back to UTC from alumni who have found high-paying jobs because of their excellent education and feel compelled to give back.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Andy Walker, class of 1981
posted 9/09/09 @ 10:08 PM CST
An excellent point. There is no substitute for good faculty who value teaching undergraduates. Unfortunately tenure-track professors cannot be hired with a one-time cash infusion from the feds. (Continued…)
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