Welcome to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association's email newsletter on public policy issues important to Tennessee's private colleges and universities.

Drs. Bob Fisher, President of Belmont University and Dan Boone, President of Trevecca Nazarene University testified before Senate committees this week regarding two gun and ammunition bills. Dr. Fisher testified before the Senate Commerce and Agriculture Committee and Dr. Boone before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Both presidents urged members of the Senate to vote against the bills which allow for guns and ammunition to be carried onto campuses.

Boone and Fisher were joined by some of the top employers in Tennessee in registering their opposition to the bills. Representatives from FedEx, CSX Railroads, Volkswagen, Bridgestone America, retailers of Tennessee, and top businesses testified alongside our TICUA presidents.

This week the Lottery Corporation reported to the media that they were now projecting $14 million in additional funds for the lottery scholarship program. Just the week before the Corporation officials testified before the Senate Education Committee that they tracking record profits which may supply at least $10 million more. As a result of these early projections and caution by other members of the legislature, the Senate Education Committee voted to place a delay trigger on the cost-savings bill which would change the structure of the lottery bill.

The amendment basically states that if the lottery revenue maintains a $10 million lead above the current annual balance the proposed changes will not take effect. The proposed changes would lower the scholarship amount from $4,000 to $2,000 for the first two years at a four year campus for those students qualifying for the scholarship with only the 21 ACT or the 3.0 GPA. There would be no changes for those qualifying with both the ACT and GPA. If the revenue lead dwindles below the $10 million level, however, the changes will take effect in the fall of 2015.

Thank you for supporting the cause of independent higher education during this second session of the 107th Tennessee General Assembly. If you have any questions or would like more information about these issues, please feel free to contact me at 615/242-6400 ext. 201.