This past week a lot of time and effort went into welcoming the freshmen to UT Martin. It was a good week, now it is time to focus on welcoming back our returning students and our transfer students. We are glad you're here! Let me update you on a few new things that will be of interest to you during the semester:

1. Facilities Fee Implemented - Yes, this fee is new. The $25-a-semester fee will be used exclusively for classroom and student-area improvements. A committee of two students appointed by the SGA and two faculty members appointed by the Faculty Senate will meet with Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Al Hooten and Director of the Physical Plant Mike Davis to determine the most acute needs on campus to be addressed by this fund of approximately $250,000. You should see some improvements by the end of the semester, but the full impact will take place later in the academic year and over the summer of 2004.

2. Demolition of Austin Peay Hall and Development of New Apartment-Style Housing - Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Katie High will be working closely with students and an architectural firm to develop Phase I of our new on-campus apartments. It is our plan to have Phase I ready to occupy by Fall 2005.

3. Martin Place Stalled -- We recognize that the University's efforts to purchase Martin Place have been confusing for students; the Department of Housing; and, quite frankly, all of us. The University of Tennessee Foundation had agreed to purchase the property, but was not able to secure the necessary funding. Acquisition of this property remains in our long-range plan. We are currently working with the ownership of Martin Place to incorporate these residents into the mainstream of campus information and activities.

4. Alumni Gym Renovated - Alumni Gym has undergone a significant renovation and will reopen for student use on December 1. This facility is the oldest building on campus and the renovation was funded by special State appropriation. Upon reopening, this facility will be dedicated to student organization activities, and will house David Belote and the Office of Student Life.

5. Tuition Increased -- All UT institutions increased tuition by nine percent while the Board of Regents institutions increased their tuition by 14 percent. We recognize that the tuition increases have been substantial over the past four years. The tuition increases generated approximately $1.6 million in additional revenue. The State of Tennessee decreased our appropriation by $2.5 million this year, and we also had to return approximately $1.4 million from last year's appropriation. You can easily see that rising tuition is a direct result of the reduction in State appropriations. We are striving to be good stewards of both tax dollars and tuition dollars. We are also committed to providing students with the very best educational experience within the current level of funding. I ask for your help in making the case that funding is critical for higher education and in spreading the word that college graduates are good for the economic and cultural vitality of the State of Tennessee.

6. Wireless Connection Installed in University Center, Library, and Business Building -- These three buildings now provide wireless access, and we hope to bring other buildings and the quad area into the wireless environment as funds become available.

This column is much too long and I will close by once again stating how great it is to have our students back on campus and in the community. We missed you. Although, I have primarily written about funding issues and buildings, the most important consideration on a campus involves what goes on inside those buildings and how we use those tuition dollars.

We have a great faculty and staff who are dedicated to helping you achieve a quality education. I ask you to help us. Yes, an important part of college is having fun and making friends, but remember why you came here. We want to be your partner for a better future.