Michelle Gadson Arnold

The Finance and Personnel Committee meeting addressed several key actions. Compensation adjustments were approved, implementing an across-the-board increase of 1.8% or $750 (whichever is greater) funded by the state appropriation salary pool, supplemented by an additional $2.6 million commitment from the University for market salary increases effective January 1, 2026. An update on the Performance-Based Pay Plan highlighted challenges in modeling due to the uncommon nature of such structures in higher education and the qualitative nature of current evaluations. The committee also recommended approval for the 2025-2026 October Revised Operating Budget, which included adjustments for tuition and fee revenue, increased state appropriations for the Medical Education Program, and re-budgeting of prior year student fee balances.

The Audit and Compliance Committee meeting included the approval of prior meeting minutes. Key discussion items involved receiving the Quarterly Report for Audit Services, which noted the completion of the FY25 Audit of Inventories and the Audit of the President's Office Expenses, both with no recommendations. Additionally, the committee reviewed the Results of External Reviews, specifically the U.S. Small Business Administration's review, which also resulted in no findings requiring attention. The committee subsequently adjourned to a non-public executive session to discuss topics permissible by law.

The Audit and Compliance Committee meeting agenda included opening remarks and roll call, followed by several informational items. Key discussions involved a report on Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures made in 2025, the review of the President's Statement of Disclosure of Interests for 2026, and a report on compliance with the Public Records Policy based on requests received in 2025. The committee also reviewed results of external reviews, including the TN Comptroller of the Treasury Finance and Compliance Audit Report and the NCAA Agreed-Upon Procedures. A quarterly report on audit services was also presented before moving into a private, non-public executive session.

The agenda for the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting included an update on the Governor's Budget and Legislative Budget Hearings. The committee was also scheduled to discuss compensation adjustments, which included approving state appropriation salary pool allocations and subsequent market salary increases effective January 1, 2026. An update was provided on the development of a performance-based pay plan, noting challenges related to data availability and the plan to implement new evaluation frameworks supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The committee was also scheduled to act on the 2025-2026 October Revised Operating Budget.

The Academic Affairs, Student Life, and Athletics Committee meeting agenda included several key items. Action items involved the approval of a new Master of Science in Mechatronics Systems Engineering and the approval of a Master of Health Care Administration in Health Care Administration, as well as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film and Television. The committee also approved a modification to the College of Education, which involved renaming existing departments to the Womack Department of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation and the Department of Leadership, Development, and Educational Systems. Information items presented included the Annual Report of Academic Program Actions for 2025, which detailed new degrees, certificates, minors, inactivations, delivery mode changes, and the establishment of new bureaus and centers, a Quantum Update presentation, and an Athletics Report.