The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is the state's only comprehensive university and land grant institution, offering a full range of instructional programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Its alumni form the core of the state's leadership in business, finance, education, the arts, government and the professions. The University's efforts in research and public service stretch across the state geographically providing basic and applied programs in agriculture, governmental technical assistance, science and technology and other areas. The scope of the mission of UTK makes the faculty a part of a national rather than a state labor pool. To maintain the highest possible quality, the University must attract and maintain faculty drawn from the best nationally available instructors and scholars.
Competitive salaries are essential to maintaining and improving faculty quality.
UTK salaries are among the lowest in the nation relative to those at similar comprehensive universities. In addition to salaries, other kinds of resources also directly influence the ability to attract and maintain a high quality faculty. Instructors and scholars must have adequate funds for classroom materials, field trips, equipment and a strong library collection. Funding faculty salaries while holding operating, equipment and library budgets at their current lower levels would be insufficient. The current state of low faculty salaries and inadequate funding of support services must be addressed quickly if UTK is to be able to maintain its position as a major comprehensive university within the region and the nation.