The Tennessee legislature approved a state appropriation increase for MTSU in the 2025鈥�26 General Appropriations Act. The final budget included net operating funds of $319,100, partial funding for a salary pool of $3.2 million to be distributed at the discretion of the University, and $1.4 million to cover increases in employee benefits for a partial year.
At the June Board of Trustees meeting, the board approved my recommendation to provide a 1.8% cost of living allowance salary increase, with a $750 minimum. Raises were effective July 1 for administrative and classified staff and Aug. 1 for faculty. I may recommend additional salary increases based on the availability of funding from additional resources this fall.
The University received recurring funding of $1.4 million to provide continued financial aid for the Medical School Early Acceptance Program jointly administered by MTSU and Meharry Medical College.
In addition, the state budget included $3.5 million in capital maintenance funds for one of the 13 capital maintenance projects submitted for funding. The approved project is for multiple building envelope components and structural repairs.
At the June quarterly meeting, the MTSU Board of Trustees approved a 6.49% increase in tuition and mandatory fees for the 2025鈥�26 academic year.
In other news, Drew Harpool was appointed interim vice president for business and finance in June, following his tenure as associate vice president since October 2023. Harpool leads a team responsible for the University鈥檚 financial and physical operations, overseeing an annual operating budget exceeding $500 million and a capital footprint valued at more than $1 billion. He is responsible for the management of the University鈥檚 budget and financial planning; the Office of Business and Finance; Campus Planning; Facilities Services; Human Resource Services; University Police; Administrative and Business Services (which includes the MTSU Post Office, Phillips Bookstore, Vending, Procurement and Logistic Services, Contract Office, Distribution Services, and Receiving and Moving Services); and Events and Transportation (Event Coordination, Parking and Transportation Services, Murphy Center Complex, Tennessee Livestock Center, and Tennessee Miller Coliseum).