The Tennessee Board of Regents will appoint an acting chancellor for the State University and Community College System tomorrow.
Current chancellor John Morgan is retiring January 31, a year earlier than originally planned, in protest of Governor Bill Haslam’s plan to create separate governing boards for TBR’s six universities. Haslam says this will allow the board to focus on community colleges and colleges of applied technology at a time of unprecedented demand. Morgan stated in his resignation letter that he believes Haslam’s plan is unworkable and will weaken each institution’s accountability.
In Morgan’s five year tenure, TBR universities have increased the number of degrees awarded by 3.6 percent, and its community colleges have increased the number of associate degrees and certificates awarded by more than 40 percent. The system also received a $2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support system-wide efforts among all institutions to increase graduation rates.
The acting chancellor will serve until a replacement is selected.
