The last few years have been pivotal and often tumultuous for Tennessee State University.
The historically Black university is a public, land-grant institution in Nashville known for its athletics, research and vibrant campus culture. It’s also come under entirely new leadership in the last few months.
The Tennessean spoke to key leaders, including newly appointed interim President Ronald A. Johnson, Board Chair Dakasha Winton, state lawmakers and others to get a sense of where things stand. Read our in-depth analysis on the school, what’s next and what its new leaders had to say.
Those leaders have taken on TSU as it grapples with the fallout of decades of underfunding by the state of Tennessee, which federal officials totaled at $2.1 billion over the course of 30 years. In the last two years, state leaders gave the university $250 million to address underfunding but also ramped up scrutiny over the university’s leadership, finances, housing shortages and scholarships.
That scrutiny ultimately led to back-to-back audits and lawmakers passing a measure to oust the school’s board this spring. The ousters came as the board neared the end of its search for a new university president. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee swiftly appointed a new board, which halted the search and chose an interim president. The newly seated board cited the need for a fresh start and time to get the university’s affairs in order.
Here’s a look back at the key events of the last few years leading up to this moment in TSU history.
April 2022: State gives TSU $250 million after underfunding revealed
In late 2021, the state Office of Legislative Budget Analysis found that Tennessee failed to give TSU anywhere between $151 million and $544 million over the course of around 60 years as part of its land grant benefits. In response, Gov. Bill Lee saw through the passage of $250 million in one-time infrastructure funding for the school during the regular state legislative session in April 2022.
Fall 2022: TSU students in hotels amid housing shortage, audit begins
A surge in enrollment and requests from current students to stay on campus drove a housing shortage at TSU as its fall 2022 semester kicked off. Consequently, the university spent $13 million to house around 1,000 students across five hotels and a local apartment complex.
That September, the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury began an audit of the university. The audit stemmed from concerns of state officials over the school’s financial practices and its increased reliance on off-campus housing.
September 2022: Tennessee State students adjusting to hotel life amid housing shortage
November 2022: Tennessee Senators question whether TSU’s housing problem is growth or leadership related
February 2023: Comptroller’s audit results released
The comptroller released its audit results in February 2023. The report said university leaders launched an extensive enrollment campaign and quadrupled the school’s scholarship budget for the 2022-23 school year, despite its housing shortage. It pointed to a lack of planning, management and sound decision-making.
University leaders called some of the report disappointing and inequitable, but acknowledged they had used previous data to calculate enrollment. They put measures in place to prevent a repeat of the issue.
February 2023: Poor planning, more scholarships led to TSU student housing shortage, state report finds
April 2023: State lawmakers pass budget with $2 million forensic audit of TSU included
Following the comptroller’s report, Tennessee lawmakers agreed to extend the university’s board for another year but also set aside $2 million for an outside firm to conduct a forensic audit of TSU. The move drew criticism from university advocates, who said TSU had already undergone multiple audits and that enduring another one was excessive.
April 2023: Tennessee lawmakers pass budget that includes $2 million audit of TSU
November 2023: Feds say TSU underfunded by $2.1 billion
The federal Department of Education and Department of Agriculture jointly released a series of letters to 16 states in November 2023. The letters laid out findings that showed massive amounts of underfunding of historically Black colleges and universities, also know as HBCUs.
At $2.1 billion in underfunding over the course of 30 years, TSU topped that list. The findings renewed calls from the university and its supporters to address underfunding.
November 2023: Biden administration says Tennessee State University has been underfunded. Here’s what that means.
February 2024: A bill to vacate TSU board
State lawmakers introduced a bill that would fully vacate the TSU board of trustees and leave it to the governor to appoint a new one. The measure was met with opposition from the university, alumni and advocates.
Februrary 2024: TSU, state clash over audit as Tennessee lawmakers consider vacating board
March 2024: Board vacated, audit released, new trustees named
In the span of one day, Republican lawmakers approved the bill to fully vacate the TSU board of trustees, the results of the forensic audit were released and Lee announced new board appointees. The move to oust the board came despite talks over a compromise that would retain some board members and fiery opposition from Democrats.
The forensic audit revealed no fraud or wrongdoing on the part of TSU leaders. However, it addressed ongoing concerns over leadership and management of the university, specifically when it came to its increase in scholarships.
March 2024: TSU audit finds no fraud but calls massive scholarship boost unsustainable
March 2024: Republican lawmakers vacate full Tennessee State University board over Democratic objections
March 2024: Gov. Bill Lee names new TSU board after House vote. Here are the appointees
April 2024: New TSU board meets
The newly seated board of trustees met for the first time on April 26, less than a month after the previous board was ousted.
April 2024: New Tennessee State University board silent on presidential search at first meeting
May 2024: TSU board scraps presidential search, starts over
The new board announced it would halt the previous presidential search, which was down to three finalists, and start over. It also announced a plan to name an interim president by July 1 who would serve for one year, with the goal of naming a new, permanent president at that time.
May 2024: New Tennessee State University board resets stage for presidential search
June 2024: Board names Johnson as interim
Ronald A. Johnson was named by the TSU board as the interim president. He previously led Clark Atlanta University and served as interim president at Kentucky State University. His one-year term began July 1.
June 2024: Tennessee State University taps Ronald A. Johnson as interim president
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Publish date : 2024-09-22 01:00:00
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