[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6533611,"mediaKeyId","3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e","parentId",3685391,"title","Committee approves 6.49% tuition-and-fee increase, 1.8% salary plan and FY26 base budget; performance-award plan remains under review","audioSeconds",683,"startMs",3075000,"endMs",3758000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e&start=3075&end=3758","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e/thumbnail_3075000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6533611/Tennessee/Committee-approves-649-tuition-and-fee-increase-18-salary-plan-and-FY26-base-budget-performance-award-plan-remains-under-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533611-58f6a1949fc39fe7320275ef1e8c5795/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135264&Signature=BD3d-dHOAtF4fe1~GEPXT7ixI1pK4Mc3I94xfThk6DEyA3r1OPnxKgzlTdTNVgIP6ggCQDFl7fJaB3SqIUIpBDz54OsK7Kjups1SaqaqJIyeik08mYKN~Wlxc1u1LLOvOCeDY4m7xzxn1ph2Of14KU6P8T58~vITag1llm0jcbXdWsPQUalwHpaomIo7MwtOQzg3aKlV6Pprn74yD3sczIys-V9q8mee8RFPCRAp~dhjcINLRvYIccVGfxTOUf5CaGd6rpSUXSAZPLAjlD1OWJugcN2lHhcaaSBhL6mSywSYKvF44VpHgKzaunmNTfZPE~7hRehsSPlYBmCn2ur4xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middle Tennessee State University","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Middle Tennessee State University Finance and Personnel Committee approved a package of financial items that includes a tuition-and-fee scenario that results in a 6.49% increase in combined tuition and mandatory fees, an employee compensation recommendation that provides a 1.8% salary increase (or a minimum $750 base increase for employees earning $42,400 or less), and the university’s FY2025 estimated budget and FY2026 July base budget.

Drew Harpool, associate vice president for business and finance, presented the tuition materials and said an internal calculation of need would support a 5.76% increase to base tuition alone; two scenarios in the packet include different mandatory-fee adjustments. Scenario 2 — the option trustees approved for discussion and adoption — produces a 6.49% ultimate tuition-and-fee increase and includes a modest athletics-related mandatory-fee increase ($29) to reach the upper end of THEC’s binding range (0–6.5%). Harpool noted MTSU’s historically low tuition relative to peers and said staff intend to stress affordability and context in communications to students and families.

Trustees discussed the need to provide context for increases, highlight scholarship support and explain what mandatory fees fund. One trustee urged clearer labeling of the athletics fee and a fuller explanation of how mandatory athletics fees support activities beyond ticketing, including academic support and scholarships.

On compensation, Laura Gint, vice president for human resources, recommended a 1.8% salary increase for regular active employees on payroll as of June 30, 2025, with a guaranteed $750 minimum increase for those earning $42,400 or less. Gint said the governor’s budget had provided only partial funding for the governor-recommended 2.6% increase; the university’s allocation is $3.2 million, about 62% of the funding needed to reach a full 2.6% raise. Trustees approved the compensation recommendation by voice vote. Gint said the administration will revisit market adjustments in November after enrollment and budget updates.

Trustees also received an information update on a proposed $1.5 million performance-based award fund. Drew Harpool said the compensation committee had submitted a report to the president and outlined models that would either use the full $1.5 million in a single year or smooth awards across three years; the committee also discussed multi-year averaging for faculty evaluations versus single-year metrics for some roles. The performance-based recommendations were presented as information only and no action was taken at this meeting.

Finally, trustees approved the FY2025 estimated closeout budget and the FY2026 July base budget; the FY2026 base includes state appropriations but does not yet reflect tuition adjustments pending final student-notice and registration timelines.

Actions: Trustees moved, seconded and approved scenario 2 (6.49%) for tuition/mandatory fees, approved the employee compensation recommendation (1.8% / $750 minimum), and approved the FY2025 estimated and FY2026 July budgets by voice vote. The performance-based award proposal was presented as an information item and remains under review by the president.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 20, 2025 Finance & Personnel Committee Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees approved a scenario that raises base tuition and mandatory fees to a 6.49% overall increase under THEC’s binding range, approved a 1.8% salary increase (minimum $750 for eligible employees) and approved the FY2025 estimated and FY2026 July base budgets; a separate performance-based award proposal remains under review by the president.","taxTitle","Middle Tennessee State University, Public Universities, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",79441,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6533615,"MTSU submits $24.3 million capital-maintenance priority list to THEC; trustees approve annual package",567,2000000,2567000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e&start=2000&end=2567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e/thumbnail_2000000.jpg","/articles/6533615/Tennessee/MTSU-submits-243-million-capital-maintenance-priority-list-to-THEC-trustees-approve-annual-package","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533615-851682c9947d8d68be318c7207d53089/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135264&Signature=NyMqOlUwyM3q0LHxA9ZMLYuELqAJ5CrNV2deLS2U6-6F39MFdoIkvUxmE5EBShqWjfT47v9LWS8ufAzLS0-RML0xUPhqAORUZiO8yEecd2k0T-KXcb2hJ6J0~8~XO8ycH~-yOfytMDDsttljqWWH-jUYzVgutrCRqSdXvcjhTt7BQvARV~DsLz~B7f-UCV~9KYaNs7biLN73jy8eW1Q4Ey2iK5hiVrDlem3wZaOZHhZ~D4ApYjZ-gwayISUduP72mlrGz~k-BJLEH~n9euhOq3Ps4N-Kg57wpfNtRin~4gNq1jgxuVX5TzSSNGr33RNsxMCJ18-XvlNIo6HEMNfW5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees approved the university’s annual capital-maintenance project submission for FY26–27, a prioritized list of 13 projects totaling about $24.3 million. Joe Whitefield, assistant vice president for facility services, presented the packet and said the requested amount and the university’s prioritized list follow Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) guidance and the statewide maintenance allocation formula.

Whitefield told trustees the statewide deferred-maintenance need for higher education is roughly $358 million; the university’s calculated share produces a recommended annual need consistent with industry standards (about 1–2% of current replacement value). He said MTSU’s E&G (education and general) assets are near $1.5 billion, and the THEC formula produces an allocation near 1.6% of replacement value, which translates to the roughly $24.3 million annual request.

Whitefield said the top-ranked FY26–27 project is a $4 million priority for exterior envelope, roofing and structural repairs across multiple buildings; other projects in the prioritized list include utility system upgrades, elevator modernization, fire alarm and access-control system work, and other infrastructure priorities. He explained an approach of grouping work by discipline across multiple buildings (for example, roofing across several buildings) to gain economies and maximize the value of limited funds.

Trustees asked how the THEC formula accounts for age, size and replacement value of campus assets; Whitefield said the allocation takes building age, replacement value and square footage into account and that the university maintains a multi-year list of out-year projects so priorities can be adjusted annually. He also detailed university-level contingency funds for emergency repairs: a major-maintenance fund of about $600,000 and a repair-and-replacement fund of about $600,000, which staff use for urgent and unplanned repairs when capital funds are not available.

Action: The committee moved, seconded and approved the FY26–27 capital-maintenance project submission by voice vote.

Whitefield noted that even when projects are approved for funding by the state, design and construction typically follow a year or more after the funding decision, so campus planning for staged work must continue. Trustees were reminded that the university’s total deferred-maintenance estimate exceeds $200 million and that annual appropriations historically covered a fraction of the need.

The board directed staff to proceed with the submission and to continue updating the trustees as projects move through design and bidding.","The committee approved a prioritized submission of 13 capital-maintenance projects totaling about $24.3 million for FY26–27, with the top project focusing on exterior envelope, roofs and structural repairs; staff described the THEC allocation process and the university's deferred-maintenance backlog.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6533620,"Trustees approve six capital disclosures; P3 housing partner named and hotel lease talks near completion",315,1067000,1382000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e&start=1067&end=1382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e/thumbnail_1067000.jpg","/articles/6533620/Tennessee/Trustees-approve-six-capital-disclosures-P3-housing-partner-named-and-hotel-lease-talks-near-completion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533620-d607842f16887ec4b42c02fbe2dfc94b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135264&Signature=KVUIT-VwFPNP5gfwh8KOUH6OatEmWhO4CG6qK31mGlagNZLesEvfJbe6mD1BNrhRjNK0HPTRt9zQb2pfQiicAVwdHlFasQP4-7RgV7w~t7uo0yJNj-SFFNmuEGRhiW9lcEzQGqPj25DGPwI-MwTUZAcCaeNqTLUxN3Oga0Z1IvJ0ZRg4y~jb2mqbx83K4XMCDMhFiw4OhzP6uqUAiXIGRWBo2SnKHuSP~vMPyv7-ylLf~tR3biCnU874nyzoG7SsNGkqh1Ksgw6w~5RkzCvSS70hZAnkvvwxeqza6PEHFOxBrpKymlAEF1HTFnUtBmDCsLHVIrTwk58zu4mFCN-RZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Middle Tennessee State University Finance and Personnel Committee approved a six-item capital disclosure list that will appear on the university’s disclosure register for two years if accepted. The list includes renovations at Floyd Stadium, a wellness-center renovation that would relocate the counseling center into the wellness facility, and a student commons improvement to add a small stage adjacent to the student union. Bill Waits, associate vice president for campus planning, presented the disclosures and said the full disclosure list (as projected in July 2026) appears in the meeting materials.

Waits said the Floyd Stadium disclosure was filed at $24 million to meet a quick submission timeline but staff now anticipate the needed scope will be lower — “I do anticipate the final amount of that project to be much less than the $24,000,000,” Waits said — and staff are refining the scope for the West Grandstand seating and structural replacements. The wellness-center project would add a modest addition and relocate counseling services from the KUC to a single location within the wellness center to provide more integrated behavioral-health services. The student commons improvement is a smaller renovation to create a roughly doubled event space for campus activities.

Trustees also received updates on two campus-affiliated development projects that are not part of the disclosure vote but were discussed as program updates. Waits said lease negotiations with Sila Development for the planned campus hotel were “within several weeks” of finishing; the agreement will require state approval and is expected to be a long-term (40-year) lease. He said hotel branding and a finalized schedule will be communicated once the lease is signed and the state has approved the agreement.

On student housing, Waits reported that the university completed a competitive selection process and the state building commission on May 8 approved naming the Annex Group as the P3 development partner for a planned 550-bed residence hall built on the existing Wilmington (Womack/Wilmington Lane) housing site. Waits said the planned ground-lease and development agreements remain under negotiation with the state reviewing the predevelopment agreement; staff estimated construction could begin in December 2025 with a targeted opening in July 2027. The current Womack (Wilmington) Lane site contains about 230 beds; Waits said the planned development is expected to produce approximately 550 beds, yielding a net increase of about 320 beds.

Trustees asked how family housing residents would be served during the demolition and construction; university staff said residents would remain in place until closeout (residents are expected to vacate by August with hazardous-material abatement and demolition planned to start Sept. 1) and Housing Services has plans to provide alternative housing options and transition services.

Action: Trustees moved, seconded and approved the FY26 capital disclosure list by voice vote.

The hotel and P3 housing updates included next steps: finalize lease terms with Sila Development, secure state approvals for a long-term lease, complete final legal agreements with Annex Group for the residence-hall P3, and continue outreach on relocation and support for affected students.","The committee approved a six-item capital disclosure list that includes renovations to Floyd Stadium, a wellness-center renovation to house counseling services, and a student commons improvement; staff also updated trustees on a public-private partnership for a new residence hall (Annex Group) and pending hotel lease negotiations with Sila (Sila)",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6533625,"MTSU committee approves two FY26–27 capital outlay requests, prioritizes Civic Leadership building",340,88000,428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e&start=88&end=428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685391-ea6ced1c3a80966d6d973c3facdc492e/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6533625/Tennessee/MTSU-committee-approves-two-FY2627-capital-outlay-requests-prioritizes-Civic-Leadership-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533625-cf43a8c852b394c00b32181a427100b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135264&Signature=meOgrKY1h998q615WLlmmGtyM9IycUr--peBlG2bMLiRuMeY9bSOwhhjnN48T6XCyghsy1hsK~RxYJZL4XtDb-X3GSlz2aaC9DqJnWlirSFbO1L4PnKZL4kitPUMeM9xU8f9qdLSK3~MjeupOBzsK3errE5uqTIN0ByeG2ucEkjawAOxvMisBVYi4xAJJIXSQYBbePp5ck2yLQ9tbqPqnXUkb8C2MY8QA-fzLCz~BgJOQir2WsPzfbNMffZlOP93g5YLHA0yYS0cnvY9HCdEYmVeO8-6PywIBpEIqWBseSnqQOHWLE7lOSX7WHPmysphRaUH4iXWWKA9GorVs6Zz5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Middle Tennessee State University Finance and Personnel Committee, trustees voted to approve the university's FY26–27 capital outlay request list, which includes two projects the university will submit to the state: a Civic Leadership and Applied Humanities building on the Murfreesboro campus and a Phase 2 expansion of aerospace facilities at the Shelbyville Airport. The committee approved the submission by voice vote.

The Civic Leadership and Applied Humanities building is proposed at roughly 30,000 gross square feet and would house history, political and global affairs, sociology and anthropology, and the Center for Historic Preservation. Bill Waits, associate vice president for campus planning, said the facility would also provide exhibit, research and archives space, and “truly benefit the freshman and sophomore experience of MTSU students of all majors on campus.”

Waits told trustees the building would include space for a new center for innovation and leadership and museum/exhibit areas tied to archival research and community outreach. Trustees pressed for clarity on whether the request included funds to address nearby Peck Hall; one trustee asked that the civic building not be left incomplete while Peck Hall remained undone. Dr. McPhee, MTSU president, said, “The priority is the civic building.” Waits said the scope includes some targeted renovations at Peck Hall to provide swing space and a new roof, but not a comprehensive renovation.

The second outlay request covers Phase 2 of MTSU’s aerospace development at Shelbyville Airport. Waits described two planned structures: a roughly 20,000-square-foot academic building to serve as the aerospace department's campus home and a roughly 57,000-square-foot laboratory building to house maintenance-management labs and related functions. The Phase 2 work would also add apron space for aircraft, additional vehicle access and parking, and exterior green space. Waits said the phase will serve concentrations including maintenance management, aviation management, aerospace technology, unmanned aircraft systems (drone program), flight dispatch and aviation safety and security.

Trustees discussed how recent Tennessee legislation changed the capital-outlay process administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), removing THEC scoring and requiring institutions to classify requests into one of four categories (workforce development, institutional research needs/goals, institutional priority for time sensitivity/other extenuating circumstances, and facility renovation/optimization). Waits said the aerospace project “easily fit[s]” workforce development and could also be classified for time sensitivity because the university is moving operations from Murfreesboro to Shelbyville. The civic project is harder to categorize and staff said they were still determining the best fit.

Trustees agreed the civic building would be the university's top priority for the governor and legislature if asked to rank projects. Waits noted that, under the new process, institutions may submit more than one capital outlay request; MTSU intends to submit both projects.

Action: Trustees moved and seconded approval of the FY26–27 capital outlay project submissions and approved the request by voice vote.

The committee discussion also touched on parking impacts if the civic building is sited on existing parking (“we'll work with Ron Malone to make sure that any losses in parking will be offset,” Waits said) and the increased project escalation included in the current request compared with the prior-year submission.

The committee did not set a formal project award or appropriate construction funds at this meeting; it authorized university staff to submit the two projects for state consideration under the new THEC process.","The MTSU Finance & Personnel Committee approved two capital outlay requests for FY26–27 — a Civic Leadership and Applied Humanities building on the Murfreesboro campus and a Phase 2 expansion of aerospace facilities at Shelbyville Airport — and designated the civic project as the institution's top priority for state consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves 6.49% tuition-and-fee increase, 1.8% salary plan and FY26 base budget; performance-award plan remains under review

MTSU submits $24.3 million capital-maintenance priority list to THEC; trustees approve annual package

Trustees approve six capital disclosures; P3 housing partner named and hotel lease talks near completion

MTSU committee approves two FY26–27 capital outlay requests, prioritizes Civic Leadership building