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Senator Crow urges $2.5 million recurring for ETSU College of Pharmacy to lower tuition and expand workforce
Summary
Senator Crow asked the Appropriations Subcommittee to fund a $2.5 million recurring appropriation to finish a previously proposed $5 million package for East Tennessee State University(Eastern Tennessee State University) College of Pharmacy, citing exam pass rates, residency matches, enrollment growth and rural workforce needs.
Senator Crow told the FW&M Appropriations subcommittee that East Tennessee State University College of Pharmacy is requesting a $2.5 million recurring appropriation to complete a $5 million funding objective intended to lower tuition, expand scholarships and meet pharmacist workforce demand.
Crow said the college previously received $2.5 million and that money "has been put to work and as you can see are achieving the goals and objectives," pointing to academic outcomes and student supports funded by the earlier appropriation. He noted the college ranked second in the nation on the North American Pharmacists Licensure Examination pass rate for the class of 2023, sixth nationally in residency match rate, and first in Tennessee in the Southeast. He also said total enrollment increased in 2024 by 41% and the percentage of Tennesseans enrolled rose by 34% after partial funding.
The senator described uses for the requested recurring funds: decreasing tuition and scholarship support to prevent students from leaving the state for lower-cost programs, reducing graduate debt burden, hiring student success coordinators and serving rural and underserved communities. He said the college has hired three student success coordinators embedded in first, second and third year classes to bolster retention for first-generation and rural students.
No formal vote occurred; this was a presentation to the subcommittee during a hearings-style session. Committee members asked no substantive policy questions during the presentation recorded in the transcript.
The request cited alignment with the state's "Drive to 55" objectives to increase postsecondary attainment. The transcript did not include statutory citations, a bill number, or a committee recommendation; no vote was taken at the hearing.
