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Board committee advances revised FY26 budget and greenlights master plan landscape amendment and capital projects for board consideration
Summary
Trustees reviewed a revised FY26 budget that reflects accounting changes and one‑time rebudgets, heard the university's landscape strategic plan (tree canopy targets and a phased 20‑year planting plan), and approved sending major capital projects — a Crossville research center wind‑tunnel addition, a 12‑court tennis complex, an ~814‑space parking garage and a Student Event Center modification — to the full board for approval.
The Audit & Business Committee and the Academic & Student Affairs Committee reviewed several financially significant items: the revised FY26 budget submitted to the state, a proposed campus landscape strategic plan amendment to the master plan, and multiple disclosed capital projects.
Dr. Stinson summarized the revised budget (the October revised submission). She explained accounting presentation changes that now report net tuition after discounts and noted a one‑time, fiscal‑year 2025 recognition of nearly $24 million related to a compensated sick‑leave liability under a new accounting standard — a large adjustment that affected net position and the Composite Financial Index (CFI). She walked trustees through revenue composition (state appropriations, gifts and nonoperating items) and capital commitments (roughly $157.6M outstanding commitments; ~ $61.3M covered by university obligations). Dr. Stinson said the budget is balanced and possesses required fund reserves in line with state rules; trustees approved forwarding the revised budget and updated organizational chart to the full board for action.
Robert Weights of Studio Topography presented a landscape strategic plan amendment focused on restoring a campus tree canopy and consistent hardscape standards. He described five planting/priority zones and an aspirational target of about 30 trees per acre in precedent areas, and outlined a data‑driven phase plan that identifies ~3,000 trees to plant over time (roughly 200 trees per year for two decades) to mature the campus canopy and improve outdoor gathering spaces. Trustees discussed implementation, irrigation, native species (goal: ~65% native species on new projects) and maintenance.
Facilities disclosed major capital projects to the committee: a Crossville research center wind‑tunnel building addition (~3,000 sq ft, est. $6.4M), a northwest campus tennis complex (12 courts, clubhouse, bleachers, est. $7.6M), and a five‑story parking garage on the current tennis court footprint (≈814 spaces, design to match campus materials). Administration said parking will be financed with revenue bonds and primarily serve students (with a minority of employee spaces at higher cost), that the garage will also serve events (football, basketball) and that the tennis courts will be relocated; trustees discussed parking supply and timing relative to stadium and other capital construction. The Student Event Center scope was modified to add student bleacher seating and other program elements; administration said construction scheduling will follow stadium completion.
Each of those items was approved by the committee for placement on the full board's regular agenda for final approval, and the administration will provide detailed project proformas and financial plans for board review.
