The UT Board of Trustees is set to hold their annual meeting June 30 – July 1, 2025 at UTC. Their meeting agenda is available to the public on the system website. Here are 5 key takeaways for UTK students to know.

State government funding increases system budget considerably

In a message from Chief Financial Officer David Miller, he writes that UT will receive a 6.6% increase in state appropriations, to the total of $58 million.  The large increase is partially attributed to the need for new operating funds at UT Southern, as they saw increased enrollment rates since joining the UT System in 2021. Other reasons include funds for a 2.6% salary pool and equipment upgrades at the Health Science Center and College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Knoxville sees minimal fee increases, no in-state tuition increase

UTK will be the only campus that does not undergo an increase in tuition price for in-state students. While the Chattanooga, Martin, Southern and Health Science Center campuses will each experience a hike between 2-3%, Knoxville will only receive a 2.8% increase in mandatory fees, expected to amount to $64. Other system campuses will see an increase in mandatory fees as well. 

Total tuition and fee revenues for the UT System are up 8.2%, to a total of $91 million, while system-wide enrollments are expected to jump by 4.5%.

2025 System objectives include inaugural male persistence summit

UT System President Randy Boyd announced his 2025 Goals and Objectives under the five pillars of the UT Strategic Plan. Along with development of a 2030 Strategic Plan with Deloitte and a goal of reaching 63,547 students systemwide by fall 2025, Boyd plans to host the inaugural Tennessee Summit on Male Persistence and Success.

​​“Our goal with the Tennessee Summit on Male Persistence and Success is to better understand the experiences of young men across our campuses and beyond, and to ensure they have the support, mentorship and opportunities to truly flourish in college, career and life,” Boyd said in a statement.

The summit is intended to bring together thought leaders from across the state in the pursuit of male college enrollment, degree completion and engagement within the workforce. US women now surpass men in college enrollment and college completion, according to studies by the Pew Research Center.

Tickle College of Engineering prepared to add 2 majors in August

UT Knoxville will welcome both a bachelor’s degree in applied engineering and one in applied cybersecurity in August of 2025, according to agenda documents. The board of trustees approved a new department of applied engineering back in March, and the new degrees are currently pending approval by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. 

Both degrees will have a minimum of 120 total credit hours. The applied engineering early action application deadline for first year students is scheduled for Nov. 15, while admission for the applied cybersecurity program is rolling. 

Tennessee athletics budgeting for House v. NCAA settlement

Back in September 2024, Tennessee athletic director Danny White announced that a talent fee would be implemented on football tickets — a 10% surcharge to help prepare for House v. NCAA settlement implications.As the university finalizes its proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget, that fee is playing a key role in shaping Tennessee’s revenue projections. 

UT’s athletic department is projecting a strong budget increase for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with total revenues expected to grow by $49.5 million. That figure marks a 23.4% increase in projected revenue compared to 2024-25, reflecting a combination of internal shifts and increased income. 

The talent fee is an initiative by White to offset costs related to the House v. NCAA settlement. As part of the landmark legal case that will allow schools to directly share revenue with athletes, Tennessee’s 10% talent fee is a contributor to the projected increased budget. Under the proposed terms, universities could pay athletes up to $20.5 million annually beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year. In the budget, a $21.7 million increase in the “Other” revenue category reflects multiple factors, including this new revenue strategy, which helps fund the anticipated costs of the settlement, among other departmental expenses. 

A major portion of the remaining budget is tied to the internal transfer of Thompson-Boling Arena’s operations. The arena’s revenues and expenses will fall under UT athletics’ control — labeled as a “budget neutral” move since it adds to revenue and spending without external figures. The transfer also explains a $10.5 million drop in “Other Auxiliary Revenues.” 

Other revenue growth is driven by an $11 million increase in ticket sales and a $17 million surge in gifts. In addition to the talent fee, Tennessee also added a 4.5% per-seat increase on football ticket sales and increased student ticket prices to $25 per game, which factor into the projected revenue hike.

The Daily Beacon will be back with an update after the Board of Trustees meeting June 30-July 1. You can find all agenda materials at the system website.