| In a time when most states are struggling
financially and Tennessee is cutting more than $100 million from
higher education budgets, the University of Tennessee’s
ability to attract other types of funding has become especially
crucial. Luckily for the Institute of Agriculture, faculty have
become increasingly adept at doing just that.
University scientists have always attracted research dollars from
producer groups as well as state and federal government budgets.
Some funding came like clockwork every fiscal year. That’s
no longer the case.
“Both federal and state governments are moving away from
annual appropriations and more toward competitive-based grants
and contracts,” says Dr. Jack Britt, UT vice president for
agriculture. “This includes the USDA as well as other agencies.”
Competition for funds means faculty must offer research and service
that are both unique and worthwhile, and that reach beyond the
state’s borders.
“The Institute leads the entire University of Tennessee
system in growth of grants and contracts,” Britt explains.
“The Institute grew more than 30 percent as compared to
about six percent for the next closest unit. We have more faculty
applying for funding and we are recruiting grant-competitive faculty.”
Outside funding has become a major portion of the Institute’s
budget. The College of Veterinary Medicine gets 15 percent of
its budget from grants and contracts. The Agricultural Experiment
Station gets at least a quarter of its funding this way, and the
Extension Service gets fully a third of its budget from outside
sources, up five percent in the last year alone.
It isn’t just philanthropic interests that cause organizations
and individuals to give money to the university. They expect a
measurable return on the investment, delivered through research
impacts or service that can make a difference economically.
The Tennessee Forest Products Center receives some $415,000 each
year through the special research grants program of the USDA to
aid its quest to benefit that industry. It’s an important
one. Timber sales reach more than $367 million per year statewide
and related industries cause a ripple effect throughout the state
economy.
Dogwood research is netting new disease-resistant varieties to
boost the state’s $50 million dogwood nursery industry through
another $885,000 in federal funds, spread out over five years,
and may soon share in some $750,000 more.
The Institute attracts donor dollars for endowments as well.
“While we still suffer from severe under-funding in many
areas, our endowment helps the Institute and its programs continue
to achieve excellence in critically important areas,” Britt
said.
Annual giving and interest income from the endowment will contribute
$2.8 million to the Institute’s budget this academic year,
and that doesn’t include gifts and income for individual
departments.
“Nothing can take the place of a steady revenue stream from
the state,” Britt says. “But our ability to attract
outside funding is a strong indication that the Institute is in
touch with what the agriculture and natural resources industries
need and want. That, in turn, means we can better prepare our
students to take their place in those industries.”
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