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University of Tennessee President John Petersen photographed in October 2008 at the Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building.
University of Tennessee faculty are experiencing "considerable distress" about President John Petersen's appointment of former head football coach Phillip Fulmer as special assistant, Faculty Senate President John Nolt said today.
"We are at this moment in the middle of campus budget hearings in which we are contemplating laying off many of our non-tenure-track faculty," Nolt said in an e-mail. "This would result in severe course reductions in next fall."
Fulmer accepted a three-month appointment yesterday and will earn $12,500 a month until the deal expires Feb. 28. He also will receive standard full-time employee benefits.
That salary will be funded privately, according to UT. It is unclear whether donors earmarked money for the position.
"The $37,500 salary that Peterson reportedly would pay Fulmer will pay for 300-400 student seats next year in courses taught by lecturers," Nolt continued. "Even if Fulmer wound up raising a great deal of money for academics, this is still the wrong message for the System Administration to be sending at this very bleak time."
Fulmer's primary role will be "enhancing and developing strategic relationships on behalf of UT," Petersen said Monday.
It was not disclosed whether Fulmer will continue to have an official position with the university after February.
Petersen addressed Fulmer's hire in an e-mail sent to faculty and staff this afternoon that, in preparation for up to $75 million in state budget cuts, puts a moratorium on new academic programs; freezes hiring, renovations, furniture and equipment purchases and non-essential travel; and starts a system-wide process for academic program review.
"Phillip Fulmer presents us with a unique opportunity to have someone who has brought national recognition in addition to deep, long-standing ties with the entire UT community," Petersen wrote. "He is paid through privately donated funds, and the expectation is that he will help the University raise money that would otherwise not be available to us. I hope you will join in wishing him well in his new role with the University of Tennessee."
More details as they develop online and in Wednesday's News Sentinel.
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Comments » 115
BigVolinCarolina writes:
As I said last night when I read the original article, this "new role" is a sham if there ever was one. Coach Fulmer, are you seriously going to do this? I know you love UT and bleed Orange, but c'mon!
Looks to me like Coach Fulmer may not be such a sought-after coach like some believe if he's taking a 3-month job.
username writes:
Why would the faculty have a beef about this if Fulmer's salary is being paid from private funds? Whether or not Fulmer stays with the university has no bearing on how many professors, teaching assistants, etc. are retained this year, or any other year.
golfballs03 writes:
This is bogus. How does UT expect to raise it's academic standards when professors and prospective students have a clear glimpse of where the university's priorities lie!?
orangebloodgmc writes:
The faculty is distressed about this? Gimme a break. Acacemics are urged, pressured, to bring in outside money all the time for their pet projects. Why should they get upset when other people at the university work out such an arrangement?
jobrando#216494 writes:
State of Tennessee is facing a budget crisis that will cost people jobs. I do agree this is a very bad message when others will be losing there jobs. If joe blow wants to fund it then let him fund Fulmer outside State government.
CrankE writes:
Fulmer's primary role will be "enhancing and developing strategic relationships on behalf of UT," Petersen said Monday.
__________
If he bleeds so much orange, then why should he need any more green to support UT? This is a guy who pledged $1M to the University last year, right? What's another $37,500 of gratis work for the University? Instead, he's being paid. I don't follow on this one.
It sounds like what Fulmer will be doing falls under the office of Development. The guys who build the big megadollar relationships with guys like Earl Zwingle or Jim Haslam.
Is there some strategic relationship that won't be enhanced if Fulmer doesn't enhance it? Is this a job no one else can do? I presume that the benefit (i.e. increased endowment/giving/etc.) will far exceed the cost ($37,500) or otherwise the cost/benefit ratio is upside down.
Maybe that $37,500 represents the donations that were actually sent in (not merely pledged) by unhappy fans, alumni, and boosters to Mike Hamilton for the purpose of covering CPF's buyout.
golfballs03 writes:
Those private funds could be used more effectively in so many other ways. Fulmer is a joke. With all the budget cuts the University faces, the one clear priority appears to be awarding incompetence. The "fund raising" claim is bogus. In three months how much do they really expect him to raise? If he hasn't been able to leave his mark in 28 years, 3 months sure won't do the trick. John Peterson is pathetic. He needs to get fired ASAP!
Basketball_Jones writes:
This Fulmer thing is BS....UT gives him $6 million dollars plus almost $40k for 3 months of work. Its a slap in the face to the faculty and other fans at UT who don't make $40k a year. Why does the president need an assistant?
thevoice writes:
Like I've said before, Fulmer's next position will determine what others think of him as an effective football coach, especially after he's said I want to coach again. Guess this answers it?
pms151 writes:
If he truly loves the university as most alums do why doesn't he do it for free like the rest of us. Hell he could give back another million or two that he is taking from us if he really cares. This is total BS. He has to have something on someone or many.
username writes:
There is a difference in public and private priorities, as surely this entire Fulmer episode has shown. Donors (private funds) wanted Fulmer out. Public funds have had nothing to do with this escapade, but have everything to do with professors, and budget decisions. Furthermore, there are plenty of private funds for academics. I know because I give to several of them. I wish people would learn to separate the two, especially professors who should know better.
orangebloodgmc writes:
pms,
"If he truly loves the university as most alums do why doesn't he do it for free like the rest of us. Hell he could give back another million or two that he is taking from us if he really cares."
He has already done that.
Waldorf writes:
Think pension funding formula folks. That is the only thing that makes sense.
This guy loves Tennessee so much that he'll suck every penny he can out of it.
ssmith82#219353 writes:
Private funds are paying for this job. So does UT allow other private funds to pay for other jobs, if so no problem, I sure they would not turn down someone you wanted to pay for a professors job.
Add to that any money he will bring in via fundraising it is a win win, do not see the beef. The faculty needs to understand the bigger picture, then of course as I told one of my professors when I was in school at UT those then can do....do and those that cannot.....TEACH! Now do not get me wrong teachers in K - 12 are in a different class and deserve more pay and respect. But for the most part professors are a bunch of windbags and really did not help me in 2 degrees business management and EE with anything I could not learn from a book. The only ones that are usefull and the ones doing research.
james_lay writes:
Because the university HAS to have money. Otherwise, there won't be any faculty to teach the students.
Figure this.
*IF* Fulmer is getting paid 37500, and he raises 100k. Isn't that worth it? He's brought in WELL more than the schools investment in him. Bogus or not, he'll raise money. Even if he raises 60k, tell me the additional 22500 isn't worth it?
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Username, you are correct in that the source of the funds makes a big difference. Folks who give privately can direct where they go--and that's a good thing, and I'm all for it.
However, applied to the current situation, this really looks like a sham, does it not? Like another poster said, Fulmer's been here 28 years and if he hasn't helped in raising funds during that time, then what's 3 more months going to do? This is nothing more than a created job for him.
After all, when it comes to raising funds for UT, which sounds better: ____________, Head Football Coach? Or, _______________, Special Assistant to the President?
C'mon. I thought he was a football coach, not a special assistant.
james_lay writes:
BTW, please remember that almost ALL of the Basketball, Football, Baseball coaches pay are paid for by the VASF. Not directly by the school themselves. So while CLK might have a 2 million per year deal, only about 20% of that is actually school funds. The other is private, earmarked donations. Same thing here.
pms151 writes:
I know that. I am just saying do it again. 6 mil is a lot of money for most all of us to take for not doing a job.
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Six million not enough Phil? Go away!
WVVOLFAN writes:
that's funny stuff kingsport...
pms151 writes:
The cost of professional fund raising is closer to 65% of the gross. I was in the business for years. Next time the circus calls you for money ask them how much the charity actually gets.
soknoxcomom writes:
How does one drawing a "privately funded salary" get the "standard full time benefits" of a state of TN employee?
There is something bad wrong with UT and it starts at the top!
shipperman#280095 writes:
Fulmer is all about Fulmer...Period...He is working for the University so he keeps his benefits. The greedy pig
rockytopron writes:
Sure is a lot of unnecessary belly aching going on here. A lot of it is coming from Fulmer haters wanting to bash anything to do with Fulmer. You guys are pathetic. You got what you wanted now go away!
First, the money has been donated from a private party and has nothing to do with faculty in any way.
Second, all you people crying about this, how much have you donated to the University? More than likely, nothing. So shut up already!
You are an embarrassment to the University, to the real fans and to yourselves.
shipperman#280095 writes:
I donate a very significant amount to the University. Do you? Fulmer needs to go away. He cried about being done wrong more than Johnny Majors, who he stabbed in the back. Yeah I despise the greedy pig. If he was all about the university, he would get the he!! out of there. All he wants is to build his pension and keep his benefits.
pms151 writes:
I have donated plenty thank you. My point is that if you have private funds paying for this you can be assured that they are going to get a huge chunk of whatever he generates. The faculty has a very valid point. This has nothing to do with being a Fulmer hater. It is about ethics.
bobbyutvol writes:
No problem with Coach Fulmer but, I think 6 million was more than enough..
pms151 writes:
You have your finger in the right pie my friend.
BigMix writes:
Good time to have some stock in KCWW(Kleenex big brother). It's not fair=( Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa snff snff Waaaaaaaaaaaa. Phillip Fulmer has brought in more money to Tennessee in the last 17 years than all coaches before combined.
tenndave writes:
We all complain about the cost of college but these professors continue to change graduation requirements, add new courses to the list all under the guise of better education but in reality are designed to keep jobs and pump more money into depts so profs have a student body to teach. Come on, I have three degrees and I can name you at least $10,000 of courses I had to pay for that were useless and wouldn't raised by GRE's at all. Cut out some of these so called survey courses and deal with the meat. I don't need 6 hours of golf, bowling, art history, repeated US History, Shakespearean lit for my engineering degree. Or if you think I do, then quit complaining about the high cost of college.
Fulmer will pull into the University more money in a short time than 10 professors will cost. They should hope and support that his job will lessen that 75 million cut they would be getting anyway.
yeavols#228407 writes:
BUAHAHAHAHA! I thought i was the only one who think they are nutcases..
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Last I checked the guy gave a million dollars to academics a year or two ago and we are talking about $37,000. That is not much money in the macro scheme of things.
pms151 writes:
You should have gone to ITT then. A university education is designed to give a broad education regardless of your major. This is to prevent very limited thinking as you are displaying. My wife went to Ga Tech for her graduate in Engineering after her other masters in Biology. I never her complaining about education.
westennvol writes:
i have to comment, these eggheads never understand how much the football program contributes to the school. (i quote the movie the program) 'when was the last time 80,000 people showed up to see somebody do a chemistry experiment'! Geez, its freakin private funds, no bearing on school budget. Same phooey when i was there. A sociology professor who was a hypocrite, said that by the year 2000, UT will just be a football team. Whatever, i put no stock into the faculty's liberal anti-football opinion of any subject.
NoChildLeftaDime writes:
"The $37,500 salary that Peterson reportedly would pay Fulmer will pay for 300-400 student seats next year in courses taught by lecturers," Nolt continued."
I understand UT us facing serious budgetary setbacks, but if Fulmer is paid $37,500 in privately funded sources and brings in to the university $37,500 (conservative for sure), he has paid for 300 - 400 seats, right?
rllipscomb#212376 writes:
Reading between the lines, I am guessing he will split his time between lobbying the state legislature and soliciting funds for the school endowment fund. If he is as successful at that as I think he would be, $150K a year is cheap.
chuckfromwoodbury writes:
As long as he's working for the University, don't pay him his 6 million. See how long his "love" of UT lasts then. Can Someone please start www.firefulmerII.com?
TommyJack writes:
At the least, it's very impolitic of Peterson. From what I can gather, though, that's his history.
ncvol17 writes:
No offense, I don't think you guys get it. The academic side of UT is not paying Fulmer's 6 million or the 37,000+ grand. BIG TIME= BIG MONEY alumni and VASF are paying it. I would imagine, the vast majority is via BIG TIME contributors. This $$$ would NOT be given if not for these purposes. There are alumni who give to the academic side of the university but apparently not enough to stave off academic budget cuts..
I don't give to VASF to see a Business class offered to students or a new TA hired for the school of education. That is for the state and academic contributors to fund.
I fund sports. I doubt anyone would buy 'School of Business' T shirts or 'Fund a cow on the AG campus' sweatshirts.
pms151 writes:
You must have been in the special ed student program to have graduated citing movies as footnotes. Did you even graduate?
ncvol17 writes:
What is VOLNATION?
gslaton#227127 writes:
I agree. He can raise money for UT when budgets are being cut. Why not? He has $6 million coming to him. Any financial advisor would tell you that, along with what he has invested already, he doesn't need UT's pension or benefits. If you can give a million away, you have your life covered pretty well financially. It sounds like the same donors that got him fired are asking for more return on their money!
james_lay writes:
This is exactly what I was thinking.
khelton657 writes:
Like Dickey told Fulmer " Fulmer, you have a marketing problem"..he still does..
khelton657 writes:
Hhmmmm...good point...something is astray...
ncvol17 writes:
No offense, but you must not be nor ever been a season ticket holder. There is nothing 'free' if you want to support UT & have season tickets. Two W section chair back seats require a $1000-1500 donation + cost of 2 season tickets. Then you pay for a parking pass so your not downtown walking the hill to get to the stadium. Privately add in the cost of travel, motel, and food for 2 nights if you do not live in ET. A seven game season can cost a minimum of 3000-4000 grand. Now think if you have sideline seats or the new special section ($10,000)seats. Nothing 'free' about being a UT supporter unless you listen to the radio. Even TV costs cable fees and VIDEO seat costs.
khelton657 writes:
It's obvious people are just tired of him, Fulmer Fatigue. He said he was going to just go away for awhile. He should do this. Go away for 2 years and come back a hero after everyone has had time to forget the negatives. But, go away.
fjones1000#209495 writes:
Ditto everything you said!
ncvol writes:
I know that the University will benefit from utilizing Phil's services. I hope they will find something for him after the three months are over. The University will become better for it. I will never fully understand why so many are so negative about this. He is not going to have any input to the football team. Phil is a good man and will do right by UT.
DennisVols writes:
The budget cuts come from the state budget not from private donors who are paying Fulmer for this 3 month position. He will be used over this time to raise more private donations that will in all likely hood exceed the 37K he will be paid.
If you don't like the states budget cut complain to the state goverment. The country's current econ. situation is hitting every state budget which in return is causing serious cuts.
Here in the ATL the mayor is closing fire stations which is causing homeowners insurance costs to go up greatly.
Times are tough and no one wants to lose their job including professors at state funded universities.
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