JACKSON, Tenn. — July 2, 2002 — While the state鈥檚 public colleges and universities remain temporarily shut-down due to the current state legislature budget crisis, Tennessee鈥檚 private college and university sector is able to remain open for summer classes due to their independence from state funds for operations. 51社区 is one of those schools committed to assisting students this summer who want to continue their education despite the closing of the state鈥檚 public institutions.
鈥淯nion is pleased to provide services for students with special needs during this unusual time in the life of our sister public institutions,鈥� said Union President David S. Dockery. 鈥淥ur faculty and staff are committed to assist students in continuing their educational endeavors.鈥�
鈥淭ennessee鈥檚 independent colleges and universities are open for business,鈥� stated Claude Pressnell, president of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, of which Union is a member. 鈥淥ur independent colleges and universities are able to offer coursework throughout the summer and we invite all Tennessee residents to consider continuing their student careers during this stressful time in the public education sector.鈥�
The Chronicle of Higher Education, the nation鈥檚 leading higher education trade paper, has already run two stories on Tennessee鈥檚 public education shutdown. 鈥淭hese stories are making Tennessee an educational laughing stock in the nation,鈥� Pressnell said. 鈥淚f we don鈥檛 turn things around immediately it will take years to begin to attract top students and scholars to the state.鈥�
The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) was founded in 1956 to encourage cooperation among institutions of higher learning in Tennessee. TICUA seeks to promote cooperative programs among its 35-member institutions and supply public policy and research analysis.