Updated: 7/1/2009 8:35:35 PM
The University of Tennessee is changing its rules on donations that result in the donor being eligible for athletic tickets, and it could shake up the way people donate to UT.
Donations made to specific academic departments will no longer make the donor eligible to purchase season tickets; all donations for tickets will have to go into a fund under athletic department control.
Donations to that fund can be specified for academics, but they can no longer be designated for specific departments.
The donations set for academics in the athletic fund, dubbed the Tennessee Fund, will help the athletic department meet a new, beefed-up commitment to academics.
The athletic department plans to give at least $56 million to academics over the next 10 years, by giving at least $2.75 million more each year.
UT said the plan is aimed at making the athletic ticket benefit more equitable between the various divisions, to streamline the program, and to clear up any confusion for donors as to the tax deductability of their donations.
Existing university donors will have their memberships transferred into Tennessee Fund accounts, with a point system reflecting their years and level of giving.
The new fund will not impact any of this year's athletic seasons--it starts for the 2010/2011 year.
You can find more information in a press release and letter to donors on wbir.com.
Outgoing Faculty Senate President John Nolt said he's supportive of the plan overall, as it increases the overall amount of money going to academics. He did express concern over the appearance that the athetic department is giving more to academics, when some of that money would have been headed to academic departments anyhow.
