Jan 14, 2025 Story by: Editor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — As the new year begins, the federal government has sent another letter to Governor Bill Lee, reminding his administration of the $2.1 billion underfunding of Tennessee State University (TSU).
The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have followed up on their previous communication in 2023. Both agencies had sent letters to multiple states, notifying governors that their historically Black colleges were underfunded. While the state claimed that Tennessee owed half a billion dollars in 2022, the federal government has stated that the true figure is $2.1 billion.
The letter, dated for 2025, emphasized the ongoing funding imbalance. “We hope that we can be a thought partner with you as you consider ways to address the unbalanced funding,” the letter read. “We thank the university leadership and faculty from your state’s 1890 that, through the years, have been able to produce extraordinary graduates despite receiving less than its 1862 peers in matching state funds. The remarkable strides that have been made are a testament to their dedication to education and to the success of future generations.”
TSU’s funding situation mirrors that of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Both institutions were established with land grants and were supposed to receive equal state appropriations for agriculture extension offices and academic program expansions. However, analysis conducted over a year ago revealed that while the University of Tennessee-Knoxville receives significantly more state funding, both in total dollars and per student, TSU has been underfunded.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and TSU are both considered land-grant colleges, a designation which generally guarantees elevated funding status. The two schools were established before desegregation, at a time when Tennessee’s public universities did not accept Black students.
Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville, expressed his approval of the White House’s efforts to address the disparity in land-grant funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). “I am very pleased to see that the White House has provided additional information to Governors across the United States about 1890 HBCU Land Grant Funding,” Love said. “I am glad that the work that was done on the committee I chaired in 2021 has been highlighted as a possible example to follow when considering pathways to address funding differences.”
The Second Morrill Act of 1890 effectively created a separate but unequal collegiate system for students of color, who were excluded from attending public universities alongside White students. This policy was designed specifically for Confederate states like Tennessee, which struggled with the aftermath of the Civil War and resisted integration.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville holds the distinction of being the state’s first land-grant college, having been established under the Morrill Act of 1862, which came during the Civil War. Both Morrill Acts emphasized the creation of institutions that focused on agriculture and mechanic arts. Through land grants, the federal government allocated 10 million acres of land across the country, much of which was taken from Native American communities, according to the U.S. National Archives. Source: News Channel 5
