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Article published Jul 2, 2009 UT announces change in ticket policy for donors
From Staff Reports
The University of Tennessee announced a major change Wednesday in its athletic-ticket policy for academic donors.
Under the newly created Tennessee Fund, the athletic department will assume central responsibility for the management of all athletic-benefit-priority programs, including the benefit program for those who contributed to non-athletic programs. All donors interested in athletic benefits, including Volunteer Athletics & Scholarship Fund donors and Lady Vol Boost-Her Club donors, will be combined into the athletics-administered program.
Under the new arrangement, the University of Tennessee Athletics Department will guarantee the academic leadership on each campus funding equal to or greater than the amount donors previously donated to non-athletic programs to gain athletic benefits. Currently, the athletic department provides direct cash support of $1.375 million annually to the university for scholarships for non-athletes and $1.125 million for parking-garage debt service. The athletic department will increase the guaranteed direct cash support by an average of $2.875 million per year over the next 10 years for an average direct cash support of $5.375 million a year through the new program."Over the past few years it has become more and more apparent that maintaining two separate football and men's basketball priority programs was not only inefficient in terms of resources and staff allocation, but has also created benefit differences and confusion to donors," UT interim president Jan Simek said.
During the process, existing university donors will have their memberships transferred into Tennessee Fund accounts, including point-system totals reflecting their years of giving and dollars contributed. Existing season-ticket locations for all donors affected will be maintained based upon their previous gift-club membership levels and by maintaining annual giving levels. All parking will be reassigned annually beginning in 2010 based on Tennessee Fund donor rankings.
"We are proud to be able to partner with the university and to share in the resources generated by those interested in receiving athletic benefits such as the opportunity to purchase priority season tickets and parking passes," men's athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "The creation of the Tennessee Fund will allow us to further enhance that relationship while providing a more fair and consistent athletic benefits programs for all donors."