TSU trustees approve 3–5 year ‘bridge’ master plan with amendment clarifying assumptions

The Tennessee State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously Sept. 25 to approve a 3–5 year bridge master plan that the finance committee said would keep the university eligible to seek state funding for capital projects, including a proposed lab sciences facility.

Mr. Radford, who presented the bridge plan, told trustees the plan leverages a space‑utilization study — a 10‑year planning tool produced by a national consultant — and is intended to provide a strategic framework so TSU can submit projects to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). "The space utilization study says we have enough space for 12,000 students," Radford said, noting TSU’s current enrollment is about 6,000 and the study informs sequencing of demolition, migration and construction.

Trustees debated whether approving the bridge plan would amount to endorsing the consultants' assumptions. Trustee Trapper moved and the board agreed to an amendment that the motion "would not constitute approval of any underlying assumption in the bridge plan or any report that went into producing the bridge plan." Trustee Qualls seconded the amendment and a roll‑call vote approved the amended motion.

Radford stressed that while the bridge plan provides a framework for state funding requests, individual projects would return to the board for separate review and approval and THEC would review submissions before any state funding recommendation. Jason Cavender, introduced on the call as a THEC representative and the commission’s CFO, confirmed THEC’s role is to review compliance and the evaluation needed for budget recommendation to the governor.

The board’s action enables TSU to proceed with the procedural steps needed to seek state support for projects the administration brings forward, while the amendment clarifies trustees do not intend the vote to pre‑approve consultants’ underlying assumptions.