Republican lawmakers in Tennessee this past week replaced the board of trustees at the state’s only public historically Black college, saying leaders had mismanaged money at the school despite being underfunded for years.
Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed into law Thursday a bill to vacate the 10-member board at Tennessee State University shortly after the measure was approved in a 66-25 vote by the GOP-controlled state House. The measure took effect immediately, and Lee swiftly named a new board trustees for the HBCU in Nashville that same afternoon.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that state leaders, who are predominantly White, are unfairly singling out Tennessee State.
"I worked in Gov Ops many years as a staffer. I've seen many audits of many universities that look horrendous,” Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, said. “Have we ever, ever vacated an entire board of a university before? Have we ever done that? But an HBCU that we owe $2 billion to? Oh yea, we're going to take their board."
Mitchell said the threat to vacate the board amounted to telling TSU to "sit down and shut up and accept the crumbs we send you."
TSU officials have vehemently denied allegations of mismanagement, stating that the move will disrupt the educational pursuits of students and harm the university's image. They argue that TSU would be in a better position today if it had received the promised funds from the state over the last three decades.
A $2 million, 3-year, 'forensic audit' of TnState found no wrong doing
However, an in-depth forensic audit of Tennessee State University found no instances of fraud or malfeasance. The extensive audit, conducted by the accounting firm Clifton Laron Allen, examined the operations of the school and its foundation between 2019 and 2023.
The outside forensic audit of TSU, which cost the state $2 million, did find seven transactions totaling roughly $4,000 that "could not be substantiated as University business." The questioned expenses were made by leadership staff using university-issued credit cards.
The audit also found 56 "significant procedural deficiencies" at TSU. In general, the auditors found that the school could better document transactions, follow its own procedures more closely and improve its budgeting procedures. The auditors noted that TSU was already addressing some of the concerns, but the school needs to take additional actions.
The auditors reviewed more than 500,000 documents and 2 million emails.
The auditors did note a 250% increase in scholarships at TSU between 2019 and 2023 was not sustainable. The largest jump in scholarships happened in 2022 and relied heavily on one-time, pandemic-related federal support.
Glover a strong advocate for TSU
Last year, TSU President Glenda Glover sparred unapologetically with State Senators and the state comptroller in defense of the university after state officials chastised the university over its enrollment growth, and a hastily put together audit report from the comptroller's office.
It is worth noting that TSU’s president Glover is a certified public accountant, an attorney, and is one of only two African American women in the country to hold the Ph.D.,CPA,JD combination. She has also has close ties to Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden administration, which probably doesn’t sit to well with the MAGA Republicans in Tennessee. To suggestion that TSU's president doesn't know how to handle the school's finances is preposterous.
Historic underfunding
TSU has also been pushing the state for increased funding after the federal government found Tennessee had underfunded the school by $2.1 billion.
Last fall TSU opened its first new campus residence hall in more than 25 years, and in 2021 opened its first new state-funded classroom building in more than 25 years.
The decision to replace the board comes at a time when TSU has begun making significant strides in campus infrastructure and academic programs. However, the move has raised questions about the motivations behind targeting the university's leadership. It should be noted, that TSU didn't have problems until it began asking for the money that state leaders had denied it over the years.
The same legislature expelled two Black lawmakers for protesting gun safety
Just last year, Tennessee lawmakers expelled two Black Democratic state representatives l for protesting in support of gun safety on the chamber floor. The votes was party line vote in a legislature heavily dominated by Republicans. The episode underscored the relentless dynamics of political power play, shaping the landscape of Tennessee's legislative arena.
Critics view the latest action against Tennessee State as part of a broader pattern of targeting Black institutions and leaders under the guise of financial mismanagement—a narrative that they argue perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
As TSU grapples with the fallout from the board replacement, and the forced retirement of its president, the debate surrounding funding equity and racial bias in higher education administration continues to simmer in Tennessee and elsewhere.