This a regional blog for discussions of the relationship between the University of Tennessee and the UT Dept. of Audiology and Speech Pathology and the UT Hearing and Speech Center.

On June 4, President Petersen announced a proposed 2008-2009 budget for the UT system that included a large cut in state funding. Of the total budget cuts, $11 million were allocated to the Knoxville campus. Interim Chancellor Simek announced that three academic programs would either be outright eliminated, or phased out over time. One of the three was the UT ASP programs.

On June 16, it was announced that the University would have to take more time to study the ASP cut due to the discovery of a legal agreement. This agreement, signed by UT in 1958 and then again in 1966 when it was updated, requires the University to operate the Hearing and Speech Center for 99 years.

The most recent development is announcements from UT on August 19 and 20 that UT has found a way to "save and continue" the ASP programs. However, this announcement had no details whatsoever, and although UT claims to have been working with the ASP Department this summer on a solution, this has in fact not happened.

The ASP supporters are continuing with their efforts to advocate for the continuation of the programs, and are asking that the Department be included in discussions with UT officials on how best to continue the program.

The Save UT ASP movement is a rapidly growing coalition of Knoxville and East Tennessee civic leaders and businessmen, department faculty and staff, alumni, former clients of the program, parents of current and former clients, and students.