The University of Memphis recently made announcements about three projects or initiatives that are expected to boost the university’s reach in the city of Memphis. They announced a new $1 million investment, recording the lowest five-year tuition increase of all Tennessee public universities over five years and the co-sponsorship of the Shelby County Spelling Bee.
International Paper invests $1 million into the U of M’s River City Partnership
The partnership aims to strengthen prospective teachers by exposing students to a potential teaching career and supporting both new and existing teachers.
“International Paper is proud to partner with the University of Memphis in support of the River City Partnership,” Alissa Campbell Shaw, International Paper Foundation executive director said in a press release. “We believe this initiative meets a critical need for Memphis by ensuring a steady pipeline of well-prepared, culturally competent teachers.”
Partnering with Shelby County schools and the Achievement School District, the U of M will help create a new system for teachers to get involved with their students’ educations.
“We are grateful for International Paper’s generous commitment in support of the River City Partnership,” U of M President M. David Rudd said in the press release. “This work is only made possible through investments from key partners like International Paper that have stepped forward to ensure that we create the best possible outcomes in the classroom for the next generation.”
U of M boasts the lowest five-year tuition increase among Tennessee public universities
The U of M was able to maintain a tuition increase of only 11.9 percent throughout the last five years, compared to Middle Tennessee State and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who increased their tuitions by 17.4 percent and 29.3 percent, respectively.
“The single most important measure the University of Memphis can take to improve retention and graduation rates is to contain student costs,” Rudd said in a press release. “We have studied the challenges our students face in great depth and detail. The single greatest challenge for our students is financial.”
The U of M also had no tuition increase this year, which helped the university keep tuition increases down long-term.
“It will not be possible to hold tuition flat every year given increased infrastructure and support costs that continue to rise,” Rudd said in the press release. “We are dedicated, however, to both supporting our students and containing costs in the most effective manner possible.”
U of M to co-sponsor 2019 Shelby County Spelling Bee with Christian Brothers University
The Scripps National Spelling Bee, operated by E. W. Scripps Company, will select the best 50 spellers out of the 74 champions from the currently registered schools to compete at the U of M in the Michael D. Rose Theatre on Feb. 9, 2019.
“The University of Memphis is extremely excited to partner with CBU in sponsoring the SCS Spelling Bee,” Rudd said in a press release. “It is important to keep Memphis kids in Memphis in order to be a part of the spelling bee. The Scripps National Spelling Bee is one of the nation’s oldest and most iconic competitions there is.”
The winner of the Shelby County Spelling Bee will advance to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
