Thank you to all who contacted state decision makers regarding our proposal for state funding. The state legislature voted to approve $2.5M in annual funding, and your efforts made a difference. If you haven’t already done so, please write them a thank you note.
Advocacy Resources for State Funding Campaign
Thank you to everyone who helped our campaign for State funding last fall. Your efforts
raised awareness to the State’s decision makers, and that is very important for this
issue. Since we were not included in the Governor’s initial budget, we need you to continue advocating for the college to ensure that we will be included in Gov. Lee’s supplemental budget or included
in the legislative budget.
East Tennessee State University’s request is that the State provide $5.1 million a year to support ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. As you know, our college currently receives no state funding and is essentially a private tuition-funded college housed in a public university; therefore, our graduates shoulder a bigger debt burden than other State pharmacy school graduates, making it harder for rural and underserved students to pursue a pharmacy career in East Tennessee. The purpose of the State funds is to lower student tuition and create tuition parity as a public institution.
Hear from long-time supporter and owner of Corley’s Pharmacy, Dr. Alan Corley, explains why he is advocating for funding:
Hear from P2 Whitney Blessing, from Kingsport, Tennessee, about her advocacy for the campaign:
How can you help?
You may reach out to your Tennessee senator and representative by visiting www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators and going to “Find My Legislator” on the right. From there, you can email, write
a letter, or call your representative to express your support.
In addition, you can reach out to the Tennessee Governor’s office by visiting www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html and filling out the form; call (615) 741-2001; or write a letter to Gov. Bill Lee
at:
State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37243
What should you say?
Below are some suggested talking points to structure the message in your own words
depending on your identified group. A completely personalized letter or call carries
the most weight with decision makers. However, each group has a template that you
may draw from for inspiration.
-
Alumni
- If you wrote or contacted these decision makers in the Fall, please note that in your follow up.
- Be kind and considerate, expressing your thankfulness for their public service.
- Tell them who you are, where you are from, and what brought you to Tennessee (if you are not from the State).
- For Tennesseans, let them know that you are their constituent, and if you voted for them, say so.
- Throughout, when referencing our college, please refer to us as “ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy” so they know our connection to the University.
- How the inequitable student loan burden has affected you and your families.
- How you impact the community as an ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy alum and increase health care access for Tennesseans if you work in the State.
- How ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has allowed you to pursue a pharmacy career.
- Why did you choose ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy instead of University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, despite the cost?
- Ask Governor Bill Lee and legislators to support the proposal and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans.
Template
We encourage you to send a letter to both Gov. Lee and your legislator. If you’re only able to submit through the Gov.’s contact form, then the first paragraph of the letter, along with your name, will fit the 500 character limit. There is a template below you may draw from for inspiration; however, a completely personalized letter or call carries the most weight with decision makers.
Date and Year
The Honorable Governor Bill Lee
State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37243
Or
Your Legislator’s Address
Dear Governor Bill Lee or Name of Legislator,
I believe that an annual State appropriation of $5.1 million a year for East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy is a sound investment for Tennessee. The return on investment will sustain the college’s unique mission to serve the rural and underserved, address a critical workforce issue, improve patient outcomes, and repay the state more than ten-fold in cost-savings and economic impact.
As you know, the college currently receives no State funding and is essentially a private tuition-funded college housed in a public university; therefore, our graduates shoulder a bigger debt burden than other State pharmacy school graduates, making it harder for rural and underserved students to pursue a pharmacy career in East Tennessee.
I am an alumnus (male) or alumna (female) of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, from City, State. If you’re from Tennessee, let them know whether you’re their constituent, and if you voted for them or wrote in the Fall, please say so. If you’re not a Tennessean, share briefly what brought you to Tennessee.
I have seen firsthand how the college is training pharmacists to make a huge impact on health care in our region and is alleviating the pharmacist shortage. In my experience, How have you impacted the community as an alum and increased health care access for Tennesseans if you work in the State?.
ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy allowed me to pursue a pharmacy career by Explain more.
I chose ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy instead of University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, despite the cost, because Explain more.
I urge you to support the State appropriation of $5.1 million a year for ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
NAME
TITLE/EMPLOYER
CONTACT INFO -
Friends & Supporters
- If you wrote or contacted these decision makers in the Fall, please note that in your follow up.
- Be kind and considerate, expressing your thankfulness for their public service.
- Tell them who you are, where you are from, and why you support the college.
- Let them know that you are their constituent, and if you voted for them, say so.
- Throughout, when referencing our college, please refer to us as “ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy” so they know our connection to the University.
- Why you supported the founding of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy and continue your support today (if applicable).
- How ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has affected health care in our region and is alleviating the pharmacist shortage.
- The impact of unfair student loan debt you have witnessed from our student pharmacists.
- Ask Governor Bill Lee and legislators to support the proposal and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans.
Template
We encourage you to send a letter to both Gov. Lee and your legislator. If you’re only able to submit through the Gov.’s contact form, then the first paragraph of the letter, along with your name, will fit the 500 character limit. There is a template below you may draw from for inspiration; however, a completely personalized letter or call carries the most weight with decision makers.
Date and Year
The Honorable Governor Bill Lee
State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37243
Or
Your Legislator’s Address
Dear Governor Bill Lee or Name of Legislator,
I believe that an annual state appropriation of $5.1 million a year for East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy is a sound investment for Tennessee. The return on investment will sustain the college’s unique mission to serve the rural and underserved, address a critical workforce issue, improve patient outcomes, and repay the state more than ten-fold in cost-savings and economic impact.
As you know, the college currently receives no state funding and is essentially a private tuition-funded college housed in a public university; therefore, our graduates shoulder a bigger debt burden than other State pharmacy school graduates, making it harder for rural and underserved students to pursue a pharmacy career in East Tennessee.
I live in City Name, State, and have supported ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy since Year. Please note whether you wrote in Fall 2022. I support the college today because List reasons why and if you supported since the founding.
ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has made a huge impact on health care in our region and is alleviating the pharmacist shortage. However, because the college’s tuition is nearly double that of the other public pharmacy school option, this issue results in higher debt for Tennesseans and a potential “brain drain” of health care resources from rural to metropolitan areas. When students leave home to pursue higher education, they rarely return, and this further limits access to health care in already underserved areas.
I urge you to support the state appropriation of $5.1 million a year for ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
NAME
TITLE/EMPLOYER
CONTACT INFO -
Students
- If you wrote or contacted these decision makers in the Fall, please note that in your follow up.
- Be kind and considerate, expressing your thankfulness for their public service.
- Tell them who you are, where you are from, and what brought you to Tennessee (if you are not from the State).
- For Tennesseans, let them know that you are their constituent, and if you voted for them, say so.
- Throughout, when referencing our college, please refer to us as “ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy” so they know our connection to the University.
- How you impact the community as an ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy student (i.e. student organizations) now and in the future.
- Express how your ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy student loan burden will affect you (and potentially your family) in all aspects.
- How ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has allowed you to pursue a pharmacy career.
- Why did you choose ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy instead of University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, despite the cost?
- Ask Governor Bill Lee and legislators to support the proposal and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans. How can I learn more about this issue?
Template
We encourage you to send a letter to both Gov. Lee and your legislator. If you’re only able to submit through the Gov.’s contact form, then the first paragraph of the letter, along with your name, will fit the 500 character limit. There is a template below you may draw from for inspiration; however, a completely personalized letter or call carries the most weight with decision makers.
Date and Year
The Honorable Governor Bill Lee
State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37243
Or
Your Legislator’s Address
Dear Governor Bill Lee or Name of Legislator,
I believe that an annual State appropriation of $5.1 million a year for East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy is a sound investment for Tennessee. The return on investment will sustain the college’s unique mission to serve the rural and underserved, address a critical workforce issue, improve patient outcomes, and repay the state more than ten-fold in cost-savings and economic impact.
As you know, the college currently receives no State funding and is essentially a private tuition-funded college housed in a public university; therefore, our graduates shoulder a bigger debt burden than other State pharmacy school graduates, making it harder for rural and underserved students to pursue a pharmacy career in East Tennessee.
I am a student pharmacist at ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, from City, State. If you’re from Tennessee, let them know whether you’re their constituent, and if you voted for them or wrote in the Fall, please say so. If you’re not a Tennessean, share briefly what brought you to Tennessee.
I have seen firsthand how the college is training pharmacists to make a huge impact on health care in our region and is alleviating the pharmacist shortage. How do you impact the community as an ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy student (i.e. student organizations) now and in the future?The debt burden I have taken on to pursue training at ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has greatly impacted me and your family?. Explain more.
However, despite the cost, I chose ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy instead of University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, because Explain more.
I urge you to support the State appropriation of $5.1 million a year for ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
NAME
CLASS YEAR
HOMETOWN
CONTACT INFO
-
Faculty and Staff
- If you wrote or contacted these decision makers in the Fall, please note that in your follow up.
- Be kind and considerate, expressing your thankfulness for their public service.
- Tell them who you are, what you do, where you’re from, and what brought you to Tennessee (if you’re not from the State).
- For Tennesseans, let them know that you are their constituent, and if you voted for them, say so.
- Throughout, when referencing our college, please refer to us as “ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy” so they know our connection to the University.
- How ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has provided employment for you.
- Why you supported the founding of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy and continue your support today (if applicable).
- How ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has affected health care in our region and can address the pharmacist shortage.
- The impact of unfair student loan debt you have witnessed from our student pharmacists.
- How ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy allows students to pursue a pharmacy career.
- Why our student pharmacists choose ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy instead of University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, despite the cost.
- How our students impact the community.
- Ask Governor Bill Lee and legislators to support the proposal and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans.
Template
We encourage you to send a letter to both Gov. Lee and your legislator. If you’re only able to submit through the Gov.’s contact form, then the first paragraph of the letter, along with your name, will fit the 500 character limit. There is a template below you may draw from for inspiration; however, a completely personalized letter or call carries the most weight with decision makers.
Date and Year
The Honorable Governor Bill Lee
State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37243
Or
Your Legislator’s Address
Dear Governor Bill Lee or Name of Legislator,I believe that an annual State appropriation of $5.1 million a year for East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy is a sound investment for Tennessee. The return on investment will sustain the college’s unique mission to serve the rural and underserved, address a critical workforce issue, improve patient outcomes, and repay the state more than ten-fold in cost-savings and economic impact.
As you know, the college currently receives no State funding and is essentially a private tuition-funded college housed in a public university; therefore, our graduates shoulder a bigger debt burden than other State pharmacy school graduates, making it harder for rural and underserved students to pursue a pharmacy career in East Tennessee.
I am a Faculty or staff member at ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, from City, State. If you’re from Tennessee, let them know whether you’re their constituent, and if you voted for them or wrote in the Fall, please say so. If you’re not a Tennessean, share briefly what brought you to Tennessee.I have seen firsthand how the college has made a huge impact on health care in our region and is alleviating the pharmacist shortage. For example, our student pharmacists Share example of student impact.
For many of our student pharmacists, their high debt is a burden, and I have witnessed the impact of unfair student loan debt. Explain more.
However, I have seen why our student pharmacists choose ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy instead of University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, despite the cost. Explain more.
I urge you to support the State appropriation of $5.1 million a year for ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy and make attending a State pharmacy school fair for all Tennesseans. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
NAME
TITLE
CONTACT INFO
How can you learn more?
Download the full proposal, 1 page summary, and our FAQ.