Lipscomb University President Steve Flatt has been appointed to a task force that will determine how funding from a potential state lottery will be used to benefit Tennessee college and university students.
Flatt, an outspoken opponent of the lottery, was appointed to the task force by state Sen. Steve Cohen because of Flatt's leadership positions with the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation. Flatt is board chair for TICUA and a board member for TSAC.
"Obviously, I have been and remain a vocal opponent of any lottery," Flatt said. "I believe that it is the most regressive and unfair system of taxation our state government could employ. However, because Tennessee voters have decided for a lottery, my current responsibilities place me in the position of representing independent higher education in the discussion of allocating these resources.
"If Tennessee is going to choose to fund higher education scholarships through a lottery, it is vital that an equitable share of the resulting funds be made available to students who wish to pursue an education at one of our independent colleges, particularly those who wish to experience the distinctive Christian education offered at Lipscomb," Flatt said.
On Nov. 5, Tennesseans voted to remove a constitutional prohibition on a lottery. That vote did not ensure that the state would enact a lottery, but it did create the legal possibility and illustrated state voters support.
Funds raised from a lottery would go first to higher education scholarships, then to pre-school programs and school construction, according to an Associated Press article. One of the issues facing the task force is whether the scholarships will be available to students intending to enroll at private colleges and universities, or only to those attending public institutions. Another will be whether the scholarships are based on need or merit.
Scholarships will be distributed directly to students, not to institutions.
Richard Rhoda, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, chairs the 16-member task force.
The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Asssociation represents 35 private colleges and universities in the state. About 25 percent of all Tennessee students enrolled in higher education in the state attend private colleges or universities, but 33 percent of those who graduate do so from a private institution.