It has been so exciting to hear from many of you this past year. We have recently established our own PT Alumni Association. We want to keep in touch with all of you. In fact, we now have a scrapbook of pictures and letters categorized by year of graduation. We are also sending email newsletters. I have enclosed an update form for you to return to me. If you haven't already submitted your information, please return this form so we can keep in touch with you!

The education of future physical therapists is rapidly changing to the entry-level professional doctorate. Our proposal to convert to the DPT was approved at the campus level in April. It is now with the UT System office. We are optimistic that we will be able to implement this change soon. Many of you are requesting information about a transition DPT. Stay tuned! We must implement the entry-level program first, and then submit a proposal for the transition DPT.

As Tennessee has experienced budget woes, more of the higher education financial burden has fallen to the student. A group of our students have just completed a research project with me this fall. We studied the rising cost of tuition, loans incurred by PT students in our program, and beginning salaries. We have alarming results. Today, the average graduate of our program has $21,611.49 in loans. There has been a $15,000 difference in average loans in just two years! There has been no statistical difference in beginning salaries for the past four years.

I would like to ask you to consider supporting the UTC Physical Therapy Alumni Scholarship Fund. Contributions will enable PT student(s) enrolled in our program to receive scholarships based on financial need. Many of you have shared with us that the greatest return on your investment has been the money you spent for your PT education. Please consider helping the UTC physical therapy students achieve their goals! Any donations will be gladly welcomed! I have conveniently enclosed an envelope for your contribution that is to be returned to the Development Office.

We hope to hear from you!

Sincerely,