On Wednesday, June 3, the University of Memphis Board of Trustees signed off on a plan that will raise tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and law students, while also approving a $100,000 performance bonus for President Bill Hardgrave. Trustees were also briefed on planned department consolidations and broader academic reorganizations. The package is scheduled to kick in for the fall 2026 semester and be folded into the university’s FY2027 budget.
What the board approved
The board backed tuition hikes that, according to the Daily Memphian, range from about 2.2% to 4.48%, depending on the level of study. The increases apply across undergraduate, graduate, and law programs and are set to begin in the fall 2026 term.
Board materials and process
The vote followed a recommendation from the Finance & Audit Committee laid out in the board’s packet and formal June 3 agenda. In those materials, university leaders argued that the additional revenue is needed to cover inflation-driven operating costs, invest in technology, and maintain scholarship support. They also cited a binding in-state tuition range of 0 to 4.5 percent for FY27 set by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The full packet is available through the University of Memphis records for the meeting.
President’s review and bonus
Alongside the tuition decision, trustees approved a $100,000 performance payment for Hardgrave as part of his annual review. The payout is structured as deferred compensation, meaning it will be paid at the end of his contract, according to Daily Memphian. The bonus recommendation originated in the Finance & Audit Committee and moved to the full board as part of the chair’s evaluation process.
Why it matters for students and faculty
The tuition hikes arrive as the university pursues mergers and reorganizations across several schools and programs, moves detailed in committee materials the board reviewed at the same meeting. Board notices show the university accepted public comment on the tuition proposal from May 18 through June 1 and committed to providing a transcript of those submissions at the June 3 session. That comment period is part of the legally required notice process for tuition changes. Details are outlined in notices published by the University of Memphis.
Legal and policy context
State law requires public notice and an opportunity for comment before tuition increases take effect, and the board’s presidential review policy governs how performance-based compensation changes are handled. The trustees’ June 3 actions, therefore, function as both a budget decision and a contractual personnel move. The university has indicated that more specifics on implementation will be shared in future campus communications.
