J. Wade Gilley began his term as president of the university August 1, 1999. His official inauguration was held November 5. Following questions by students about the use of funds for an inauguration at a time when there was a hiring freeze and significant efforts to have the state raise the UT appropriation, an anonymous donor (one of four to offer to do so) stepped in to fund the events, anticipated to cost approximately $35,000. Vice President Sammie Lynn Puett, chair of the Inaugural Steering Committee, indicated that “uninformed individuals” had raised the questions.
An entire day of activities surrounded the symbolic transfer of authority, presided over by Governor Don Sundquist, chairman of the UT Board of Trustees. Prior to the official ceremony, Dr. James Buchanan, UT alumnus and Nobel laureate (and a personal friend of Gilley’s) gave the inaugural lecture at the University Center. Frank Matthews, CEO of Cox Matthews Publishers, and Carolyn Karr, professor of history at Marshall University, also participated in the ceremonies. In Gilley’s speech, he announced a $150 million proposal to improve academic excellence. The Tennessee Plan involved creating seven new major academic centers of excellence, attracting more National Merit Scholars and graduate students, and providing equipment allocations for faculty seeking competitive research grants. Funding was $30 million from administrative savings, $60 million from a five-year university-wide fundraising campaign, and $30 million from a one-time state appropriation.