Tag: The University of Memphis

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U of M President Issues Statement Regarding Bowl Game Brawl

The Memphis Tigers triumphed over the BYU Cougars Monday in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl.

The action-packed event brought forth two overtimes. An interception from Tiger cornerback DaShaughn Terry served as the game’s closer, and Memphis came out victorious 55-48.

Unfortunately, the Tigers’ awe-inspiring feat was marred by a midfield postgame brawl that left a few players bloody and bruised. 

In light of the altercation, University of Memphis president M. David Rudd has issued a statement: 

“I have been in contact with athletic director Tom Bowen and his senior leadership team in regards to the altercation that occurred after the Miami Beach Bowl Game. I have asked Tom to work with Coach [Justin] Fuente to fully investigate the incident and to keep me apprised on the actions and discipline of our student-athletes in the coming days. We will provide another statement after the completion of that inquiry. We have the highest expectations of sportsmanship for all of our student-athletes at the University of Memphis. I am very confident in Tom Bowen and Coach Fuente’s leadership and know that working together we will be able to ensure incidents like this do not happen in the future.”

The Tigers ended its season with an impressive record of 10-3. 

Footage of the brawl as well as highlights from the bowl game can be viewed below.

U of M President Issues Statement Regarding Bowl Game Brawl (2)

U of M President Issues Statement Regarding Bowl Game Brawl

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U of M Puts Halt on Proposed Retirement Plan Change for Temp Workers


This Friday, six days before Christmas, a two-week layoff period will begin for temporary workers at the University of Memphis. They will have the opportunity to reapply for positions on or after January 5th.

In addition to the layoffs, temporary workers were informed earlier this month that the university would cease from contributing funding into their Social Security retirement plans. Rather, they would have workers enroll into a separate “temporary employee retirement plan.” 

The proposed change in coverage received negative feedback and opposition from workers. And Wednesday afternoon, the university’s Human Resources office sent out a message informing workers that the U of M will refrain from implementing the change until further notice.

If enacted, the alternate plan would mandate temporary workers to contribute 7.5 percent of pre-taxed wages into a private retirement fund. The university wouldn’t contribute anything into the fund.

However, the university and employees would continue to contribute the 1.45 percent Medicare tax into Social Security. 

Presently, temporary workers and the university equally contribute 6.2 percent of their earnings into Social Security.

“As is often the case with privatization schemes, the numbers don’t add up,” said a representative from the United Campus Workers. “Implementing this plan would be horrible for Social Security and Mid-south seniors, pillaging potentially a million dollars a year from the Social Security trust fund. And the plan would be a real raw deal for the workers. [The] 401(a) retirement accounts under-perform Social Security on returns and reduce the percentage of workers’ wages invested in retirement from 12.4 percent (6.2 percent employee funded and the matching 6.2 percent university funded portions) to 7.5 percent — funded solely by the employee. The chart [Human Resources] gave to employees was misleading, leaving out the employer-funded portion of Social Security and unethically presenting this policy as beneficial to the employees.”

According to the U of M, the retirement plan change would enable temporary workers to have full control of the investment options within their retirement plan. They would also be eligible to withdraw retirement funds upon separation from employment.

A PDF of a chart provided by the university’s Human Resources office regarding the temporary employee retirement plan can be clicked and viewed below.

[pdf-1]

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U of M Receives $10,000 NCAA Grant For Student-Athlete Program

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It’s no guarantee that student-athletes will go to the pros after graduating from college.

For athletes at the University of Memphis who don’t make it to the big leagues upon graduation, chances of securing a decent job may now be greater thanks to a $10,000 NCAA grant recently awarded to the school. The grant will be used to develop a career readiness program.

The U of M was one of six universities selected out of a pool of nearly 140 applicants to create a program that helps more of its student-athletes obtain employment once their college career is over. The grant is a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) 2014 Innovations in Research and Practice Grant Program.

Due to demanding schedules, student-athletes may be at a disadvantage in developing experiential learning opportunities, according to a U of M press release. Students are required to attend numerous practice and conditioning sessions, team meetings, and travel regularly to away games; all of these factors cause them to miss classes, limits their study time, and reduces their chances for securing internships.

With the grant, a U of M research team has created a four-stage program for student-athletes that includes entrepreneurship training, project-based learning, workplace readiness training, and a practicum with a community partner, according to the press release. The research team plans to develop and pilot the program this summer.

The $10,000 grant was awarded to a U of M collective comprised of Dr. Tim Ryan, associate professor of sport and leisure management in the Department of Health and Sport Sciences; Bob Baker, director of the Center for Athletic Academic Services; Kelly Penwell, director of the Experiential Learning Lab; and Dr. Richard Irwin, associate dean of the University College and overseer of the Experiential Learning Lab.

To measure effectiveness of the U of M’s program, participants’ career readiness will be measured before and after program participation, according to a U of M press release.

Aside from the U of M, researchers at The University of Michigan, Stanford University, Springfield College, Utah State, and Purdue University. Each entity will conduct a different form of research with their grants. Other aspects include the study of parental involvement in athletes’ collegiate careers, improving student-athlete mental health, athlete imagery, and support groups for injured athletes.

Grant recipients will present their research at the NCAA convention in Washington, D.C., in January 2015.