The Tennessee Foreign Language Institute became part of the UT system and the sixth agency of the UT Institute for Public Service on July 1, thanks to legislation by the Tennessee General Assembly.
The legislation transfers the institute’s resources and assets to UT and renames it the Tennessee Language Center. Under this new arrangement, the center will tailor its mission to providing language services to state and local government entities in support of industrial recruitment and economic development. Through its agencies, IPS also provides technical consulting and training to state and local governments, business and industry, and law enforcement.
“We look forward to adding the important resources of the Tennessee Language Center to the rich portfolio of expertise and outreach already offered by our Institute for Public Service,” UT President Joe DiPietro says. “The ability to remove language barriers, whether as Tennessee competes in an increasingly globalized economy or as the state seeks to serve its increasingly diverse population, is an important asset I’m proud we can contribute.”
IPS Names New LEIC Director
Rick Scarbrough was named the new executive director of the Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC). Scarbrough’s hiring follows the retirement of Don Green, who served as the agency’s director for 10 years.
Scarbrough started with the center on Aug. 1 after serving as the Clinton police chief since 2002. He’s served part time as an instructor for several LEIC classes, including STOP Domestic Violence awareness training, capital budgeting, leadership and community policing. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organizational management from Tusculum College.
“I’m enthusiastic about what we can do at LEIC and look forward to working with law enforcement professionals across the state,” he says.
CTAS Trains County Financial Officers
The Tennessee comptroller of the treasury and the UT County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) have developed a program that will provide Tennessee’s county financial officers an opportunity to learn about accounting and financial reporting principles.
The Certified County Finance Officer (CCFO) program helps employees understand how county governments are structured in Tennessee and enhances their skills so they can carry out their responsibilities for the fiscal affairs of their counties or departments. CTAS administers the educational program and testing to achieve the CCFO designation. The comptroller’s office has been designated as the certification authority.
CTAS held the first CCFO classes in June in Knoxville. The agency has additional classes scheduled across the state.
