Written By: Dez Newcomb, Outreach Coordinator, Center for Basic Needs
As a student-centered initiative led by the Center for Basic Needs, the UT to West TN program is an example of the kinds of student support envisioned and executed by creative thinking and dedication. Each year, the program offers transportation during key campus breaks: Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break, allowing students to return home without worrying about logistics.
Now in its 15th year, UT to West TN provides transportation across the state for students looking for a safe, reliable, and cost-effective way home. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by students who live several hours from campus, the Center for Basic Needs provides a solution to the burden of long-distance travel. For many participants, the journey home during academic breaks is not simply about mileage—it’s about navigating limited transportation options, tight budgets, and the stress on student support systems back home.
So how does it work? For each academic break, students pay $55 for a seat on a charter bus that makes stops in Nashville, Jackson, and Memphis. The cost of that seat is less than the cost of gas for the nearly 400-mile trip to Memphis, and back. This ticket covers transportation off campus at the start of a break and a return trip back to campus as the break ends, with loved ones dropping their student back off to catch the bus back to campus at the break’s end.
The service not only alleviates logistical and financial stress but also sends a powerful message: students from every corner of the state and from every socioeconomic background deserve to feel safe and confident they matter and belong on campus in Knoxville.
For many, the initiative has become a lifeline. Most residence halls close during official university breaks, so students living on campus need to find alternative housing or return home. This program means students can reconnect with loved ones, rest, and hopefully return to UT with their proverbial cup filled.
Students who participate in this initiative often speak about how this seemingly simple service helped them feel that they belonged—not just academically, but personally.
“The UT to West TN program has made it so much easier for me to stay connected with home while focusing on school,” says Demaranna Cleaves, a senior studying accounting. “It’s a huge help as a student trying to balance both worlds since home is six hours away in Memphis.”
The transportation need has continued to increase tremendously over the last few years. In the 2024–2025 academic year, the usual one or two charter buses needed for each academic break was increased to three as UT to West TN broke past records. As demand continues to rise, the staff members in the Center for Basic Needs stay committed to providing this service that is necessary for many UT students.
The UT to West TN program offered 850 seats for travel to and from Nashville, Jackson, and Memphis across three academic breaks during 2024–2025.
Students and families find UT to West TN to be incredibly helpful in their academic success. Most report not having to worry about how they are going to get home. Families are grateful because they don’t have to worry about their students’ safety or how they are going to juggle life and transportation.
For RJ Norton, a 2025 UT alumnus and current graduate student, the program has been a blessing.
“Traveling home for each major break can be a costly challenge, especially for students who don’t have the convenience of a car on campus,” says Norton. “As the son of a single father, this program meant the world to me! It not only eased the financial burden of college travel but also gave my dad peace of mind, knowing he didn’t have to stretch himself even further just to get me to and from school, three hours away. This program lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. Figuring out how to get home to see your loved ones shouldn’t be a source of stress, especially during the times that matter most. At Tennessee, we say, ‘Rocky Top will always be home sweet home to me’ and thanks to this program, I was always able to make it back to my first ‘home sweet home.’ For that, I will always be deeply grateful.”
As the university continues to remove barriers and prioritize student support, UT to West TN stands as a testament to the power of practical, compassionate, and creative action. In serving students where they are—and getting them where they need to go—UT is building not just a stronger institution but setting an example for what students can create after graduation to support their own community.