When the Center for Student Engagement (CSE) set out to help students find spaces where they felt at home in the Knoxville community, they started with a simple idea: connection. Connection to the campus, connection to the community, and connection to moments that turn a place into a memory.
That idea sparked what has become a robust and growing initiative in the division, the student ticket program. Since launching in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has grown 400% and helped over 6,000 students access cultural, athletic, and entertainment experiences in the Knoxville community at a discounted rate. From concerts and Broadway shows to local festivals and sporting events, these opportunities have helped connect students to much of what Knoxville has to offer. And students are loving the program, with almost every opportunity completely selling out.
The spark for one of the earliest ticket offerings came from a unique connection: a former student involved with CSE is now the foundation director for the Tennessee Valley Fair. They had gained experience in event planning as a student through CSE and wanted to give back by helping current students attend the fair. It was a full-circle moment that demonstrated how students develop transferable skills through student engagement and the impact long-term relationships can have on the student experience.
Since then, the program has continued to grow, thanks in part to the division’s commitment to professional development. Last year, Dianna Foulke, associate director for CSE, participated in Leadership Knoxville, a six-week community leadership experience that broadened her connections across the city. That experience led to several new ticket partnerships as Foulke fostered UT connections to local organizations.
Foulke’s connection to the community through her staff development experience was just one part of the puzzle. Managing the program requires time and commitment across multiple steps. CSE staff communicate with the community partner on price and logistics, and the two entities coordinate marketing materials. Then, campus staff work with the Student Union Box Office to facilitate in-person sales. The final step is to evaluate each opportunity after the event ends to see what worked and what didn’t for both students and community partners.
More staff members were needed in order to expand the program, and in summer of 2025 the center added three new coordinators. According to CSE director Ashleigh Moyer, this increased capacity means the team can seek out new partnerships for the current academic year and expand the number of ticket opportunities.
“The main goal around these tickets is to provide spaces for students to connect and belong in the larger Knoxville community,” says Foulke. “It’s the natural next step after they find where they belong on campus.”
And it’s working. According to survey data, 90.3% of students who attended a subsidized event reported feeling more connected to Knoxville, and 97.3% expressed satisfaction with the options offered by CSE. Looking ahead, the vision for the program is ambitious, with hopes of providing full excursions including transportation to help further reduce barriers students might face in engaging with the local community.
At its core, the student ticket program is about more than access—it’s about belonging. It’s about the invisible threads that tie a student to their community, a staff member to their city, and a university to the region it calls home.
“The student ticket program added so much to my college experience. It gave me access to incredible events that I wouldn’t have been able to attend otherwise, and helped me feel more connected to Knoxville beyond campus.”
Quinn Summey
Senior Studying Psychology
“The student ticket program helped me connect with my campus in ways I never expected. It opened doors to shows, concerts, and cultural events that made me feel more rooted in both the UT community and Knoxville as a whole. These experiences added so much depth to my time as a student and helped me discover parts of the city I might have otherwise missed!”
Molly nichols
Senior Studying Marketing
90.3% of students surveyed reported feeling more connected to the Knoxville community because of the opportunities provided to them through the student
ticket program.
The program has created 6,385 total student touchpoints with events in Knoxville since 2021.
Community Partners:
Broadway Series at the Tennessee Theatre
Ice Bears at the Knoxville Civic
Auditorium and Coliseum
One Knox Soccer Club at
Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Opera at the Tennessee Theatre
Greek Festival at St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Zoo Knoxville
Tennessee Valley Fair
Maple Lane Farms
The Mill & Mine