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Impact Report

We are proud to share our story and amplify the work of outstanding Student Life professionals who are dedicated to creating transformational experiences for students to learn, lead, and serve.

We create transformative opportunities for students to learn and grow outside of the classroom. We connect with community partners to engage students in service, giving back to our local and global community. We invest in physical spaces where students live and work to create a home away from home. We value personal and community well-being by providing unique opportunities to find the balance students need to be their best at UT.
We are the student advocate, the mentor that develops the emerging leader, and the support that students lean on in time of need. We cultivate the Volunteer experience every day through our programs, spaces, and resources. We are Student Life.



Transformative Experiences

Student Life provides opportunities for students to develop a sense of self by understanding their individual strengths, values, and goals, and expanding their leadership capacity. We empower students to connect with the broader community through civic engagement, and enhance the overall campus experience by providing services and programs to students.

Not Here. Not Now. - Hazing has no place at the University of Tennessee. According to a national study of student hazing experiences1, hazing is a big problem nationwide with 55% of college students having…
An Unlikely Campus Connection Yields a New Friendship - With more than 36,000 students, it can feel like a daunting task for a student to find where they fit on campus at the University of Tennessee. But for first-year…
Everyone Needs a Cobi in Their Life - “When you feel like a tiny fish in this giant pond called UT, at the very least you can know that your RA is there for you, checking on you,…

 

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Culture of Care and Inclusivity

The Division of Student Life cultivates inclusive education, programming, and services. We develop and implement care and support initiatives that foster success and well-being.

New Inclusive Excellence Program Guide Supports Access for All - Whenever accessibility and inclusion are built into design and planning up front, everyone benefits. An example of this is the well-known “curb cut effect.” When sidewalk curbs are cut to…
Two-Pronged Approach to Alcohol Education to Support Healthier Decisions on Campus - According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, while roughly half of America’s college students reported consuming alcohol in the past month roughly half did not. But…

 

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Personal and Professional Growth

The Division of Student Life advances the personal and professional growth of students and staff through exploration and innovation.

The Road to Commencement: Paved with Resilience and Community - When Bri Swindell enrolled at the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2018, she had no idea the six-year challenge that would stand between her and graduation. But this…
Growing in My Leadership Skills, a Director’s Perspective - This fall, Student Life launched a new professional development initiative specifically for director-level staff. The inaugural Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Fellowship includes five cohort members: Melissa Brown, Office of Assessment and…

 

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Responsible and Effective Stewardship

The Division of Student Life responsibly and creatively stewards university resources to empower and sustain a culture of collaboration, adaptability, and innovation to maximize the student experience and subsequent student learning.

Student Employment Experience with Basic Needs Leads to New Skills - One of the key components of the Division of Student Life’s strategic plan is to responsibly and creatively steward university resources to maximize the student experience and subsequent student learning.…
Grinding Forward: Young Alumnus Invests in Future of Multicultural Student Life - When Chima (‘17) and Monica Onwuka ('16, '21) graduated from the University of Tennessee, they knew it was just a matter of time until they were able to give back…

 

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