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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.

Learn more about the division’s mission, strategic plan, and priority areas.



Priority 1: 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.

A CliftonStrengths Campus: Three Student Stories of Exploration and Growth - As an official CliftonStrengths campus, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville has partnered with Gallup to allow all incoming students to take the CliftonStrengths assessment at no cost to them, train…
Homesick to Home Sweet Home: The Impact of Living and Learning Communities at UT - Abigail Kom, Graduate Assistant, University Housing College students today are feeling more isolated than ever. A 2022 study published by the National Library of Medicine highlighted that students face greater…
20th Annual Black Issues Conference Celebrates History, Community, and the Future - Allie Hicks, Coordinator, Multicultural Student Life Every year, the month of February at UT opens with the Black Issues Conference hosted by the Office of Multicultural Student Life with assistance…
MLK Jr. Days of Service: UT’s Tribute to a Lasting Legacy - Blakley O’Brien, Student Intern, Jones Center for Leadership and Service Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting legacy reminds us of the value and necessity of service, and the University of Tennessee,…
Room Where It Happens - We are a university on the rise. UT is experiencing record success and there has never been a better time to be a Volunteer. Amid that backdrop, I have had…

 

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Priority 2: 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.

A Beautiful Mosaic: Celebrating the Unique Features and Common Goals of Four Greek Councils - Melissa Richter For more than 150 years, sororities and fraternities have helped shape the campus culture of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. But within these communities lies a rich and…
Driving Student Support at UT - Melissa Richter, SLC The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is taking innovative steps to ensure every student’s success by addressing their basic needs in new and impactful ways. The Center for…
It Takes a [Multicultural Student Life] Village - When life presents unexpected challenges, it can be difficult to imagine how to move forward. When she found out she was pregnant, Taylor Simms was ready to give up and…

 

Continue reading about care and inclusivity

Priority 3: Personal and Professional Growth

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

Cleaning with Meaning: Housekeeping Supervisors’ Professional Development Creates Positive Residence Hall Environments  - Megan Zimmerman, Student Intern, Student Life Communications Moving into a residence hall as a first-year student can be an adjustment. On top of moving away from home and family for…
Volunteers at Work: How Serving in Professional Organizations Supports Staff at UT - Ian Crone, Director, Student Union, and President, Association of College Unions International Professional staff members at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville demonstrate what it means to be a Volunteer as…
Developing Soft Skills for Staff through the Student Conduct Process - At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the purpose of Student Conduct and Community Standards is to develop student integrity and accountability through an educational, consistent, and equitable conduct process. Throughout…

 

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Priority 4: 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.

How Blackthorn Event Management Streamlined Program Assessment - Dianna Foulke, Associate Director, Center for Student Engagement As any higher education professional knows, the ability to effectively share the impact of our work for the students we serve is…
A Touchdown for Student Ticketing: Student Life and Athletics Partnership Helps More Students Experience Neyland - 102,000 screaming fans in orange and white. The Pride of the Southland Marching Band playing Rocky Top. A host of student-athletes running through the Power T. Fireworks, flyovers, Tennessee Walking…
Cultivating Leadership through Collaboration: Ignite Program Partners with Colleges and Departments - Blakley O’Brien, Student Intern with the Jones Center for Leadership and Service Marked by long-standing traditions in its decades of service to Volunteers, the Ignite program strives to develop leadership…

 

Learn more about stewardship