Priority 1: Transformative Experiences

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 the incredible honor of leading the Division of Student Life through a season of rapid growth, expansion, and ascent the past few years. With 91.9%…

Do the next right thing after a mistake has been made. That’s the core belief that guides Student Conduct and Community Standards in their work with students facing conduct violations or investigations. “At UT, the conduct process is educational in nature and centered around student development,” says Amanda Samsel, director of the 11-person team. “Staff…

Rachel Moore, Information Sciences ’26 Each semester, Welcome Week infuses students with a sense of belonging and connection. For those who feel a little different, this can be truly transformative. My early childhood was spent isolated in homeschool, and the long-awaited transition to a classroom setting brought bullying and depression. Decades later, as a first-generation…

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 been hazed. However, 9 out of 10 people don’t realize that they are being hazed and 95% of those who were aware they were being…

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 student Madi Rogers, her Volunteer experience has been filled with connection from the very beginning. Rogers signed up for a housing tour as a prospective…

Genna began working in University Housing in the fall of 2019 during her freshman year. A close family friend had worked in housing before and helped her make a connection to an open position. Genna worked the front desk of the main University Housing office located in Magnolia Hall. Additionally, Genna also became involved as…