What is 974-HELP?

974-HELP (865-974-4357) is:

• A 24/7 referral line
• A safe and private way to share a concern for a fellow Vol
• A way for students to get help for themselves

During work hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), 974-HELP is answered by a member of the Care & Resilience team. After hours and on weekends and holidays, it is answered by a mental health professional.

What happens when I call?

A case manager gathers information about you and your concern. The information gathered is kept private.

CCR staff gather information and assess the factors contributing to the concerns of a student, family member, or administrator. CCR staff meet with students to create and implement a plan that supports self-advocacy, growth, and a return to a level of functioning most likely to promote success. That plan includes connecting students to appropriate on-campus and community resources that best support their needs.

If you are calling for someone else, your identity may be kept private unless you want the student to be aware that you reached out. A care coordinator will contact the student by phone or email to set up a meeting.

Center for Health Education & Wellness

The Center for Health Education and Wellness empowers all Volunteers to thrive by cultivating personal and community well-being. We are dedicated to a community model that is embodied in the “Vols help Vols” commitment. 

CHEW acknowledges that health and wellness are multifaceted and aims to promote well-being across eight dimensions of wellness. We prioritize risk reduction and develop programming based on national research and data collected from our Volunteer community that addresses relationship and sexual violence prevention, alcohol and substance use, and general health and wellness. 

Rocky Top Recovery is a collegiate recovery program dedicated to supporting students in recovery from substance use and mental health disorders. Through community building, campus programming, and advocacy, students provide a supportive environment for students who are in, or interested in, recovery. 

Distressed Student Protocol

The goal of this protocol is to foster student success and well-being. It was developed as a guide for faculty and staff in helping distressed or distressing students.

If a student’s behavior represents an immediate threat, CALL 911.

If the threat is not immediate, but are you concerned a student may harm self or others, CALL 974‑HELP (4357).

More information is available on the Center for Health Education and Wellness website.

Emergency Blue Light Phones

More than 100 emergency blue light phones are available on campus. To find locations, select the “Safety” layer on the online campus map.

Inclement Weather

UT remains open except in the most severe weather conditions. Decisions about campus operations are made based on conditions on campus and major transportation routes. It is anticipated that the campus community shall also monitor local conditions to assess the travel risk. Students are expected to make every reasonable effort to attend class but are advised to avoid undue risks in traveling. When a decision to close or delay is made, information is distributed to the campus community via UTAlert, shared with local media, and posted on the university website. For more information, see the full policy.

Safe at UT app

UT’s LiveSafe app, available through a free download for Apple or Android devices, provides a suite of safety resources for the Volunteer community. Place an emergency call, report an incident or concern, or invite a friend or family member to virtually walk or drive with you.

Office of Emergency Management

Provides guidance, training, coordination and resources in support of campus preparedness efforts for disasters and major emergencies, including UT Alert and the Safe at UT app.

Student Counseling Center

The Student Counseling Center is the university’s primary facility for personal counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health outreach and consultation services. The Student Counseling Center maintains case files, but our records are accessible only to authorized mental health providers in the center or with the agreement and consent of the student, with other confidential departments. They do not become part of any central university record. The center offers short-term individual therapy as well as group therapy, skills training, seminars, and support groups. As a department within the Division of Student Life, our multidisciplinary team includes psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other helping professionals who work collaboratively to support the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, student community.  

To get started, all students complete an initial triage assessement. Please call our office at 865-974-2196 to get started. One of our front line staff will schedule an appointment with a mental health professional to assess your needs and to collaboratively make a plan for what campus or community services may best meet your needs.  

The Student Counseling Center, in collaboration with the Center for Care and Resilience, offer crisis support. During regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. Wednesdays), if you have an urgent mental health need or are in crisis, call the Student Counseling Center to ask about a crisis appointment. After hours, you can call our number or 865-974-HELP (4357) to be connected to a crisis counselor. The after-hours crisis counselor cannot make or change appointments at the Student Counseling Center for you.  

Additional crisis resources are available on our website. In cases of an immediate threat of harm to self or others, please dial 911 for emergency response, on or off campus. 

Student Health Center

Provides outpatient medical care with a medical laboratory, radiology and, pharmacy services, including specialty clinics for allergy immunotherapy, immunizations, physical therapy, psychiatry, sports medicine, surgery, travel medicine, and women’s health. Also, manages the faculty notification of class absence due to a personal health-related illness or injury.

Title IX Response Team

• Addresses individual reports of sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking
• Ensures consistency across case responses
• Provides oversight of supportive measures, investigations, and individual case resolutions
  

UT Police Department

Serves campus as an accredited full-service police department that provides enforcement, education, investigation, victim assistance, traffic control, special event security, and crime reporting.