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100th Annual Torch Night: Continuing One of UT’s Oldest Traditions
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Torch Night: A Farewell to Thee. Torch Night is one of UT’s oldest and most meaningful traditions, with the first ever Torch Night being held in 1926, and now remains a signature program of the Division of Student Life. This celebration marks a meaningful farewell to graduates, honoring them…
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Listen. Learn. Lead. Week on Rocky Top
UT has just concluded its fifth semiannual Listen. Learn. Lead. Week on March 19. With collaboration from several departments and divisions, the university planned and hosted a multitude of events that served to enhance the ability of students, faculty, and staff to hear differing perspectives, learn from others, and lead courageously. Offering a variety of…
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Building Excellence Through a Tiered Evaluation Approach: Division and Department Reviews
Written By: Melissa Brown, Director, Student Life Effectiveness As enrollment and demand continue to grow at UT, the Division of Student Life must be operating at its best, offering programs at scale for the student population, evaluating support services, and creating additional opportunities for students to learn, lead, and serve. Student Life is committed to operational excellence,…
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Adapting VOLbreaks to Increase Student Access
“This was an opportunity for me to learn and grow closer with my community. I knew this would be a lot of fun because I would be learning right along with my participants.” For more than 30 years, the VOLbreaks program has been instrumental in helping students live out the university’s mission of serving in…
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Tower Above
Serving the Knoxville community and the state of Tennessee is one of the key missions of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The Division of Student Life is proud to participate in that mission through events like Tower of Cans, a Homecoming competition that started in 2010 where student organizations compete to see which group can…
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Center for Basic Needs’ Meal Plan Scholarship Endowment Drives Student Success
Written By: Abby Ann Ramsey Peters, Assistant Director of Content Communications, Advancement In college, a trip to the dining hall can do more than satisfy hunger—it can set a student up for success in several ways. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, dining halls provide hot meals to hungry students, while also giving them a chance to…
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Expanding Health Care Capacity Through Student Learning
Through the Student Health Center, UT students have access to services like annual physicals, physical therapy, X-ray and lab diagnostics, a pharmacy, and appointments for illness. This fall, to support higher utilization and a growing student body, the Student Health Center has hired a total of 11 student workers and two students completing practicums and…
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Investing in Employee Wellness with Be Well
Written By : Robert J. Mullaney, Employee Wellness Coordinator, Be Well Robert J. Mullaney joined UT in December 2024 as the Be Well coordinator within the Center for Health Education and Wellness. In his first year in this role, the program has grown and expanded, with impressive results in participant feedback. Read his reflections on…
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Students Share Their Stoke for the Great Outdoors
“He ended up being okay, but we had to make a decision to evacuate first thing in the morning.” That’s the situation that Jack Wood, a junior majoring in biosystems engineering, found himself in during the Student Outdoor Leadership Experience (SOLE) program. As the most intense of several program opportunities available through the RecSports Outdoor…
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Students Find Respite and Relaxation at Vol Retreat
In the spring of 2025, the Division of Student Life opened a new campus space, called Vol Retreat, to support student well-being. This space is dedicated to helping students relax and refresh in the heart of campus at the Student Union. Vol Retreat is an oasis for calm, well-being, and tranquility. “The Student Union, Center…