News

In the fall of 2024, two UT department heads teamed up with lofty goals: reduce wait times for mental health services on campus, clarify the process for students and for referring faculty and staff, and bolster staff morale. And a year later, all of those goals have been achieved thanks to an internal change referred to…

Written By: Alison Ward, Associate Director, Student Union, and Amanda Griffiths, Assistant Director for Student Training and Engagement, Student Union Laying the Foundation The program fosters holistic student growth by equipping employees with the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for their careers, while also fulfilling vital functions in the Student Union. Our program emphasizes competencies…

In his role as director, Todd Cox serves as the primary university advisor for Student Government Association and its elected officers. Cox shares his perspective about being an advisor to this group and what he’s learned about championing the Volunteer experience. From the outside, advising student government looks like a tangle of agendas, amendments, parliamentary…

For new students arriving on campus for the first time, the sheer number of people, offices, and opportunities that make up UT can be overwhelming. But with the help and friendship of a peer mentor through Student Disability Services (SDS), new Vols registered with the office can have a kind and supportive welcome to campus and…

Written By: Dez Newcomb, Outreach Coordinator, Center for Basic Needs As a student-centered initiative led by the Center for Basic Needs, the UT to West TN program is an example of the kinds of student support envisioned and executed by creative thinking and dedication. Each year, the program offers transportation during key campus breaks: Thanksgiving,…

During the spring semester of 2025, a handful of students, committed to breaking the stigma around mental health and recovery, set out to host the first ever Collegiate Recovery Day event at UT. For the 306 students who made their way to the Student Union for mocktails, sober yoga, axe-throwing, and more, the event marked…

Launched in 2024, UT’s Global Citizens Program provides an opportunity for students to participate in an international educational program regardless of financial abilities. Each Global Citizens cohort identifies a country of interest and studies the selected country throughout the school year. Then, the cohort visits the selected country at the conclusion of the spring semester…

The lifelong dream of a University of Tennessee alumna has come to fruition at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, thanks in part to the work of UT’s Student Disability Services. As a PhD student at UT, Kaycee Bills was invited to become a member of Delta Alpha Pi, a national honor society for students with disabilities who…

Written By: Tess Valkovschi, Junior Studying Marketing, and Leila Robinson, Senior Studying Psychology This past summer, we had the privilege of interning in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life, focusing on strategic initiatives, through the Vols in Student Affairs program. Over the course of six weeks, we collaborated on building a new framework…

When UT student Jessica Cecchi started volunteering through the Jones Center for Leadership and Service, it was initially to meet her community service quotas for various programs she is involved in on campus, like the 1794 Scholars Program or Leadership Knoxville Scholars. But now, after logging over 200 hours with community partners across Knoxville, the…