As a university defined by the Volunteer spirit, our dedication to veterans and military-connected students has never been stronger. And while enrollment numbers for this special group continue to grow, so does our steadfast commitment to ensuring their success.  

The program’s rapid growth these past four years demonstrates the university’s high-level of commitment to our student veterans and military-connected students (dependents or spouses). Enrollment in the Veterans Success Center has increased from around 500 to nearly 700 veteran scholars and from around 700 to nearly 1,000 for our military-connected students. To better serve this growing population, the Division of Student Success has restructured our veteran support services to ensure we continue to provide top-tier support and resources tailored specifically to the needs of our veterans and military-connected students. The reorganization also highlights our commitment to work toward a VETS Bravo Designation from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission by prioritizing peer mentoring, support programs, and development.  

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The first day of classes welcomed over 8,000 new students to UTK on a warm, cheery August day. The campus was picturesque as students were eager to begin their classes and meet their friends for lunch. Among them were the UT Promise Scholars, a small class of students who receive the UT Promise Scholarship.

To celebrate the new cohort of Promise Scholars, the UT System and the UTK Division of Student Success hosted an inaugural reception the first afternoon of the academic year. Students were invited to meet other UT Promise Scholars and browse informational tables featuring resources on campus.

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Knoxville, TN — Inshira Bediako, a May 2023 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been awarded the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship. This esteemed fellowship is a leadership development opportunity designed for professionals eager to gain skills and experience in anti-hunger, anti-poverty policy, and social justice work.

Bediako, who majored in Global Studies and minored in Africana Studies at UT, received support throughout her application process from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship (OURF).

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Knoxville, Tenn. – To support scholars’ exploration and development, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Division of Student Success has announced an extended-hours initiative designed to offer its services to scholars outside of the normal business day.

The initiative, titled “Student Success Express” will be offered every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5-8 p.m. in Hodges Library, Ground Floor during the fall and spring semesters. G020 Hodges Library will also be used for Student Success Express related needs as well.

The grand opening of Student Success Express will commence on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening remarks from Vice Provost of Student Success, Amber Williams. The celebration will also include a coffee-themed event, “Express-O,” featuring iced coffee, coffee-inspired treats, and a coffee balloon for event-goers to enjoy.

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A kindhearted, visionary leader—ASC Director Doug Renalds celebrates retirement after 17 years on Rocky Top

Doug Renalds will tell anyone Context is one of his top CliftonStrengths—so context is necessary to celebrate him. A Virginia native, he attended Carson-Newman University and Duke Divinity School for his degrees in theology and religion, then returned to CNU in admissions work, service learning, and FYE directorship. Renalds joined UT as an Assistant Director of the (then) Student Success Center in 2007 and watched the center through tremendous change. He now leaves the Division of Student Success as the Academic Success Center (ASC) Director, a position he’s held for the past six years.  

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The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) – led by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship (OURF) – has achieved a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to supporting student excellence across a diverse array of academic fields.

For the first time, UT has been recognized as a nominating institution for both the Churchill Scholarship and the Beinecke Scholarship, and will start accepting applications for each award in Fall 2024.

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The 28th annual Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA), led by The Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (OURF) in the Division of Student Success, took place on April 23, 2024.

This year’s event, hosted in UT’s Student Union, featured 1,055 students showing 675 projects from a wide range of disciplines and methodologies.

On May 7 during a closing awards ceremony, participating colleges presented a total of 234 awards for excellence in undergraduate research and creative achievement. Eleven colleges were represented with students from over 59 departments participating.

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In the bustling halls of the College of Arts & Sciences, on the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, there are those whose commitment to student success goes above and beyond the call of duty. Among them is Dr. Bob DuBois, a distinguished member of the Psychology department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dr. Bob stands out as a beacon of support and guidance for students navigating their professional paths. Thanks to his tireless advocacy for career development and collaborative spirit he is this year’s Campus Career Champion.

Nominated by Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration (CCDAE) Career Coach Diondre Brown, Dr. Bob’s commitment to empowering students and his collaborative approach exemplifies the spirit of career development and professional growth at UT Knoxville.

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University of Tennessee graduate Owen Queen has been named a 2024 Knight-Hennessy Scholar.

Among the most prestigious post-graduate fellowships in the world, Knight-Hennessy scholars are selected based on their demonstration of independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset. 

A May 2022 graduate of UT, Queen was a double major in computer science and mathematics where his undergraduate research spanned AI and data science in genomics, materials science, and epidemiology.

After graduating, he joined Harvard Medical School as a research associate, pioneering models for therapeutic discovery and data analysis. 

As a junior at UTK, Queen earned the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship which is regarded as the most prestigious undergraduate STEM scholarship in the United States.

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“I’m hoping we learn from each other about creative ways to implement new approaches and use the synergy of collaboration to develop more innovative approaches together.” – Robyn Brookshire, Clinical Assistant Professor, Child & Family Studies 

The new cohort of Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows recently gathered together to gain some wisdom and insight from the 2023 cohort and to share their thoughts and excitement for what’s ahead.

The Volunteer Faculty Fellow program is comprised of faculty across the university who are interested in engaging in well-being pedagogy for students and promoting well-being constructs amongst the faculty in their departments. 

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