Office of the Provost Newsletter

Welcome!

Now that we are a few weeks into the fall semester, you may encounter students in need of support outside the classroom. The campus offers multiple resources to assist students and enhance their well-being.

Any student who has difficulty affording hygiene products, groceries, or accessing sufficient food to eat every day is urged to contact the Center for Basic Needs for support.
The Big Orange Pantry, located on the 3rd floor of the Student Union, is a free resource for all students, faculty, and staff. Big Orange Pantry provides a variety of non-perishable and fresh foods, hygiene products, and other essential items.
Students who need emergency financial assistance can also request funding from the Basic Needs Emergency Fund.
The Center for Care & Resilience, which can be reached through (865) 974-HELP, assists students who are experiencing distress in their lives by connecting students to university and community resources.
For students who need general assistance and a place to start with their question or concern, the Office of the Dean of Students can be helpful with advice or advocacy and is located in 383 Student Union.
Students have access to mental health support and referrals — as well as individual, group, and crisis counseling services — at the Student Counseling Center. To make an appointment, students can call (865) 974-2196 (crisis counseling options are available 24/7) or drop in at the center on the 2nd floor of the Student Health Center, 1800 Volunteer Boulevard, Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm (9:00am on Wednesday).

I also encourage each of you to make time for rest and a healthy work-life balance. Your overall wellness directly impacts your effectiveness in the classroom, your research endeavors, and the overall success of our institution.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the university's support services if you ever find yourself in need of assistance or guidance.

We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and passionate faculty, and it is essential to remember that taking care of yourselves is not a selfish act; it's a necessary one.

John Zomchick
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor

News and Notes

The Center for Global Engagement is excited to announce the appointment of Will Jennings as the inaugural Faculty Director for Global Learning and Student Impact. In this role, Jennings will collaborate with academic departments, administrative units, and international partners to conceptualize and implement innovative global programs that enhance curriculum and create student growth.

To improve service to the campus community, UT Libraries has made changes to several resources this fall that address potential security issues and streamline library processes. Visit the UT Libraries website for details.

On November 15, 2023, the Office of the Provost and Division of Student Success will present the UT Thrive Summit, a professional development opportunity open to the entire Volunteer community. In alignment with UT’s Strategic Vision and the Volunteer Experience initiative, the UT Thrive Summit invites faculty and staff to engage with and examine topics on academic success that create conditions for every student scholar to thrive and succeed. Learn more about the event and register online.

Congratulations!

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): Achievements, recognitions, and more good news

Associate Professor Daniel Costinett was recently awarded the 2022 Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power Electronics Society. This award recognizes early-career engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of power electronics.

Cornelius Eady, professor and John C. Hodges Chair of Excellence in the Department of English, recently received the inaugural Pegasus Award for Service in Poetry by the Poetry Foundation. This award recognizes recipients for commitment and extraordinary work in poetry and the literary arts through administration, advocacy, education, publishing, or service. Eady, along with poet, educator, and memoirist Toi Derricotte, are the founders of Cave Canem, established in 1996 to remedy the underrepresentation and isolation of African-American poets in the literary landscape.

There is more good news on campus than can fit in one newsletter. If you have some good news you'd like to send us for a future monthly edition, we'd love to hear it. Send a 2-3 sentence summary and link to jroder@utk.edu.