December 2023

NEWS

University leadership, alongside UT’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, surprised 47 high school seniors from Austin-East, Central, and Fulton with early admission offers to Rocky Top. These students are also eligible for the Flagship Scholarship, which covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters when combined with the HOPE scholarship. More information about the Flagship Scholarship program, including a full list of eligible schools, can be found here. 

Nominations for the Excellence in Academic Outreach Award are being accepted. The award recognizes excellence in academic outreach by faculty, extraordinary contributions of faculty to the public that occur as an outgrowth of academic pursuits and are related to the university’s academic mission, and is based on demonstrated outstanding contributions to the public stemming from the academic expertise of the nominee and will be presented at the Academic Honors Banquet on May 1, 2024.

Additional details and the link to the nomination form can be found below. The deadline for nominations is January 14. Questions should be directed to Javiette Samuel, Associate Vice Chancellor, at jsamuel@utk.edu.

In late November, the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach collaborated with Real Talk Mentoring to host 65 elementary and middle school students on campus. Young people from Maynard Elementary, Sarah Moore Greene Elementary and Bearden Middle School interacted with campus leaders, toured the campus and had an opportunity to ask questions while dining with faculty and staff. 

According to the founder, Clarence Swearengen, who played basketball at UT while earning his Master of Sports Administration, the purpose of Real Talk is "to encourage, enrich, and empower the youth to be successful by keeping discussions real, realistic, and relational through shared life experiences." The Office of Community Engagement and Outreach hopes this campus experience fulfilled these goals and helped plant seeds of higher education with these future leaders, while also expanding our access and outreach to K-8 families across Tennessee. 

Recently, the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach (OCEO) served as the campus hub for community holiday requests. The College of Social Work, Haslam College of Business, College of Nursing, and One Stop Student Services, led several major projects, and many of our wonderful faculty, staff, and students contributed individually. As a result, projects such as Grand-families, Community Game Night, Appalachian children and older youth, Juvenile Court, Kinship Placement and others were all recipients of the campus effort to help make this season a little brighter for children and families across the city!

The UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) is a hub for world-class discovery and innovation, interdisciplinary graduate education, and talent development. On November 16, 2023, UT-ORII hosted the third National Learning Collaborative and representatives from the following organizations were in attendance: Oak Ridge National Lab, Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, Atlanta University Center Consortium, Hitachi Zosen Inova, Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Seven States Power Corporation, and ten colleges and universities, including six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 

The event included workshops on reimagining STEM student recruitment, retention, and success, building a strong STEM-literate workforce, and collaborating to address national research needs to ensure America's security and prosperity. Highlights included the Bredesen Center’s UT-ORNL joint graduate programs and UT-ORII’s SMaRT summer internship program for undergraduates.  The group also learned about America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), a national machine tool training program created by UT-ORNL joint faculty member Tony Schmitz that is helping the U.S. regain its leadership position in manufacturing through online and in-person machine tool training.  

For the past 18 months, Lazarius Alexander has served as the graduate research assistant in the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach.  Alexander, a native of Memphis, has been a joy to work with and has been an asset to OCEO and our division. In addition to reimaging our newsletter and creating forms and marketing materials, he joined campus leaders and student athletes on trip to Rwanda that was centered around leadership, service, culture, and community. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Tickle College of Engineering in 2022, and Master of Business Administration on December 15.

The Inaugural Thomas "Tank" Strickland Leadership Awards Luncheon will honor individuals making a difference in our community, and the MLK Commemorative Commission has secured American journalist, Roland Martin, as the keynote speaker!

The Luncheon will take place on Thursday, January 11, 2024, 12:00 p.m. at the University of Tennessee - Student Union Ballroom. Tickets are $50.00 each, or MLK Platinum through Bronze Sponsors receive tickets for a table of 8.

FREE Parking will be available in the G-10 Parking Lot (Neyland Parking Garage) near Thompson Boling Arena with an optional shuttle service to the Student Union. 

To explore ALL of the 2024 MLK Celebration Events being planned by the MLK Commission from January 5 - June 17, please click here for an interactive calendar. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

Are you looking for volunteer opportunities this holiday season? The United Way Greater Knoxville has made it easy for you! Check out the guide to holiday volunteering below.

Since 2015, the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach has compiled stories that demonstrate mutually beneficial partnerships, impact, community engagement, and outreach in the annual Partnerships That Make A Difference publication.

Our goal is to elevate, celebrate, and illuminate the amazing collaborations taking place. To that end, we are soliciting stories and projects that were implemented during the 2023 calendar year (January-December). We are seeking engagement and outreach impact, both curricular and co-curricular, from all colleges and units as we strive to fulfill the University’s Strategic Vision and Goals. 

Please use this form to submit stories and data on local, regional, national, and global partnerships by December 31, 2023. If you have any questions, please email communityengagement@utk.edu.

Nonprofits are the 6th largest industry in the state of Tennessee and the Tennessee Nonprofit Network, formerly Momentum Nonprofit Partners, seeks to empower nonprofit organizations across the state with resources, expertise, and advocacy at the state level. The Tennessee Nonprofit Network will forge connections, advocate for operational policies, and provide access to data and research. Free membership will be available for all 40,000+ nonprofits in Tennessee on Monday, January 1, 2024.

The Office of Community Engagement and Outreach (OCEO) will continue offering beginner and intermediate/advanced educational sessions on community engagement on select Tuesdays and Fridays in the spring. Registration for all sessions are now open. Click on the button below to register, or use the link on the OCEO website. 

Dr. Javiette Samuel will present an overview of "Equity in Community-Engaged Scholarship" in the first session of 2024 on Friday, January 12.

The Strategic Initiatives Unit within the Division of Diversity and Engagement will continue to host Thoughtful Thursdays in the spring semester.  The topics range from  inclusive excellence to intentional professional development. Sessions are regularly held on the first and third Thursday of each month from 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. To view the session topics, presenter, and dates for spring, please click the link below.

ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

Applications for the 2024-2025 Research Development Academy (RDA) are now open! The RDA is designed to support the development of tenure-track faculty from historically underrepresented groups. It is a collaborative year-long program, offered by the Office of the Provost, Division of Access and Engagement, and Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development. In its fifth year, RDA offers support for research, one-on-one and group coaching sessions, mentoring, community building opportunities, personal and professional development, engagement with campus leaders, and participation in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity’s Faculty Success Program. 

Visit the RDA webpage to learn more about the program and the application process. Applications are due on January 31, 2024. 

The Clay and Debbie Jones Center for Leadership and Service annual MLK Jr. Days of Service will be held January 29th-February 9th, 2024! This series embodies the importance of living out the legacy of Dr. King by volunteering and supporting our community. Each day, volunteers will depart to various service sites in the Greater Knoxville area in either a morning or afternoon session to serve, reflect on the meaning of Dr. King’s legacy and make meaningful connections with nonprofits in our area. Sign-ups will launch in January on ServeUTK!

The Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) Conference is a national conference for students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners interested in advancing the civic learning and democratic engagement movement in higher education. Next year, it will take place in Detroit, Michigan from June 5 - 7, 2024.

Organizers are currently seeking proposals for 50-minute concurrent sessions and poster presentations connected to one of the following topics: 

Click here to read the Call for Proposals and submit a proposal. Proposals are due by Monday, February 5, 2024. Team submissions — especially from teams of campus community members who play various roles (i.e. students, faculty, and/or staff members working together) — are particularly encouraged, but individual submissions are also welcome.

The Faculty Women of Color in the Academy (FWCA) Conference will be held on April 11-14, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia.  FWCA is a unique educational and professional opportunity for indigenous and women of color in higher education to network, engage, and learn with colleagues from around the country. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a proud sponsor of this conference.

FELLOWSHIPS, FUNDING, AND AWARDS

Explore the opportunities offered by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning Program, dedicated to supporting research and practice in informal STEM education. This initiative prioritizes delving into various informal STEM learning environments that foster lifelong learning. The latest call for proposals welcomes submissions from institutions and organizations engaging public audiences. The focus spans a wide spectrum, from community STEM initiatives to involving the public in scientific research, promoting science communication, encouraging intergenerational STEM engagement, and advancing STEM media. Join this movement toward a more inclusive, engaging, and accessible approach to STEM education for all by submitting a full proposal by January 10, 2024.

The Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections program, of the National Endowment for the Humanities, helps cultural heritage institutions with humanities collections (libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations) meet the complex challenge of preserving diverse holdings of humanities materials (books and manuscripts, photographs, sound records and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic objects, art, and historical objects) for future generations. Planning grants are due January 12, 2024.

The JAMS Foundation/ACR Initiative for Students and Youth provides grant funding for conflict prevention and dispute resolution programs for K-12 students and for adults working with youth populations in ways that directly transfer Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) skills from adults to youth. The 2024 Funding Track will focus on the use of conflict resolution education and training to increase resiliency skills in youth ages 14-18, enabling them to cope with and de-escalate the violence they encounter in school or other gathering places. Interested organizations or individuals are required to submit a one to three page Initial Project Idea description to ACR by Friday, January 12, 2024.

The Global Sustainable Scholars (GSS) Fellows program offers a 10-week paid immersive training and mentoring with a global sustainability organization. Fellows will gain professional work experience, receive professional mentorship and professional development training, and build an international professional network in sustainability science. Each year, 5 -10 fellows are accepted to join the GSS community, receive advanced professional development training, and build professional connections that foster opportunities for employment and/or graduate school opportunities. Applications are open now through January 15, 2024. 

GSS Fellows must: 

Through grant awards from the First Horizon Foundation, First Horizon hopes to strengthen these pillars of communities: 

For Knoxville, Maryville, and Athens, applications close on January 31, 2o24. To identify other eligible areas in Tennessee and their corresponding application deadlines, please click here. 

Transforming local football fields into vibrant community hubs is the mission driving the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, a collaboration with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). With a focus on revitalizing underused spaces and fostering holistic youth development aligned with USA Football's standards, this initiative goes beyond the game, nurturing communities and creating lasting impacts far beyond the field's sidelines. The program is currently seeking proposals for this initiative. The deadline for proposals is Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

Note: Only organizations located in low-moderate income areas within Target Markets are eligible to apply. For Tennessee, this includes Chattanooga, Jackson, Knoxville, Memphis and Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Sumner, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Robertson, Cannon, Hickman, Macon, Maury, Smith, Humphreys, and Trousdale Counties. 

The purpose of this NOSI is to stimulate community-engaged research that leverages geospatial data to probe the influence of geographic factors on disease development and health outcomes. The goal is to use place-based research to help advance health equity in different communities.

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the above listed Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers: Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH).

Through project-based funding, the NEA Grants for Arts program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Applications are welcome from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time applicants; from organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets. The First Grants for Arts project deadline is February 15, 2024, and the Second Grants for Arts deadline is July 11, 2024.

The Terra Foundation for American Art is extending a helping hand to artists, scholars, and institutions passionate about American art and culture. Their Convening Grants program is a golden opportunity for creative minds and organizations to receive funding for conferences, symposia, and other gatherings that foster dialogue and exploration of American art. Whether you are an artist looking to share your work, a scholar eager to disseminate your research, or an institution keen to promote American art, this program offers the financial support to make it happen. Grants range from $10,000 - $25,000. Click below to find out more.

The Office of Research Innovation and Economic Development (ORIED) is soliciting requests for proposals that advance knowledge and support areas of fundamental and applied research in human health and wellness. This research funding opportunity aligns with the UT Strategic Plan which envisions a university that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion across all areas of research, scholarship, education, and outreach. 

Human Health & Wellness Team Building Activities is available until Sunday, June 30, 2024.

The William T. Grant Foundation funds research that increases understanding in one of two focus areas:

The Foundation seeks research that builds stronger theory and empirical evidence in these two areas. Research should inform change and contribute to a body of useful knowledge to improve the lives of young people. There is no preference for a particular research design or method. Strongest proposals incorporate data from multiple sources and often involve multi-disciplinary teams. More information can be found at the link below.

The Brady Education Foundation is currently accepting Research Project proposals and Existing Program Evaluation proposals that have the potential to provide data that will inform how to address disparities in educational opportunities associated with race, ethnicity, and family income. The foundation is looking for sustainable, accessible, and strength-based projects. 

Office of Community Engagement and Outreach
within the Division of Access and Engagement
2330 Dunford Hall
915 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37996-4000
Phone: 865-974-4863
Website: communityengagement.utk.edu
Email: communityengagement@utk.edu