Kickoff to Commencement May 9

Jan. 18, 2007

TO: All UT Students, Faculty, and Staff
FROM: Loren W. Crabtree, Chancellor
SUBJECT: Kickoff to Commencement May 9

UT will hold a Kickoff to Commencement event May 9 to open the spring graduation season. For this semester only, the kickoff, planned in cooperation with our student leadership, will replace the traditional university-wide commencement ceremony due to scheduled renovations in Thompson-Boling Assembly Center & Arena.

This spring, each academic college will hold its own ceremony on May 9, 10, or 11. I am pleased to tell you that the individual college ceremonies, which began in 2002, are continuing to grow in popularity. Students say they appreciate the smaller, more personal settings that involve the faculty and traditions of their specific colleges. A full schedule of college ceremonies is online.

Our goal is to work with students to create a plan that best honors spring graduates and gives them a meaningful and memorable conclusion to their UT experience. With your feedback, we will determine the most appropriate event or combination of events to best celebrate spring commencement. There are no plans to make any changes to the university-wide fall ceremony.

Plans for Kickoff to Commencement are still under development. I can tell you that it will include entertainment and refreshments in a festive and relaxed setting.

We welcome your ideas for making Kickoff a special occasion for our graduates. Students and staff will review your suggestions for Kickoff, as well as your general thoughts about the university-wide spring commencement. Send your ideas to chancellor@utk.edu.