Dear Vols,

For many of us, today felt like the first day of school. It’s normal to be nervous in an unfamiliar situation, and for some, moving courses entirely online is uncharted territory.

Today, more than 39,500 people joined almost 2,500 Zoom meetings across the UT System. While I’m sure there were some glitches, I’m incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work from everyone who made today successful.

There is a lot of work ahead as we continue to adjust to this new reality and finish the semester strong, but no one is in this alone.

If you are a student and need help, reach out to your instructor, your advisor, the Office of the Dean of Students, or the Student Success Center to get the support and resources you need. If you are an instructor and need assistance, seek help from your department head and colleagues, the Office of the Provost, or the Office of Information Technology. These resources are here for you, so please take advantage of them.

Congratulations on a great first day. Let’s keep up the good work.

Donde Plowman
Chancellor