Reflecting on Vols Helping Vols
Dear colleagues,
It’s been three months since the coronavirus pandemic led us to begin delivering our teaching, learning, and campus operations remotely. In that time, I’ve been moved by the resilience of our students, the compassion of our faculty, the ingenuity of our staff, and the willingness of everyone across this campus to step forward with leadership and courage.
In the very beginning of this pandemic, Volunteers jumped in to sew face masks and print face shields. Hundreds of faculty and staff took to their phones to call 29,000 students to make sure they were supported. We worked together to deliver some 300 laptops and 600 Wi-Fi hotspots to students and staff who needed the technology, and some of our best-known alumni and friends helped keep everyone’s spirits up.
Now, as we continue preparing for the fall semester, we have collected these stories and many more in one place to help remind everyone what we can accomplish together as Volunteers.
This next part is complex as we alter class schedules and get students registered, oriented, and moved into residence halls safely. We will be counting on everyone to perpetuate a culture of health and wellness. Vols help Vols.
There’s a lot of work left to do, and I couldn’t be prouder to stand alongside all of you as we move forward together.
Donde Plowman
Chancellor