Dear colleagues,

Our campus community has done so much work to get ready for students’ return to campus. The first socially distanced move-in appointments begin August 9.

Members of the cabinet and I are transitioning back to working from campus again, and some faculty and staff will be returning at levels needed to support our students’ needs while also supporting the need to keep our offices socially distant.

Supervisors: If you have not yet done so, now is the time to make sure your department and teams’ work spaces are ready and that you have adequate PPE available for the level of staff returning. Please review the supervisors’ return-to-work guidance for instructions on how to order PPE and set up your spaces. It is important that conference rooms, break rooms, lobbies, and other common areas are prepared when employees return.

We ask that all spaces be ready by August 3. Campus buildings will remain locked with key card access until August 10.

We will continue to coordinate closely with the Knox County Health Department as we prepare for the start of the semester.

I am so appreciative of all the work happening to support our students and one another.

Donde Plowman
Chancellor