Transcript

Hello Vols! What a tough year this has been.

We’ve adjusted our behaviors, our routines, and our expectations. And we are here today because of each other and our unwavering commitment to our community.

Vaccines continue to roll out, case numbers are on the decline, and we can begin to see the end of this pandemic on the horizon.

I am excited about the future, and I’m thrilled to tell you we are planning for a fully in-person fall semester. This means a return to in-person learning, classrooms at capacity, and a campus experience full of activities and events for our students.

The health and safety of our campus community remains a top priority for me, and we will continue to follow the guidance of experts. The lessons we have learned from this last year—particularly the value we have placed on creativity, flexibility, and compassion—will continue to serve our campus community well into the future.

The future is bright on Rocky Top. I can’t wait to be on campus again with all of you this August.