Why We are Doubling Down on Our Investment in Student Success
This spring we began construction of a new student success building—a five-story 116,000-square-foot future hub of academic resources and student connection.
It’s no coincidence that this building will be located in the heart of campus, next door to Hodges Library. It will be a central gathering place that reflects the core mission of the university: our students.
The glass-and-brick building will be a beautiful addition to the campus, with classrooms, testing areas, student lounges, offices, and resources like the Veterans Success Center, University Honors, and the Academic Success Center. It is a physical embodiment of the investment we are making in student success. As we continue to build momentum and pursue excellence, UT Knoxville will always be focused first and foremost on its students and their success.
When I arrived as chancellor almost six years ago, one of my top priorities was to improve our retention and graduation rates. To do so we created the Division of Student Success, bringing on Amber Williams, now vice provost for student success, to lead the new team.
Since then, we have built statewide support and a national reputation as a leader in student success. In October we hosted the Student Success US conference with Inside Higher Ed and Times Higher Education, bringing more than 500 higher education professionals from 200 institutions to Knoxville to learn from Dr. Williams and her team along with our incredible faculty and dedicated staff. Leading up to the conference, Dr. Williams and I joined Inside Higher Ed’s podcast The Key to share how our personalized approach is moving the needle for our students. Just last month, the Knoxville News Sentinel featured Dr. Williams and the impact her team has had on student success at UT.
The division works closely with colleges and other units across campus to ensure that students are not only thriving while they’re here but also leaving with the skills to make an immediate impact when they enter the workforce.
In January we launched Vol Edge, a career-readiness initiative focused on both real-world experiences and tangible skills like networking and interviewing. Faculty and staff in each college work closely with leaders in their fields to ensure that programs meet the needs of Tennessee’s evolving industries. The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies, for example, offers customizable bachelor’s degrees and programs in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The Tickle College of Engineering is offering applied engineering programs aimed at students headed straight to the workforce after graduation.
The responsibility of our students’ success belongs to everyone, and the faculty and staff—in the colleges and other parts of campus—are committed to championing every Volunteer. Having services like the Vol Success Teams, the Vol Study Center, and Undergraduate Research and Fellowships under one roof will continue to improve our efforts, making these services more accessible to students and allowing them to maximize their experience.
Over the past six years our retention, persistence, and graduation rates have reached record levels. Students from across the country want to learn here because they know they will be part of a community that cares deeply about their success and provides the tools they need to thrive.
This isn’t just a building; it’s a promise. It’s a commitment that we will continue to invest in our students and make their success our priority.
