KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee Tuesday announced the proposed site for individual sorority facilities. The announcement is the culmination of a 14-month planning process between the university and the sorority chapters.
If approved by the UT Board of Trustees, the sorority village will be located at the southeast corner of Neyland Drive and Kingston Pike across from the university’s Visitors Center.
“The university is excited about the sorority village being built at this site,” said Jeff Maples, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration. “This project along with our Visitors Center will make a beautiful new gateway to campus at Neyland Drive and Kingston Pike.”
The residential houses were suggested after a previously approved non-residential townhouse concept was no longer viable. The facilities will be funded by private, sorority funds. Pro formas submitted by the chapters include a combination of private fundraising efforts and mortgage agreements that would be paid through residential rent and various chapter fees. Chapters are responsible for their own house design; each conforming to architectural guidelines set forth by the university.
The proposal will be presented to the board at its fall meeting set for Nov. 2 and 3 on the Knoxville campus. If approved, the decision would be submitted for state approval and slated as a 2007-08 capital budget project.
“Several land areas were examined but had size and financial issues,” said Maples. He added that the chosen area works well to accommodate all the facilities together, a top priority of the sororities in determining a site.
Fourteen of UT’s 17 sorority chapters have submitted business pro formas and financial statements for individual facilities. Thirteen residential buildings and one non-residential building are planned on the approximately 21-acre site.
For more than 30 years, sorority women have had living space in two campus residence halls and meeting space in the Panhellenic building at Cumberland and 16th avenues. The number of women using the Panhellenic building now far exceeds its intended functionality, creating the need for new facilities.
Participation in sororities at UT has grown significantly during the past several years, climbing from 18 percent to 22 percent of women since 2001.
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Contact:
Beth gladden, media relations, 865-974-9008 or 865-771-1284, beth.gladden@tennessee.edu
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