The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Campus Advisory Board met remotely Friday to discuss the university’s COVID response; updates on the budget and COVID-related financial; enrollment growth and strategy; and the new efforts to improve student success.
Chancellor Donde Plowman (who is quarantining at home as a close contact) opened the virtual meeting with a presentation detailing the university’s response to the pandemic. Plowman discussed case trends since August, adjustments the administration made throughout the semester including increasing isolation housing, and plans for the spring term.
The board also received a budget update from Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Chris Cimino, who detailed the state’s formula funding model and discussed the financial impacts of the pandemic.
Vice Provost for Student Success Amber Williams, who joined the university on January 1, presented new initiatives launched this semester to help students. These efforts include assigning every incoming student a Vol Success Team that includes an academic coach, academic advisor, and a One Stop counselor.
Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Kari Alldredge also gave a presentation on the university’s record-setting enrollment and the adjustments the division made to accommodate students and families this year.
Meeting materials and the archived webcast are available on the chancellor’s website.
The board was created in 2018 when the Tennessee General Assembly passed the UT FOCUS Act, restructuring the Board of Trustees and creating an advisory board for each campus in the UT System.
The board is charged with making campus-level recommendations to the Board of Trustees on strategic planning, operating budgets, and tuition, as well as advising the chancellor.
In addition to the faculty and student representatives, the members of the advisory board are Alexia Poe and Tom Smith of Nashville, John Tickle of Bristol, and Syreeta Vaughn of Knoxville.
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CONTACT
Tyra Haag (865-974-5460, tyra.haag@tennessee.edu)