University of Tennessee at Knoxville
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Ready for the World Program: Part of a long-range plan to transform Knoxville campus into a culture of diversity that best prepares students for working and competing in the 21st century. Ready for the World prepares students, faculty and staff for success in an ever-changing global society. The program calls for expanding the curricula, increasing global competency of faculty and staff and focusing on the intercultural issues of particular concern to the university.

Office of Minority Students Affairs: In alliance with the mission of the University of Tennessee, Minority Student Affairs supports minority students by providing programs and services that holistically address the cultural, educational, and civic growth, thus contributing to their academic success, and enhancing the institutional efforts in retaining and graduating minority students for a diverse and complex world.

Asian American Association: The Asian American Association (AAA) welcomes all members of the UT community regardless of race, religion, or national origin to join us in raising cultural awareness and fostering unity and understanding among Asians, Asian Americans, and all other peoples of the UT community.

Black Cultural Programming Committee (BCPC): BCPC is a student organization that develops programs and activities to enhance awareness of African-American culture and national issues on campus and the local community. The BCPC attempts to foster an atmosphere promoting interaction, participation, and unity among students of all cultural backgrounds. The organization sponsors a variety of cultural, recreational, and social events.

Black Educators of Tomorrow (BET): BET is a student organization at the University of Tennessee that strives to make students more aware of diversity and multiculturalism and their relationship to the future of education. BET provides members with the opportunity to build support networks and promotes communication among future African-American educators.

Black Law Students' Association: The University of Tennessee College of Law's Black Law Students' Association is a member of both the National Black Law Students Association and the Southern Region of the National Black Law Students Association.

Black Graduate & Professional Student Association: BGPSA provides a professional, intellectual, informative and social network for African-American graduate and professional students. Workshops, book clubs, coffee houses, and mixers are part of the programming designed specifically for graduate and professional students.

The Latin American Student Association (LASO)'s purpose is to increase the interest and awareness of all students to the Latin culture, to be active in the Hispanic community through Volunteer activities, and to encourage diversity on the UT campus.

Minority Achievement Program (MAP): The mission of the MAP is to provide personal support and assistance, social guidance, and positive campus survival skills to first-year and transfer students. The programs encourage positive transition to campus life and academic success. The program designs events and activities that facilitate academic success, adjustment to campus life and involvement.

Minority Enhancement for the University of Tennessee (ME4UT): ME4UT is an organization that assists the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in recruiting and relationship building of minority students who are interested in the University of Tennessee. This student organization is assisting UT in its goal of having a diverse population that reflects the goal of moving the university to a top 25-research institution. ME4UT is responsible for the planning and implementation of on-campus programming for prospective minority students.

National Society of Black Engineers: NSBE's mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

Native American Student Association: The Native American Student Association (NASA) aims to provide a greater understanding of Native American culture through sponsorship of campus and community events. The group welcomes all members of the UT community who are interested in learning about and teaching about Native cultures.

Diversity Job Fair: The Diversity Job Fair provides an opportunity for talented under-represented UT students to have increased employer access.

Office of Disability Services is to provide each individual an equal opportunity to participate in the University of Tennessee's programs and activities. This mission is accomplished by:
- Creating a physically, programmatically, and attitudinally accessible community where people are judged on their abilities, not their disabilities, by providing accommodations, services, and awareness to students, the overall campus community, and the general public.
- Promoting the development of a climate for everyone at the University that is conducive to learning, personal growth, acceptance, and appreciation of everyone without regard to disability.

See also commissions listed in faculty programs section.

Read for the World Program - see description in student programs section.

Black Faculty and Staff Association: The formation of the Association is the result of the collective efforts of concerned Black Faculty and Staff of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to:
1. Provide a forum for association among Black faculty, staff, and students.
2. Function as an advisory board on behalf of the entire Black UTK campus community.
3. Support and maintain the cultural traditions of persons of African descent within the context of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The UT Commission for LGBT People is a body appointed by the Chancellor to advise on planning, implementation, and evaluation of University programs, policies, and services designed to improve the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people on the Knoxville Campus. The Commission, in its role as an advocacy group, is committed to the protection and advancement of LGBT students, faculty and staff at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The Commission for Blacks is appointed by the Chancellor to advise on planning, implementation and evaluation of University Programs, policies, and services as they relate to Black students, faculty and staff.

The UT Commission for Women (CFW) is a body appointed by the Chancellor to advise on planning, implementation, and evaluation of University programs, policies, and services designed to improve the status of women on the Knoxville Campus. The Commission, in its role as an advocacy group, is committed to the advancement of women students, faculty and staff at the UT Institute of Agriculture, UT Medical Center, and The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Office of Disability Services - see description in student programs section.

- Black Faculty and Staff Association: The formation of the Association is the result of the collective efforts of concerned Black Faculty and Staff of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to:
1. Provide a forum for association among Black faculty, staff, and students.
2. Function as an advisory board on behalf of the entire Black UTK campus community.
3. Support and maintain the cultural traditions of persons of African descent within the context of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- Ready for the World Program: "Ready for the World: The International and Intercultural Awareness Initiative" is part of a long-range plan to transform the campus into a culture of diversity that best prepares students for working and competing in the 21st century.
"'Ready for the World' will prepare our students, faculty and staff for success in an ever-changing global society," said Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Sarah Gardial.
"'Ready for the World' calls for expanding the curricula, increasing global competency of faculty and staff and focusing on the intercultural issues of particular concern to the university."
Commissions:
- The UT Commission for LGBT People is a body appointed by the Chancellor to advise on planning, implementation, and evaluation of University programs, policies, and services designed to improve the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people on the Knoxville Campus. The Commission, in its role as an advocacy group, is committed to the protection and advancement of LGBT students, faculty and staff at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- The Commission for Blacks is appointed by the Chancellor to advise on planning, implementation and evaluation of University Programs, policies, and services as they relate to Black students, faculty and staff.
- The UT Commission for Women (CFW) is a body appointed by the Chancellor to advise on planning, implementation, and evaluation of University programs, policies, and services designed to improve the status of women on the Knoxville Campus. The Commission, in its role as an advocacy group, is committed to the advancement of women students, faculty and staff at the UT Institute of Agriculture, UT Medical Center, and The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- Council for Diversity & Interculturalism: The Council advises the campus administration on creating and sustaining a welcoming, supportive and inclusive campus climate to all groups. Their goals include attracting and retaining faculty and staff from under-represented populations; attracting, retaining and graduating students from historically under-represented populations and international students; and ensuring that undergraduate curricular requirements include significant intercultural perspectives.

- Office of Disability Services is to provide each individual an equal opportunity to participate in the University of Tennessee's programs and activities. This mission is accomplished by:
Creating a physically, programmatically, and attitudinally accessible community where people are judged on their abilities, not their disabilities, by providing accommodations, services, and awareness to students, the overall campus community, and the general public.
Promoting the development of a climate for everyone at the University that is conducive to learning, personal growth, acceptance, and appreciation of everyone without regard to disability.

Office of Disability Services - see description in student programs section.

See also commissions listed in faculty programs section.

http://omsa.utk.edu/
http://omsa.utk.edu/organizations/
http://www.utk.edu/readyfortheworld/about.php