University of Tennessee at Knoxville
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admissions without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. Eligibility and other terms and conditions of employment benefits at The University of Tennessee are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone (865) 974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity. Inclusion of this statement is required in the following: Position announcements (which are not paid advertisements) sent to potential referral sources and other institutions of higher education to solicit applications or nominations. Catalogs, application forms, posters and other material used in conjunction with the referral and/or recruitment of students, faculty or staff. Publications which contain general information and are made available to alumni/ae, faculty, staff, students or other participants in or beneficiaries of University programs. http://oed.utk.edu/searches/statement/

In the spring of 2010, Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek assembled a Task Force on Civility and Community and asked its members to: define civility and come up with a list of guiding principles and recommend ways we can further civility on our campus. The task force included faculty, staff, students and community members and looked at several existing campus-wide programs and services and made recommendations on how to bring the civility and community concepts to the forefront. The task force also recommended several new programs and services and developed the Bias Incident Reporting Form as a resource for students, faculty and staff who have been the subject of or a witness to a bias incident. The final report also weighed in on policies, staffing and ways to incorporate civility into coursework.

UT has multiple programs which aim to recruit a diverse student population to the University. The College Access and Persistence Services Outreach Center provides services to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare them to succeed in postsecondary or professional academic programs. The UT Lead Summer Institute is a five-week, fully paid program for underrepresented students from UT's designated "Promise Schools", who are recipients of the Tennessee Pledge and Promise Scholarships, first generation students, and students with a math ACT score below 25. NIMBioS is a university program that that explores the interface between math and biology. They conduct Pre-College programs, such as Adventures in STEM, in conjunction with the National Parks Service and CURENT, the Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks. Faculty and staff recruitment strategies incorporate the STRIDE (Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence) Program as well as the Future Faculty Program, which has a focus on candidates from underrepresented populations.

The LGBTQ and Ally Resource Center offers a mentoring program, which provides a safe space for LGBTQ students and allies to share their experiences and to grow professionally and personally.They also have student crisis intervention; walk-in sessions; group, individual, and couples counseling; and workshops. Consultation and referral services for faculty and staff. The center offers help lines for students and faculty and staff. Additionally, the Multicultural Student Center provides quality tutoring for a variety of undergraduate courses. They provide students with the option of individual or small group tutoring to fit your needs. They hire quality tutors with the ability to combine their subject area expertise, communicate with students, and work towards creating self-motivated independent students. (http://multicultural.utk.edu/services/tutoring/); The UT Lead program's mission is to promote undergraduate success, academic excellence, and persistence to graduation through a support program for selected UT student, specifically students qualifying for the Tennessee Promise or Pledge Scholarships. CURENT has many programs, including undergraduate work study programs, the Academic Year Young Scholars Program, the Summer Young Scholars Program, summer undergraduate research programs, and summer science programs which especially encourage students from underrepresented groups to apply. Various peer support groups are available for all UT faculty and staff. Notable support groups include the Commission for Women and the Commission for Blacks.

The Graduate Diversity Enhancement Fellowship is annually open to first-time enrollees who have been admitted to a graduate program of study at UTK with the intent of pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree and who demonstrate significant potential to contribute to the Graduate School’s educational mission and its diversity-related goals. These students almost always become Graduate Assistants in their years of graduate study therefore broadening diversity in UTK’s faculty. http://gradschool.utk.edu/documents/2016/02/diversity-enhancement-fellowships.pdf