KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Students may be off-campus and attending class online, but the Vol Spirit is still with them. Faculty, staff and even the chancellor are making sure to call each student to remind them they're still part of the Vols community.
There are 29,000 students at the University of Tennessee. Faculty and staff have already managed to call 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students. They have been making calls for the past two weeks.
Conversations can range between anything from class schedules, financial aid or just what students are doing to stay occupied at home. When Chancellor Donde Plowman called one animal science junior, they talked about shows the student was watching on Netflix.
The idea to reach out to students came from Amber Williams, vice provost for student success, and two of her colleagues — Kari Alldredge, vice provost for enrollment management, and Dean of Students Shea Kidd Houze.
“We wanted to know that what we were doing is helpful, that we’re providing students with the resources they really need and desire at this time,” said Williams. “So we said, ‘Let’s ask the students. Let’s just check in and see how they’re doing.'”
They sent out a one-question survey to all students, then started making calls based on the responses. It was meant to give students a chance to ask about technology, financial aid, summer classes or anything else.
University officials said that some calls last 20 minutes, while others don't last too long. Callers said they never know if they will connect with a frustrated student, a voice mail message or someone happy to hear from the university.
“This is a community where students and parents matter,” said Julian McAliley, a One Stop counselor. “Whether it be One Stop Student Services, the Student Success Center, academic advisors, the chancellor or a director, we’re all here because of these students.”