See also: Student Organizations (A-Z)
There are literally countless ways to get involved at the University of Tennessee. This page lists opportunities for student to get involved with University-sponsored organizations and departments.
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Orientation Leaders (OL) assume leadership roles in all aspects of the summer orientation program. OL’s work with new freshmen, transfer students, parents, re-entry students, University faculty and staff, and the Orientation team. They help plan, implement, and evaluate all aspects of the summer orientation program. Activities include conducting campus tours, assisting with class selection and registration, facilitating small group discussions with new students, and providing information on campus resources and services. Applications are available in October.
The Center for Leadership Development offers a variety of programs and services open to any student who wants to further enhance his or her leadership skills. These include Emerging Leaders, Leadership Guides, and Ignite.
Since 1954, the Carolyn P. Brown Memorial University Center has served as the center for social, recreational, cultural and educational activities at The University of Tennessee. The UC is the official meeting place of almost all campus activities and provides facilities for organizations, recreation, meetings, lectures, dances, receptions, movies, and other social gatherings.
Student Building Managers: Student Managers assume certain responsibilities for the scheduled activities occurring in the University Center and oversee the use and care of building equipment, furnishings, and facilities after regular office hours and on weekends. Contacts: Mark Rozanski and Brian Rodgers.
UT Campus Dining moves to the head of the class when it comes to the opportunity to learn and apply leadership skills. From Catering to Convenience Stores, Retail and National Brands, Residential Dining to Culinary, our Student Managers are able to experience the dynamics of leadership, while having a direct impact on our business. Coordinating events, instilling team spirit, leading by example, scheduling, problem solving, and innovation is what you will learn as we deliver top quality services and products on campus. Applications are available at all Campus Dining locations and are accepted all year. Call or stop by Presidential Court Room 108, if you have questions.
Leadership skills development is one of the guiding principles within fraternities and sororities. The Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and National Pan-Hellenic Council are proud to offer opportunities such as executive board members, directors, or committee members, as well as opportunities within each chapter to strengthen leadership skills. Greek Advance, Greek Camp, Greek Shape, and numerous chapter retreats are offered throughout the year to fine tune your leadership skills through teambuilding, service, and networking. Contact us for more information.
The United Residence Halls Council is the coordinating and representative organization for the 13 residence halls. While the council focuses on community-based programs, it also serves as a forum for housing, dining, and other residence-life concerns. Here is the great part: If you live in a residence hall, you are already a member. With committees to plan particular events, conference delegations to represent UT all over the country, and the discussion at general council meetings, there are plenty of rewarding ways to get involved with URHC.
The Parents Association provides support and information to the families of UT students and helps them become partners with the University in the education and development of every student. The Parents Association actively employs students for assistance with parent recruitment at summer orientation and fall family weekend. The Parents Association also offers international, academic, and leadership scholarships to students of Parents Association members. Scholarship applications are available on our website during the Spring semester each year.
The Central Program Council (CPC) is the major student activities programming organization at UT. There are seven CPC committees that are made up of UT students. Each committee is responsible for all aspects of their programs including selection, scheduling, production, publicity and artist hospitality. These committees are: All Campus Events (ACE), Issues Committee, Cultural Attractions Committee (CAC), Film Committee, Campus Entertainment Board (CEB), Visual Arts Committee (VAC), and Women’s Coordinating Council (WCC).
Information about joining CPC committees appears in The Daily Beacon in the spring semester, and applications are available in the Office of Student Activities.
The Safety, Environment and Education (SEE) Center seeks to implement a coordinated, comprehensive, coherent, and visible effort to deal with Alcohol, Drug and safety concerns on campus. The Student Advisory Committee is a voluntary student committee that serves as a sounding board for ideas and gives a student’s perspective to potential programs, marketing campaigns, and education programs conducted by the SEE Center. The Student Advisory Committee meets monthly to discuss safety concerns for the University of Tennessee community. Students interested in the Committee may contact 974-9565 for more information.
Are you looking for a way to get more involved on campus? Are you proud of UT and want to share your love of UT with others? The Office of Undergraduate Admissions hires two student groups each school year. Keep an eye out for posters around campus advertising the positions.
TeamVOLS is the volunteer organization for the University. The organization seeks to provide UT students with community service opportunities. Weekly volunteer opportunities in various areas are coordinated by student Program Coordinators and cover a variety of interests including Youth Outreach, Hospitals, Hunger & Homelessness, Literacy, Knoxville Beautification, Senior Citizens, and more. UT R.O.C.K. (Resident Outreach in the Community of Knoxville) promotes community service in and around the community of Knoxville through the residence halls.
Every year TeamVOLS takes Alternative Break trips during fall break and spring break. Students apply in the Fall Semester and interview to be selected to serve on one of the teams. Please visit the office to learn more about the community service opportunities!
The UT Book & Supply Store employs an average of 60 students per year. These students perform a variety of tasks in each of our departments within the main store and at our branch locations. Stop by our office in the main store, located in the University Center, to complete an application and arrange for an interview. Class schedules are required in order to match applicant availability with openings.
RecSports Facilities are TRECS (Tennessee Recreation Center for Students), SAC (Student Aquatic Center), HPER (Health and Physical Education Building) and Bubble as well as outdoor facilities such as RecSports Fields, Basketball Courts, Tennis Courts, Sand Volleyball Court and Paddleball Courts. For more information about the RecSports Department please visit our website.
It’s not just a job… It’s an experience!
Share in the tradition by becoming a RecSports student employee: Intramural Officials, Outdoor Rec Assistants, Building Managers, Rec Assistants, Maintenance Assistants, Fitness Floor Trainers, Lifeguards, Sports Club Supervisors, Office Assistants, Group Exercise Instructors, and Marketing Assistants.
Fill out an application at the Welcome Center of TRECS or visit the RecSports website for an application online.
Have an hour between classes and need something to do? Informal Recreation gives you the opportunity to participate in a variety of recreational activities on an informal, drop-in basis. Basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, racquetball, squash, tennis and lap swim are some of the activities the RecSports Facilities can provide. The program also offers educational sessions on nutrition, healthy lifestyle choices, stress relief and self-care, as well as special events which include dodgeball tournaments and late night opportunities.
The Fitness program offers a wide range of cardiovascular and strength & toning equipment, as well as endurance activities ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Also offered is a wide range of Group Exercise Classes, with over 35 classes per week. Group Exercise Kick-Off Master Classes, 1 1/2 hour sample of all classes for the semester, are held at the beginning of each semester. Personal Training you are looking for, they can provide it. Personal Trainers are available to perform assessments, provide workouts to go, or guide in one-on-one or buddy sessions. The Fitness Program is also host to Primary Aerobics, Personal Training and Sports Nutrition Certifications.
Large swim meets, open swim, swim lessons, SCUBA classes and kayak roll sessions are just a few of the things that occur throughout the year in the Student Aquatic Center. Also available through the Aquatics program are certifications for First Aid/CPR/AED, Lifeguard, Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) or Water Safety Instructor (WSI).
Known by the acronym UTOP (the University of Tennessee Outdoor Program), the Program offers a variety of weekend and extended break trips, courses from one-day fly fishing and kayaking to multi-week adventures in far off lands. Additionally, the program hosts educational and entertainment programs. The Outdoor Center (located in the lower level of the TRECS) has a large selection of rental equipment and an extensive resource center to plan your own trips. A full service bike shop is also available at the Outdoor Center. UTOP manages one of the area’s most extensive indoor rock climbing facilities, located in the HPER, for climbers of all abilities and levels.
Over 1400 teams participated in the various activities offered by the Intramural Program during the 2007-08 academic year. Men’s Flag Football team “The R.O.U.S.’s” and Women’s Flag Football team “Triple P” traveled to Middle Tennessee State University to represent UTK in the Regional Flag Football Tournament.
Around 35 Leagues & Tournaments are scheduled for the 2008-09 year. These activities range from 5 on 5 Basketball to Volleyball and include a 9-Ball Billiards Tournament, Whiffleball Tournament, Bench Press Competition, Floor Hockey League and many more!
Most events have Men’s, Women’s, and Co-Rec divisions.
Need an on-campus job that keeps you in the action and is flexible with your schedule? Come work as an Intramural Official. No experience necessary, and we provide all the training needed to become a qualified official.
40 active Men’s and Women’s Clubs ranging from Badminton to
Wrestling, along with Clubs such as Canoe & Hiking, Rugby, Ice
Hockey and Equestrian. Clubs can be competitive, instructional
and/or recreational in nature.
Over 800 official members total.
All levels of ability and experience welcome.
2007-08 Highlights
The Black Cultural Programming Committee (BCPC) enhances awareness of African American culture and national issues on campus and in the local community by sponsoring a variety of cultural, recreational, and social activities. For more information, please visit their website.
The Minority Advisors Program (MAP) provides support to African American first year and transfer students by designing events and activities that facilitate academic success, adjustment to campus life, and involvement. Contact Minority Student Affairs if you are interested in becoming a peer mentor.
Each semester, Disability Services hires note-takers to assist students with disabilities. To qualify, you must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, and attend classes on a regular basis. Interested students should listen in class for announcements from the professor about the need for a note-taker in that class. If there is a need, get the information from the professor and then contact our office to complete the necessary paperwork.
Both the Programs Abroad Office and the International House of the CIE offer opportunities for students to meet international students and participate in international activities. Watch foreign flicks, join the Buddy Program which matches American students with exchange students, practice language skills at any level at weekly language tables, learn salsa, meringue and other international dances, add your opinion to the Thursday conversations about global affairs or become a student assistant or peer advisor.
The varied aspects and creativity of the UT campus and student life are covered by students who participate in publishing the student newspaper, yearbook, and literary arts magazine. The Daily Beacon, The Volunteer, and PHOENIX provide practical learning opportunities in writing, editing, layout and design, computer applications, advertising, marketing, and photography for interested students. The online applications for all publications are available online. For more information, contact Jane C. Pope, Director of Student Publications at (865) 974-3231.
The Thornton Center has positions available for Undergraduate/Graduate Tutors and Student Assistants. For all Tutor position inquiries contact Georgia Caver at gcaver@utk.edu. To become a tutor you must meet the following qualifications: must be a junior or senior student, have received A's and B's in courses you want to tutor, have 2 letters of reference from instructors in subject of interest and have an updated transcript. For all inquiries about Student Assistant positions, contact Katie Sager at ksager@utk.edu.
Leadership opportunities are available within the Office of Student Judicial Affairs in the form of serving on the Student Disciplinary Board (SDB). Selected students are given the opportunity to (1) develop life-long, decision-making and conflict resolution skills, and (2) to promote responsible citizenship within the University community.
Board applications are available annually. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Judicial Affairs at 974-3171.
Help first-year students make the transition to the University community and learning environment!
First Year Studies (FYS) is designed to help students successfully gain knowledge that will ease the transition from high school to college. FYS Peer Mentors will assist faculty in a section of FYS 101 during the fall semester. Peer mentors provide first hand advice to freshmen students in a dynamic setting while gaining great leadership experience. FYS Peer Mentor applications are available from the Student Success Center. Selected students will be enrolled in FYS 401 in the spring semester and be placed into a First Year Studies class in the following fall semester.
Like Math? Like helping others with Math? Apply to be a Math Study Session Leader!
The Student Success Center and the Mathematics Department are looking for qualified sophomores and juniors to become Math Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leaders. SI Leaders hold group student sessions several times a week for Math 119 or Math 130. The SI Leader helps students review and understand course content. Contact the SSC for application, interview and training information. The SI Leader is a paid position.
Career Services provides a broad range of student services from self-assessments to on-campus interviewing. Students can gain valuable experience by attending workshops, participating in career events, and networking with employers. Each year, Career Services hosts over 300 employers through on-campus recruiting who are looking to hire UT students for professional positions. For more information, visit the website or stop by our office.