About CECS
The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (working title) is intended to be an incubator and home for new degree programs drawn from multiple colleges and disciplines while responding to changes in fields of inquiry and emerging workforce opportunities. Development of the college is being led by Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Ozlem Kilic.
CECS Objectives
SERVE |
CONVERGE |
CONNECT |
| Workforce needs of state and nation | Expedite the development of degrees aligned with multiple disciplines and workforce needs | Gather and disseminate |
| Learner needs of all backgrounds | Lead new ways for students to approach the academic experience | Develop know-how |
| Faculty interested in cross-collaboration | Create stackable credentials, programs, and degrees on timely and relevant topics | Support with processes |
| Complement pre-existing degrees and courses | Central point of contact |
THEC Proposal Development
A working group consisting of faculty members Alex Bentley, Kristina Gordon, Sarah Lowe, and Abebe Rorissa—along with Director of Academic Finance Michael Bookmyer in the Office of the Provost—is assisting Dr. Kilic in preparing the required proposal for the creation of the new academic unit, which will go first to the UT Board of Trustees and then to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for approval.
Timeline
- January 2023: Submission to UT Board of Trustees
- February 2023: Board Meeting
- February 2023: Submission to THEC
- March 2023: THEC Approval
- July 2023: CECS Launch
Meeting Notes
12-7-22: Review of first draft for THEC, planning for December 1, 2022-July 1, 2023.
11-21-22: The group discussed the process and timeline for THEC approval for a new academic unit and discussed the “service college” concept to facilitate creation of new programs across campus on topics that rely on multiple disciplines.
1-18-23: Kilic presented the CECS concept and vision at the DH forum
2-2-23: Working group retreat to discuss governance model and academic program model.