Campus Announcements

This page provides the latest campus announcements and updates from UT. Visitors can find timely information on academic initiatives, leadership communications, policy changes, events, and other university news. Designed to keep students, faculty, and staff informed and connected, the page serves as a central resource for important updates. New content is added regularly to reflect ongoing developments across the university community.

Vickie Niederhauser to retire

After years of exceptional leadership, Dr. Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the College of Nursing, has announced her plans to retire at the end of this academic year. For the past fifteen years, she has led the college’s outstanding faculty and staff with vision, compassion, and dedication, transforming the college into a nationally recognized leader in…
UT Kicks Off Fall Semester with Record Enrollment, Campus Upgrades

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will welcome new and returning students to campus as the fall semester begins Monday, Aug. 18. With record total enrollment surpassing 40,000, the university remains dedicated to expanding educational access and providing an unparalleled student experience. The university expects to meet or exceed its fall 2024 retention rate of 91.9%,…
Increase in Minimum Graduate Student Stipends

The minimum graduate student stipends for Fiscal Year 2026 have been updated. Minimum stipends are prorated for positions that are less than 50 percent time. With these updates, we have achieved the goal set in August 2023 of aligning minimum stipends with the living expenses in UT’s estimated graduate student budget. Moving forward, we will continue the practice of regular review…
Patrick Biddix Named Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Executive Director of the QEP

Dr. Patrick Biddix has accepted an offer to serve a 12-month appointment as Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Executive Director of the QEP. Dr. Biddix most recently served as a Professor of Higher Education and the Director of Research and Assessment for the Division of Student Success. He will begin his role on July 1. This position will…
Marieke Van Puymbroeck Named Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School

Colleagues, I am pleased to share that Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Recreational Therapy at Clemson University, has been appointed as the next vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. Dr. Van Puymbroeck earned a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia.…
David White Named Dean of UT’s Herbert College of Agriculture

Colleagues, We are pleased to announce that David White will lead the Herbert College of Agriculture in a permanent capacity as dean. He has served in the role of interim dean since the retirement of Caula Beyl in December 2022. Dave holds tenure as a professor of food science and took on the role of…
Maroulas Appointed Associate Vice Chancellor, Director of AI Tennessee

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has appointed Vasileios Maroulas associate vice chancellor and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative. AI Tennessee was established in 2022 to strengthen UT’s research in AI, expand the number of UT students developing AI skills and competencies, and position the state of Tennessee as a national and global leader in the…
Three Faculty Members Named Chancellor’s Professors

Chancellor Donde Plowman has named a new group of Chancellor’s Professors at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Derek Alderman, David Anderson and Bonnie Ownley. The distinction honors exceptional faculty members for outstanding scholarly achievement and contributions to their fields. “These three faculty members, each from a different college, represent the best of our university with their commitment…
Ozlem Kilic Takes on New Role as Dean of CECS and Vice Provost

In October 2022, Ozlem Kilic agreed to serve in the Office of the Provost as interim vice provost for academic affairs. One of her first objectives was to create, structure, and grow an innovative new college, which we now call the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS). Ozlem then became the dean of CECS,…
Veerle Keppens Named Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Veerle Keppens, Chancellor’s Professor and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the Tickle College of Engineering, has agreed to serve as the vice provost for faculty affairs. A native of Belgium, Keppens earned both bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, just east of Brussels. Since arriving at…