Academics

Absence Notifications

The Office of the Dean of Students assists students who are unable to attend class due to an extenuating circumstance or circumstances.

When a student is unable to attend class due to emergency situations/extenuating circumstances (i.e., medical illness, hospitalization, death/bereavement, etc.), students may complete an absence notification request through the Office of the Dean of Students at dos.utk.edu. If a student is physically unable to contact the office, a family member or appropriate campus official may submit the notification request on their behalf. Formal documentation/verification of emergency must be uploaded with the request.

Once the request and documentation has been submitted and approved, the office will send a notification to instructors via e-mail. Notification of absence does not excuse students from classes and/or course requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to contact their instructors and determine a mutually agreed-upon arrangement for all missed work. The Office of the Dean of Students categorizes absences based on the following: An absence lasting no longer than two days is considered a short-term absence; one lasting longer than three days is considered a long-term absence. No retroactive requests may be made for a period extending longer than 30 days.

Final approval of all absences and missed work is determined by the instructor.

The Office of the Dean of Students reserves the right to grant or reject notification requests at any time.

Academic Advising

Academic advising serves to develop and enrich students’ educational plans in ways that are consistent with their personal values, goals, and career plans—preparing them for a life of learning and leadership in a global society. The Volunteer Experience consists of four major components: Self Exploration, Career Exploration, Experience Learning and Academic Planning. Central to academic advising is the design of a common experience for all students.

Students are assigned to professional advisors based on their major or exploratory track. Advising centers and designated offices in each college advise undergraduate students. Faculty mentor students as they engage in the discipline.

The student, not the advisor, bears the ultimate responsibility for educational planning, selecting courses, meeting course prerequisites, and adhering to policies and procedures. Assistance to students with academic problems or questions is provided by professors, advisors, department heads, and college deans or advising centers.

Detailed information for undergraduate students is available on the Undergraduate Academic Advising website. Graduate students should consult their program or the Graduate School for advising resources.

Academic Alert Statement

The University of Tennessee cares about academic success. Your academic coach, a member of your Vol Success Team, will work with you to strengthen your academic progress, particularly if there are indications that current academic goals are in jeopardy. If you are struggling in a class and receive an academic alert, expect an e-mail, call, or text from your academic coach and be sure to respond promptly.

Academic Evaluation

Students may expect their performance to be evaluated solely on an academic basis and not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students are responsible for each course in which they are enrolled. A student alleging unfair evaluation should follow the applicable process for academic appeal. Teachers are expected to make honest, professional judgments on the academic performance of students and to make clear to them the basis for academic evaluation used in their classes. For additional information, visit the Policy and Procedures page of the catalog.

Academic Integrity

Study, preparation, and presentation should involve at all times the student’s own work, unless it has been clearly specified that work is to be a team effort. Academic honesty requires that the student present their own work in all academic projects, including tests, papers, homework, and class presentation. When incorporating the work of other scholars and writers into a project, the student must accurately cite the source of that work. For additional information see the Honor Statement on the Academic Policies and Procedures page of the current catalog or the UT Libraries site.  See also the Student Code of Conduct.

Academic Second Opportunity

Academic Second Opportunity is designed to assist students who were not successful in progressing toward a degree during a previous attendance at UT Knoxville but are now performing satisfactory work.

An undergraduate student may petition for Academic Second Opportunity upon meeting the following requirements: the student has re-enrolled following an absence from UT Knoxville of at least three full calendar years; the student’s previous academic record at the university was unsatisfactory (normally, below a C average); since readmission, the student has completed 15 or more graded hours, earning a 2.5 GPA or above.

See the Academic Second Opportunity statement on the Policy and Procedures page of the current catalog for complete information. The Student Success Center also has an informational page on Dismissal Reinstatement.

Academic Standing, Probation & Dismissal

The university reviews student academic records at the end of each term to determine each student’s academic standing. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement for good standing at the undergraduate or graduate level receive a standing of academic probation or academic dismissal.

See the Academic Standing statement on the Academic Policies and Procedures page of the current catalog for complete information on standards and processes. The Student Success Center also has an informational page on academic probation and dismissal.

Adds, Drops, Withdrawals

Policies governing adding a class, dropping a class, and withdrawal from the university are included in the Enrollment section of the Academic Policies and Procedures page of the current catalog.

The periods for adding a class, dropping a class, or changing a grading option for each session are determined based on a percentage of the equivalent deadline for the full term. Exact dates are available on the One Stop academic and financial calendar. The One Stop site also includes processes for adding, dropping, and withdrawal.

Adequate Preparation

With regard to learning in his or her respective courses, the student has the responsibility to seek information (which should be readily available from the instructor) as to necessary preparation for participation in the classroom activity. The instructor should provide specific information about the course objectives, nature of testing, and course requirements. The learning and integration of the course material are the student’s responsibility. Accordingly, the student should accept responsibility for adequate preparation for each class meeting, arriving for class able and willing to interact through classroom participation, testing, writing, in-class exercises, and other methods provided by the teacher. Basic to these activities is the need for the student to employ appropriate resources, as assigned by the instructor, such as textbooks, other supplies, and outside reading materials.

Class Attendance & Eligibility

Academic success is built upon regular class attendance, and students are expected to attend all of their scheduled classes. A student who finds it necessary to miss class assumes responsibility for making up examinations, obtaining lecture notes, and otherwise compensating for what may have been missed.

It is the prerogative of the individual instructor to set the attendance requirements for a particular class. This means, for example, that an instructor in first-year composition may state in the syllabus how many absences are allowed before a student receives a grade of No Credit.

Only students who are properly registered for a course may attend it on a regular basis. Any other person in the classroom for special reasons must obtain the consent of the instructor.

See Class Attendance and Eligibility on the Academic Policies and Procedures page of the current catalog for complete information on class attendance, including guidelines for extenuating circumstances such as military orders, legal obligations, religious observances, extended illnesses, and participation in university-sponsored activities.

Freedom of Expression

Free and pertinent discussion is welcome at the university. Students should feel free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion. They are responsible, however, for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. For additional information, please visit the University’s Free Speech website.

Grade Appeals

Undergraduate grade appeals begin with the Undergraduate Council and must be filed within 90 days of the final grade being issued. See the Grade Appeal Procedure section of the Academic Policies and Procedures page of the current catalog for a  full description of the process and grounds for appeal.

Honor Statement

An essential feature of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a commitment to maintaining an atmosphere of intellectual integrity and academic honesty. As such the University utilizes an Honor Statement that reads, “As a student of the university, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and integrity.” See the Honor Statement on the Academic Policies and Procedures page of the current catalog for student and faculty responsibilities under the Honor Statement. See also Academic Integrity.

Observation of Deadlines

It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and follow the enrollment and registration procedures provided by the university. It is also the student’s responsibility to file forms for graduation based on information provided by the Degree Audit Report System and to observe other university and college deadlines. A calendar of academic and financial deadlines is available on the One Stop site.

Repeating Courses

Students who are struggling with a class should talk with their advisor before deciding whether to withdraw from and/or plan to repeat a class.

Generally, undergraduate courses can be repeated twice, for a total of three attempts per course, with grade replacement for up to three lower-division courses. For details and limits, see the Repeating Courses section of the Academic Policies and Procedures page of the current undergraduate catalog.

uTrack

Universal Tracking, or uTrack, is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. uTrack requirements only affect full-time degree-seeking students who first entered in fall 2013 or later. uTrack does not apply to transfer students who enter prior to fall 2015.

In order to remain on track for a major or exploratory area, students must complete minimum requirements for each tracking semester known as milestones. Milestones may include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. Students who are off track at the end of a tracking semester must meet with an advisor to develop a plan for getting back on track. Students who are off track for two consecutive semesters have a hold placed on their registration and must meet with a new advisor to select a new major that is better aligned with their abilities.

See the Office of the University Registrar website for details.