How University of Tennessee online learning is evolving, and 5 more pieces of news to know

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has a lot on its plate before graduation in May, including a new partnership with an out-of-state institution.

UT Knoxville has entered into a new partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) to scale digital learning options and meet the evolving education needs of millions of people.

The two institutions will work together to provide more online teaching and learning opportunities to both Tennessee and Arizona residents by sharing resources, practices and digital expertise.

The partnership includes technology solutions, advisory services and shared courses offered by ASU, which will add to UT’s infrastructure. UT offers over 70 fully online degree and certificate programs, and this partnership will help UT launch more programs in fall 2024 and spring 2025.

This partnership aligns with UT’s goals of helping Tennesseans finish their degrees and providing education for busy working adults across the state. Almost a million Tennesseans have college credits but no degree, according to an April 16 UT press release.

UT parking lot closes to make way for student housing construction

Parking lot C8 at the corner of Volunteer and Lake Loudoun boulevards near Circle Park has closed to make way for the third dormitory being constructed as part of UT’s new public-private development partnership.

The Lake Loudoun residence hall, estimated to cost $142.3 million, will provide housing for 1,020 students and will include a convenience store on the ground floor. To construct it, RISE, the developer, will pay UT for taking away approximately 200 parking spaces in lot C8.

It still needs state approval before construction can begin.

“Excavation is being done ahead of construction, which will start in May with a projected completion date of Fall 2026,” UT spokesperson Kerry Gardner shared with Knox News.

Two other residence halls broke ground in March and will be located on Caledonia and Andy Holt avenues, providing room for 1,954 students total. All three projects are estimated to cost $371.95 million.

All three residence halls are a part of UT's $1.63 billion worth of construction projects in the works, including the new chemistry building, Neyland Stadium renovations and the Jenny Boyd Carousel Theatre.

University of Tennessee hires a new parking director to provide parking solutions

UT has hired Tanara Teal-Tate as the new executive director of Parking and Transportation.

Chancellor Donde Plowman said in September 2023 that plans were in motion to rethink parking on campus.

With enrollment continuing to rise and parking lots closing to make way for dorms, the Memphis native will help transform parking on campus using her experience in transportation management to alleviate the parking issues plaguing students on the flagship Knoxville campus.

She spent nearly six years as the director of Parking Operations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison overseeing the transportation infrastructure for over 75,000 students, faculty and staff. She implemented a new management system in most of the parking garages there with touchless ticketing, mobile payments and virtual permits.

Before that position, Teal-Tate worked for four years as director of the Parking Authority at the UT Health Science Center.

University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute names new executive director

The UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) has named David Sholl the executive director of the institute as well as vice provost of UT Knoxville.

UT-ORII began in 2021 as a combined effort from UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to meet STEM field needs and share resources.

Sholl started as the interim leader for UT-ORII in June 2023. In this role, Sholl helped UT-ORII launch two new $20 million research initiatives between UT and ORNL. He's also sped up plans to recruit 100 new UT and ORNL joint faculty and recruit 500 research graduate students by 2030.

Sholl started at ORNL in July 2021 leading the Transformational Decarbonization Initiative in the lab.

“David’s extensive background — working in academia and the national lab system as well as delivering tremendous scientific results throughout his career — makes him an excellent choice to lead UT-ORII,” ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer said in a press release. “I look forward to working with David as we expand UT-ORII’s impact.”

University of Tennessee names seven Torchbearers

UT has named seven seniors as Torchbearers, the highest honor the university gives to top students. Torchbearers exemplify leadership, service and the future of campus.

• Jack Duncan: Studying economics and mathematics. He was selected to attend a U.S.-Japan roundtable in Washington, D.C.

• Carragan Fields: Studying agricultural leadership and community engagement with a minor in food and agricultural business. She represented UT at the Tennessee Ag Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C.

• Sarah Lange: Studying addiction and behavioral neuroscience with a pre-medical concentration. She has conducted research with UT Medical Center’s Department of Surgery.

• Abby Ann Ramsey: Studying journalism and electronic media, and religious studies with a concentration in religion and nonprofit leadership. She’s the editor-in-chief of The Daily Beacon and was nominated to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner.

• Alvin Robertson: Studying therapeutic recreation with a minor in public health. He’s served as part of the Dean’s Undergraduate Advisory Board for the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

• Harrison Van Eaton: Studying neuroscience with a pre-physician assistant concentration. He’s served as vice president for health and safety for the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life’s Interfraternity Council.

• Rylie West: Studying journalism and electronic media with a minor in advertising and public relations. She plays UT softball, traveled to Rwanda with the VOLeaders Academy and was named to the 2023 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll.

University of Tennessee kicks off new era for the Baker School

UT has formalized the new era of the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs.

Located at 1640 Cumberland Ave., the school is dedicated to developing Tennessee's future leaders in government, public policy and public service with new degrees and majors.

The school launched July 1 alongside the new College of Music and College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies. A ribbon cutting earlier this month dedicated the change from the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy into the new college.

Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @specialk2real.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee partners with ASU, will fix parking on campus