Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency to aid hurricane survivors. Part of the assistance was that the State of Tennessee would assist colleges and universities to allow students who had paid tuition to institutions closed in the aftermath of the storm to attend Tennessee institutions at no charge. UT Knoxville agreed to accept all displaced graduate students, up to 500 undergraduate students, and up to 50 law students. Approximately 100 students, including 85 undergraduates, were admitted, and the UT Alumni Association established a scholarship fund for them. They were admitted as visiting students, which allowed them to attend for one semester. A mentoring program and special orientation sessions were held for the displaced students.
The UT Institute of Agriculture provided housing for evacuees at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville. The evacuees housed were primarily rescued from New Orleans and brought to the center by plane to Greeneville. Fundraising drives throughout the UT community and among supporters of UT athletics raised more than $275,000 in donations, and large numbers of students, faculty, and staff volunteered and assisted with recovery efforts.
Governor Bredesen also provided for assistance to state employees who were involved in helping with relief and rebuilding efforts. Three types of employee situations were covered. UT was allowed to grant employees up to five days special leave to volunteer in the affected areas, and additional time off could be requested as paid or unpaid annual leave. Certified Red Cross volunteers could be granted up to 45 days of paid volunteer leave. National Guard members deployed by the governor’s orders were eligible for partial pay from UT to supplement their service pay. The original executive order was for 60 days. Governor Bredesen extended it on October 26 to last through December 27.