Circle Park Online, an online registration system for students to register for both classes and housing, was initialized in summer 2000. It replaced the former method of registering for classes by telephone. Students were also provided the opportunity to see their grades, change PIN numbers, and search all classes in the timetable. This system also … Continued

In January 1869, with a view to assisting East Tennessee University to obtain the Morrill Act endowment and designation as Tennessee’s land-grant institution, the City of Knoxville appropriated $15,000 to the university for the purpose of providing a library for the institution. The city, however, failed to provide the money even after the land-grant endowment … Continued

A connection with the West Knoxville Water Company was made in 1893–94. A smaller pipe had been connected in 1890, which allowed a better sewage system than the privy, “Egypt.” Not until the installation of the larger pipe and connection to the West Knoxville Water Company was there sufficient water pressure to reach to the … Continued

On March 12, 1953, UT President C. E. Brehm announced the initiation of a campus-wide civil defense plan. Twenty-seven civil defense shelters were established and equipped on campus, and drills were held to acquaint the students, faculty, and staff with the shelters. A Civil Defense Committee, chaired by Professor A. T. Granger of the Civil … Continued

In December 1863 the federals named the battery on the Hill (Roemer’s battery of four, three-inch-rifle guns) Fort Byington in memory of Major Cornelius Byington, 2nd Michigan Volunteers, who was killed while leading an assault on confederate trenches in front of Fort Sanders on the morning of November 24.

In 1863 the trustees attempted to collect rent and damages for use of university facilities from the confederate government. They received no response, and the Union army replaced the confederates in using the college buildings. On July 21, 1865, the board resolved to prepare a request for payment from the United States government for the … Continued

After the battle of Fishing Creek in nearby Kentucky in January 1862, the buildings of the university were taken by confederate soldiers for lodging for the wounded. Union troops then occupied Knoxville from September 1863 until June 13, 1865, and the Union troops moved into university buildings close on the heels of the departing confederate … Continued

Tennessee voted to secede from the Union on June 8, 1861, the last state to do so. The university remained open. The trustees declined to suspend operations of the university at their meeting of January 30, 1862, and declined again to close the university at their meeting of February 7, although wounded confederate soldiers occupied … Continued

Campus buildings not being fit for use, the trustees made arrangements for East Tennessee University to reopen March 1, 1866, in the Deaf and Dumb Asylum (later the Knoxville City Hall). On opening day, however, only about 20 students appeared, so East Tennessee University made a second consolidation with Hampden-Sydney Academy until the beginning of … Continued