At commencement exercises, candidates for degrees of each college are led into the arena area by a faculty marshal carrying a banner. The banners were especially designed and made for the colleges by Art Professor Richard Daehnert. The commencement banners derive their form from the heraldic standards carried in medieval festivals. Individual colleges are identified … Continued

In 1943 (August 30) the first quarterly summer school commencement, Little Commencement, was held in Ayres Hall, increasing the number of annual commencements to two. However, the institution continued to have only one formal graduation for all, regardless of when course work was completed. The university had instituted a summer commencement at the close of … Continued

Chancellor Jack Reese appointed a 25-member Commission for Blacks, which first met January 20, 1976. The commission was successor to the Task Force on Blacks, appointed by Chancellor Archie Dykes in 1972. The commission was to advise on a broad range of matters and was specifically asked to assist in the evaluation and review of … Continued

The commission was established by Chancellor Crabtree in November 2006 and held its first meeting on December 12, 2006. The commission is comprised of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender faculty, staff, and students, as well as LGBT allies, and is appointed by the chancellor. The commission is charged to recommend changes in policy or procedure … Continued

The Faculty Senate passed a resolution in April 2012 expressing its support for extension of equal benefits to domestic partners, defining equal benefits as including (but not being limited to) health insurance, family leave benefits, and education assistance for domestic partners and their dependent children. The senate requested written responses from the chancellors. On September … Continued

In November 1972 Chancellor Dykes announced that a Commission for Women would be appointed, as recommended by the Task Force on Women. Eleven members were announced on November 3: Martha Begalla, coordinator, Women’s Programs; John Prados, dean of admissions; W. K. Stair, associate dean of the College of Engineering; Ann Wachter, associate professor of social … Continued

The presentation of Women of Achievement awards at the Chancellor’s Honors Banquet recognizing an outstanding female faculty, staff, graduate student, and undergraduate student has its roots in a 1980 Women of Achievement event held to recognize the achievements of UT women held by the commission, assisted by the Women’s Coordinating Council, Panhellenic, and Mortar Board. … Continued

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing established the CCNE in 1996. It is an autonomous accrediting agency that focuses exclusively on accrediting bachelor’s and graduate programs in colleges of higher education. Programs in the UT College of Nursing are accredited by CCNE.

In 2001 President Wade Gilley appointed a Commission on the Arts, chaired by Natalie Haslam, to assess the current state of the arts (art, music, theatre, literary arts, McClung Museum, dance) at UT Knoxville, compare UT Knoxville programs with those of aspirational peer institutions, and present recommendations designed to move UT arts programs into the … Continued

In January 1966 UT announced that it would construct a building to house all phases of UT’s journalism, broadcasting, instructional television, public relations, and university extension on Circle Park. Classes were held in the building in summer 1969, although it was not formally open until fall quarter. The building, designed by Bruce McCarty and Associates, … Continued