In December 1995 the Faculty Senate appointed an Exempt Staff Ad Hoc Committee to develop a means for addressing issues related to staff exempt employment at the university. The committee gathered information about organizations at other universities and, based on that study, drafted bylaws for UT Knoxville Staff Exempt Council. Chancellor William Snyder approved the bylaws. The council’s first officers were elected on July 1, 1997. Monique Anderson served as the first chair.