The Student Alumni Associates’ UNITE program launched at Summer Orientation 2009. The goal of the program is to connect undergrads with Tennessee traditions, UT alumni, volunteer projects, and campus and community leadership opportunities. As an SAA program, UNITE is overseen by the SAA president and two cochairs. Unlike SAA, which has a vigorous selection process, UNITE is open to any student who wishes to join. There are also no membership requirements. Benefits include a UNITE T-shirt, a membership card providing discounts at local businesses, shirts for select home football games, the “Tradition Begins with a T” handbook, and invitations to special members-only VolNights. In order to apply and interview for SAA membership, a student must first join UNITE, a paid membership organization.
UNITE’s “Tradition Begins with a T” program offers lapel pins for participating in 10, 20, and 30 UT traditions, and a special medallion worn at commencement for participating in the 40 traditions described in the handbook.