Career Development
The University seeks to assist students in all phases of career development. Students are encouraged to seek assistance with career planning early in their college years. The Office of Career Development, located on first floor Martin Hall, includes career counseling and assessment meetings, resume building and proofing, mock interviews, summer/part-time/internship job fairs, career fairs, graduate school fairs, along with seminars and workshops for all UT Southern students.
Counseling and Health Services
Campus health services are provided by the University Clinic. The Clinic provides primary care and preventive care in addition to care for acute and chronic health issues. Counseling services are also available to all students. A professional counselor provides counseling on mental health issues. The counseling sessions with students are separate from school academic records and are confidential unless a signed release is obtained from the student allowing communication. Some exceptions to this, such as emergencies, are explained in the first meeting.
For emergencies, the local emergency room may be used. Emergency room expenses are borne by the student, and the University encourages all students who do not have a health insurance plan to consider enrolling in one. International students are required to show proof of health insurance or will be required to purchase a health insurance policy through the University.
Student Food Bank
The Student Food Bank seeks to alleviate the barriers and challenges associated with food insecurity and hunger so that students can remain in school and ultimately earn their degrees. The Student Food Bank promotes the academic success of students dealing with food insecurity by providing a reliable source of food on-campus that is free of charge to current UT Southern students. The Student Food Bank is located on the second floor of the Guthrie Student Life Center.
Social Life
During a typical year, many social events designed to include the entire student body are planned and carried out each year by the students through both their elected representatives (SGA) and through the Offices of Student Activities.
Student Government
The student body is represented in the governing of life at the University through elected representatives who compose the Student Government Association (SGA).
Honor Societies
The University encourages participation in various clubs and honor societies of particular interest to the individual student. The social and intellectual benefits of membership in these organizations can be extremely meaningful.
ALPHA CHI: The purpose of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society is to recognize and promote academic excellence among college and university students in all academic disciplines and to nurture those elements of character that make scholarship effective for good. Alpha Chi holds a national convention each spring and offers scholarships, fellowships, and opportunities for publication in Alethia, the Alpha Chi Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship. Members and potential inductees are held to high standards for good character and excellence in scholarship. Membership shall be limited to students with junior or senior standing, who rank in the top 5 percent or top 10 percent of their class, respectively, and have at least 24 credit hours at UT Southern at the time of invitation to membership.
CHI ALPHA SIGMA: The National College Athlete Honor Society recognizes student-athletes from accredited four-year NCAA, NAIA, or NCCAA institutions who excel in both the classroom and competition. Chi Alpha Sigma was founded in 1996 by then DePauw University head football coach Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime. In order to be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, or NCCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).
KAPPA DELTA PI: The international Honor Society in Education recognizes scholarship and excellence in education, promotes the development and dissemination of worthy educational ideas and practices, enhances continuous growth and leadership, and fosters inquiry and reflection on significant educational issues. Membership is open to students in education programs who have attained sophomore standing, who have completed or are enrolled in at least 12 semesters of education courses, and who possess a minimum GPA of 3.0.
OMICRON DELTA KAPPA: The National Leadership Honor Society was founded with the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized, that representatives in all phases of college life should cooperate in worthwhile endeavors, and that outstanding students, faculty, and administrations should meet on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness. The first national college honor society to recognize and honor meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of campus citizenship, student inductees must be juniors or seniors, in the top 35 percent of their class, and show leadership in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service; social or religious activities, campus government; journalism, speech, mass media; or creative and performing arts.
PHI ALPHA THETA: An American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history, the society, established in 1921, has over 350,000 members and 860 local chapters. UT Southern's chapter, Alpha Pi Gamma, was established in 2015 with nine charter members. For consideration, undergraduates must have 18 hours in history and a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
PI GAMMA MU: The International Social Science Honor Society encourages excellence in the social sciences, providing recognition for scholastic achievement and offering enrichment opportunities through service projects, publications, scholarships and lectureship grants. Membership is limited to those of high scholarship and good moral character. Juniors and seniors who rank in the upper 35 percent of their class at the time of invitation to membership, maintain a grade average of “B” or better, and have 20 hours in social science courses may be inducted into membership.
SIGMA BETA DELTA: An honor society for students of business, management, or administration who are pursuing baccalaureate degrees, its purposes are to encourage and recognize scholarship and accomplishment among students of business, management, and administration, and to encourage and promote aspirations toward personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind. Organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, membership is limited to those of high scholarship and good moral character. Candidates in the upper 20 percent of their class at the time of invitation to membership may be inducted following completion of at least one-half of the degree program in which they are enrolled.
SIGMA TAU DELTA: The International English Honor Society has served the English discipline for more than 75 years. With more than 600 chapters worldwide, it is the most active honor organization in the field. Sigma Tau Delta fosters excellence in all areas of English and literature studies; encourages further achievement in the field; promotes creative and analytical writing; offers scholarships, new-teacher awards, writing awards, internships in publishing houses; and gives students a forum for publishing their scholarly and creative works in an award-winning journal The Rectangle. Sigma Tau Delta holds regional conventions and an international convention every spring. Prospective members must maintain a 3.3 grade point average in English courses and have had at least two courses above the freshman level; they must be in the upper 35 percent of their class after at least three semesters in college.
Southern Experience
Developing a sense of community and broadening cultural perspectives are a major part of the college experience and vital to the concept of a liberal arts education. UT Southern is committed to assisting in this enrichment by providing a variety of opportunities to come together for cultural, spiritual, and intellectual events. To ensure that students benefit from these opportunities, the University encourages all students to define their own unique Southern Experience by participating in a wide array of events and activities.
These events and activities take place across days and times, so students have multiple opportunities each semester.
Event Examples:
Student life activities, Student organizations, dramatic productions, concerts, choir presentations, service projects, speaker series, guest lectures, career prep activities, intramurals, gaming, wellness education, prevention, nutrition, etc.
Athletics
A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the University participates in intercollegiate competition in basketball (M/W), baseball, volleyball, softball, soccer (M/W), tennis (M/W), golf (M/W), cross country (M/W), outdoor track & field (M/W), competitive cheer (CoEd), and swimming (M/W). Outside the NAIA, the University also competes in clay target (CoEd). Historically, our intercollegiate teams have distinguished themselves and brought honor to the University.
Student Union
The Starnes Student Union contains the dining hall, The Nest spirit shop, the Firehawk Cafe, a study room with computers, student gathering spaces, and the Mail Services Office. In order to receive a student mail box, students must complete an application; mail boxes are not automatically assigned. Students will receive e-mails (usually via their University e-mail address) whenever they have a package.
Student Resource Center
The mission of the Student Resource Center (SRC) is to help students achieve academic success throughout their time at The University of Tennessee Southern. The SRC offers free tutoring for all classes offered at UT Southern with particular attention given to those of the freshman and sophomore levels. Besides tutoring, the SRC functions as a computer lab complete with Microsoft Office and other essential programs for classes at UT Southern. Additionally, the SRC serves as a library of textbooks, which students can use at center. It also serves as a testing location for the University of Tennessee Southern students and supports those with academic accommodations. The SRC’s hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm and Friday from 10 am- 2 pm. Contact Barry Rich, Director, at 931-363-9863 for more information.
Library
The Warden Memorial Library, located on the ground floor of the Johnston Center, holds over 111,000 volumes of books, bound periodicals, and audiovisual materials. As a member of OCLC, the library has access to over 70 million items through interlibrary loan. The library is open seven days a week during the school year, and Monday through Friday during the summer.
Books may be checked out for two weeks; audiovisual materials, for two days. Periodicals and reference books do not circulate. Multipurpose computer terminals provide access to the computerized card catalog (OPAC), electronic databases, Microsoft Office programs and the Internet. Most of the library’s databases and its entire e-book collection are available remotely to any student with Internet access; databases include CINAHL, JSTOR, and, BioOne COMPLETE. The library contains several special collections including the Senator Ross Bass Archives, the Methodist Reference and Rare Book Collections, the Zimmerman Judaica Collection (incorporating the Glatzer Collection), and additional local history and rare book collections.
The library has two multi-purpose printer/copier/scanners, compact and full-size laminators, two group study rooms, and a listening and viewing room for audiovisual resources. Wireless access and fifteen laptops available for student check-out are also available.
The library’s current hours, staff, policies, services, and fine schedules are listed in a brochure available at the library and on the library’s web site at: https://utsouthern.edu/academics/library/
Publications
THE STUDENT HANDBOOK: The Student Handbook contains University regulations, the constitution of the Student Government Association, and student consumer information. The handbook is published each fall under the auspices of the Office of Student Affairs and is distributed during Welcome Week. It is an official publication of the University and is considered a supplement to the Catalog.
THE COLUMNS: This official publication of the University of Tennessee Southern, produced by the Office of Communications, aims to keep alumni and friends informed about the work of UT Southern.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SOUTHERN CATALOG: The official publication of the University for the academic year indicated, the Catalog should be read carefully by students, faculty, and staff. An up-to-date version as well as past Catalogs can be found on the UT Southern website.
Housing and Meals
All full-time students under the age of 21 and enrolled in at least 12 hours of coursework each semester are required to live on campus or at home with a parent, legal guardian, sibling (over the age of 25), or grandparent within a 40 mile radius of campus. All students must complete an application through the Office of Residential Life, either for on-campus housing or for off-campus residency. All residential students board at the Dining Hall, located in the Student Union Building. Meals are provided at regular, stated hours seven days per week. Commuting students are provided additional Flex Dollars to use in the Dining Hall or at the Firehawk Café. Commuting students may purchase meal plans.
Student Apartments (2004) consist of two multilevel structures, housing 116 students; each apartment has four single bedrooms, two full baths, a small kitchen and dining area, and washer/dryer facilities.
Criswell Hall (1964) provides comfortable living quarters for female students. This building has a guest lounge, a resident lounge for the private use of the students, a laundry room, the resident director’s apartment, and a chapel. Located in an elevated position, it commands a panoramic view of the campus.
Upperman Hall (1951) is a residence hall housing both men and women. The first wing of this building was constructed in 1951, remodeled in 1970, and upgraded in 2004. A second wing was added in 1970.
Oakwood Academic Excellence Apartments, purchased by the University in 2011, serve as a residence hall for academically high-achieving students. Students must have lived on campus for at least one year and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher to qualify to live in the Oakwood Apartments. Each apartment has two bedrooms with a closet, bed, chest of drawers, and cable connections. Each apartment also has one bathroom, washer and dryer, and a kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator and stove.