Dear Vols,
Happy Fall 2025! We at Teaching and Learning Innovation are delighted to welcome everyone back to Rocky Top. We know that each of you is doing all that you can to create a successful academic experience for yourselves and your students. We want to offer you a quick reminder of who TLI is and how we might be a partner to you as you chart your course this semester.
Our Mission, Vision, and Values: At TLI, we serve as the home for faculty development at UTK. Our mission is to foster instructional excellence and support your journey to achieve your work-life goals. We are dedicated to cultivating a culture of success for faculty across the university.
Our vision is simple yet profound: we envision a path to success for every faculty member at UTK. We believe in a future where your growth, accomplishments, and aspirations are valued and supported at every step.
Our values guide us in our mission. As a unit within the Office of the Provost, in the Division of Faculty Affairs, we are committed to:
- Collaboration: We seek collaborative and mutually beneficial connections that promote growth and innovation across our academic community.
- Access and Belonging: Our foundation rests on evidence-based approaches that are beneficial and welcoming to all. We seek to support cultivating an environment where everyone thrives.
- Faculty Development: We assert that faculty development is central to UTK’s mission. As such, we are dedicated to your academic success.
Your Journey with TLI: As you embark on this academic year, we are here to walk with you. To that end, we offer a diverse range of resources and opportunities to meet varied needs. They include:
- Events: We offer a range of opportunities from one-on-one consultations to campuswide gatherings to create space to explore best practices in teaching and learning.
- Learning Communities: This year, we are hosting learning communities on artificial intelligence and effective teaching strategies.
- Signature Events: Participate in our signature events. This fall, we are hosting our Teaching Summit, which is an opportunity to explore teaching topics that matter to UTK and to exchange insights and ideas with colleagues across disciplines.
- Resources: Our website, teaching.utk.edu, offers a wealth of resources to enhance your teaching and learning endeavors.
Get in Touch: We encourage you to reach out to us for any support or questions you may have. Connect with us via our service request form at https://teaching.utk.edu/individual-instructor-requests/, email us at tli@utk.edu, or call us at 865.974.3807.
Once again, welcome back, everyone. Your presence enriches our community, and we are excited to see the transformative impact you will make.
Go Vols!
Ferlin G. McGaskey
Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Innovation