Graduate Volunteers have both obligations to conduct themselves as a member of the UT community and rights to ensure that they are treated with equity and fairness.
The following are primary resources for understanding your rights and obligations:
Academic Honesty
The Hilltopics student handbook presents the Honor statement, a pledge taken by all students at UT. This statement clarifies the university’s commitment to maintaining and atmosphere of intellectual integrity and academic honesty:
As a student of the University, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and integrity.
Academic Appeals
Graduate students can appeal two types of academic decisions to the Graduate Council through the Appeals Committee.
- a student may have a grievance concerning the interpretation of and adherence to university, college, and department policies and procedures as they apply to graduate education.
- a student has a grievance concerning grades.
Accommodations
The Office of Equal Opportunity & Accessibility (EOA) ensures that UT (Institute of Agriculture, Space Institute, UT Athletics, and Institute of Public Service), UT Foundation, and the UT System comply with federal and state laws by granting access to qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, and genetics seeking to participate in or benefit from programs, activities, facilities, or employment.
EOA’s charge includes campus accessibility, ADA accommodations for employees and visitors, faculty and exempt staff searches, exemptions from normal search processes, and civil rights related education and development.
Discrimination
The Office of Investigation & Resolution (OIR) serves as the central campus investigation unit for UT (including the UT Institute of Agriculture and UT Space Institute), the UT System Administration, and the UT Institute for Public Service. Part of OIR’s mission is advancing the university’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming living, learning, and working environment. Allegations of civil rights violations are addressed by this office.
Report a Possible Violation of University Policy
Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking
The University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are committed to creating and maintaining a learning, living, and working environment free from all forms of sexual misconduct and relationship violence, including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. If you are a survivor of sexual misconduct, relationship violence, or stalking, please know that you are not alone.
The Office of Title IX is devoted to providing support for members of the UT community who are survivors, those who wish to help survivors, and those needing to know their obligations to report and respond to incidents of sexual misconduct, relationship violence, or stalking.
Office of Ombuds Services
The Office of Ombuds Services serves as an independent, impartial, confidential, and informal resource for UT Knoxville and UT Institute of Agriculture employees—both faculty and staff—as well as graduate students.
Ombuds staff are members of the International Ombuds Association (IOA), and follow the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Organizational Ombuds.