What could your unit change if curiosity led the way?

That’s the question at the heart of this year’s EMBRACE Symposium (Enacting Methodologies that Bridge Reflection and Assessment to Center Excellence), and registration is now open! Join the Assessment and Evaluation Team in the Division of Access and Engagement on Wednesday, November 18, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET in the Student Union for a day centered on this year’s theme, “Sparking Curiosity-Driven Assessment to Ignite Change.”

Through workshops, roundtables, panels, and poster presentations, colleagues from across UT will share how they use reflective assessment to answer important questions, strengthen programs and services, and improve outcomes for students, faculty, and staff. Sessions cover a range of topics, and even those outside your area can show how colleagues framed a question, gathered evidence, and acted on what they found. No assessment experience is required.

This year, we are excited to welcome two outstanding guest speakers. Jonathan Gagliardi, Vice President for Economic Mobility & Social Impact at Northern Arizona University and a nationally recognized leader in student success and institutional effectiveness, will share how institutions can turn questions into action by using evidence to drive meaningful change. Helen Souki Reyes, Senior Research Associate at ThinkTennessee, will explore how research can spark new questions, uncover emerging needs, and inform decisions that expand opportunity for Tennesseans.

Registration is complimentary, lunch is provided, and the priority registration deadline is Friday, October 23, 2026.

Please register today and share this invitation with faculty, staff, and students in your area. For questions or accommodations, contact Janelle Coleman or Jalen Blue at [email protected].