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Letter to the Chancellor

AAUP Statement regarding CAS split

06 September 2022  Chancellor Donde Plowman and Senior Vice Chancellor and Provost John Zomchick are proposing to split up the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) into a College of Natural Sciences (and Math) and a College of Liberal Arts (without Natural Sciences and Math). At a series of “engagement opportunities” in recent weeks, their intent to pursue this plan has become increasingly strong – despite important arguments against the plan from faculty input. Because shared governance is foundational to the American Association of University Professors, we argue against splitting up the CAS on this ground.  Shared governance around such a consequential decision requires (1) more… Read More »AAUP Statement regarding CAS split

Request to Chancellor and Provost to Speak Out Against “Divisive Concepts” Bills

Dear Chancellor Plowman and Provost Zomchick: As we are sure you are aware, the Tennessee General Assembly is in the process of passing a law that will greatly impact our ability to teach courses, topics, and issues necessary to educate our students. We believe our students seek the rigor and challenge of courses from our R1, flagship, land-grant institution because our curriculum not only prepares them for successful careers, but also offers them an expanded understanding of the world in which they live. Bills like SB2290/HB2670 will have a severe chilling effect on what is taught and discussed in the classroom. The bill allows for… Read More »Request to Chancellor and Provost to Speak Out Against “Divisive Concepts” Bills

Response from Chancellor’s Office

Scoggins, MatthewFri 12/3/2021 5:41 PM Dr. McAlpin, This acknowledges your e-mail to Chancellor Plowman. The issues you raised have been addressed by the administration in previous campus communications, including the e-mail from the Chancellor on Wednesday in which she outlined the constraints placed on the University as a result of Tennessee law and the preliminary injunction against enforcement of the applicable federal executive order. As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to monitor and respond appropriately to changes in local and campus health conditions and the legal landscape. Matthew Scoggins Chief of Staff Office of the Chancellor 533 Andy Holt Tower 1331 Circle… Read More »Response from Chancellor’s Office

Letter to Chancellor Plowman Regarding Masks

The following was just sent (Friday 12.3.21 around 10:30 am) to Chancellor Plowman and Provost Zomchick on behalf of UCW and the UTK AAUP: Dear Chancellor Plowman, We are writing to request that the UT Knoxville campus follow CDC guidelines regarding masking indoors, reinstate the mask mandate, and allow those who can to work remotely, immediately, in the interest of keeping our campus safe from COVID. The CDC currently recommends that everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission wear a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated. Moreover, in Knox County, the CDC reports that the average positivity rate is 8.22%… Read More »Letter to Chancellor Plowman Regarding Masks

Letter to Chancellor Plowman regarding Covid Risk

July 26, 2021 Dear Chancellor Plowman: We are writing on behalf of the UTK chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the United Campus Workers – CWA 3865 to express our concerns about the growing risk of COVID-19 infections in Knox County, and particularly the rise of the Delta variant, in relation to the University’s plan to return to full-capacity classrooms and in-class teaching this fall, other than for OED-approved exceptions. Your “Return to Campus” [https://provost.utk.edu/returntocampus/] page indicates that you will soon be making decisions about “masking requirements and other health and safety measures.” Our concerns are as follows: 1. For teaching faculty… Read More »Letter to Chancellor Plowman regarding Covid Risk

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