That’s why, starting this fall, online learning activities about alcohol awareness and financial responsibility will be part of FYS 100, the credit/no-credit course all freshmen must take.

As in the past, FYS 100 also requires freshmen to read the Life of the Mind book, complete a response to the book, attend an author discussion, and complete several online tutorials, including instruction on how to use campus technology, a review of UT’s plagiarism policy and student success resources, and lessons about civility and coping with college issues.

Freshmen must complete all ten assignments to earn credit for FYS 100. Most of the tutorials take thirty minutes or less to complete.

Jessie Abernathy, assistant director of First-Year Studies, said alcohol awareness and financial literacy are critical issues for freshmen.

“Financial stress can be just as big a factor in student success as academics,” she said. The new online activity, “I.O.U.: The Essentials of Financial Responsibility,” covers financial aid responsibility, personal finances, and credit savvy.

Ashley Blamey, director of the Safety, Environment, and Education (SEE) Center, said the center developed the new “Alcohol and You” online tutorial to begin prevention education before students arrive on campus.

The Knoxville chapter of the American Advertising Federation awarded UT a Gold Addy for a recently completed video that will be used as part of a revamped campus tour presentation for prospective students visiting UT. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) awarded UT a total of twelve awards at its District III conference for some of the many videos, publications, and awareness campaigns conducted in 2012.

CASE supports educational and professional institutions by enhancing communications, marketing, fund raising, and alumni relations among its members.

The Addy awards were given out February 16 and the CASE awards were announced at the organization’s regional conference February 19 in Atlanta, Georgia.

More than 1,000 entries were submitted to the CASE district conference, and only fifty-five grand prizes were awarded. More than 3,500 higher education institutions and professional organizations are members of CASE Division III, which covers the southeastern United States and includes some of the top schools in the nation.

UT received the following CASE awards:

Grand Prize: “Big Orange. Big Ideas,” the University of Tennessee brand book, a publication that explains the details of implementing and using UT’s brand identity in printed and electronic publications.

Award of Excellence: the university’s Welcome Week 2012 website; the 2011 Chancellor’s Report; and the University of Tennessee branding campaign.

Special Merit: the “Big Orange. Big Ideas.” television halftime spot; the Spring 2012 Commencement social media strategy; the Science Alliance 2012 annual report; the 2012 Accolades magazine for the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences; the Cone Zone campus construction website and signage project; the branding campaign launch; the “What’s Your Big Idea?” video series; and posters for the 2012 Fall Festival.

CONTACT:

Charles Primm (865-974-5180, primmc@utk.edu)

Vol Compliments is a Facebook page that posts nice and encouraging notes about students and others in the UT community. Here is how it works: Anyone can send his or her compliments in a message to the page administrators, who then post it anonymously to the page’s timeline, tagging the person complimented.

“The anonymity of the Internet is so often used to spread hate and ignorance, and this page aims to combat that,” said the page’s administrators.

The concept for the page came from Queen’s University in Ontario, and the page’s administrators adapted the idea to fit UT.

“We felt like it was really something that could benefit UT, and the page has really taken off,” they said.

Vol Compliments will continue to spread positive messages across UT as long as students are willing to share it.

“We hope, most of all, that this page can be used as a medium for UT students to spread positive thoughts and love to their peers. We hope that students continue to use the page to compliment other students for a very long time,” said the page’s administrators.

Alyssa Schroder, a senior in sustainability, and Jacob Arbital, a senior in environmental studies, have the big idea of getting UT involved in a national competition called Small Steps, Big Wins, where undergraduates on campus compete against their peers from other schools to complete social and environmental actions. UT is vying for the top spot. To get involved, visit smallsteps.netimpact.org.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqA17rxcggk

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and best-known honor society. It was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776, during the American Revolution. UT established its Phi Beta Kappa chapter in 1965.

“At one time, Phi Beta Kappa was active on campus and lots of faculty participated. But over the years, fewer and fewer have. We are trying to get a core of members to keep this thing going,” said Kovac, president of the UT chapter. Dawn Coleman, associate professor of English, is the chapter secretary.

Students who meet the membership criteria, which include taking a sufficient number of liberal arts courses, are invited to join Phi Beta Kappa in their junior or senior year. Kovac is focusing on identifying faculty and staff who are already members.

Kovac said he has a membership list, now several years old, which includes about 100 names of UT faculty and staff, some of whom are retired or have left the university. Only a handful of members are actively involved, however.

He suspects there are many faculty and staff who became members at the colleges and universities where they received their degree. He wants to them to come forward to help bring the campus chapter back to life.

“It’s important, first of all, for our students,” he said, noting that UT can’t initiate new members unless there’s an active campus chapter to do it. “Our best students should be recognized in this way. If they put it on their resume, it carries weight.”

A revitalized Phi Beta Kappa chapter also could host academic events, such as speakers or awards ceremonies, he said.

Having an active Phi Beta Kappa chapter is something expected of a Top 25 university.

“Those places that we aspire to be like all have Phi Beta Kappa chapters,” he said.

Phi Beta Kappa members who would like to be regularly informed about the campus chapter’s activities are asked to contact Kovac at jkovac@utk.edu. Include your name, electing institution and year, and your e-mail address.

For more information about Phi Beta Kappa, visit the website.

Emma MacMillan, an alumna with a degree in journalism and electronic media, has the big idea of using compelling writing to get the public interested in science.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvJ5MLZCpaY

Culpepper teaches Psychology 110, a class of mostly freshmen, and noticed that many of her students did not know anyone else in the class. This semester, she’s putting her students into groups and designing discussion areas on Blackboard so they can talk and get to know each other. She’s also posting videos of her lectures and putting materials online that coincide with topics she covers in class.

She won a GTA@OIT grant that has allowed her to implement her new ideas.

GTA@OIT grants are awarded twice annually to graduate teaching assistants or associates who have sole responsibility for teaching a class and want to enhance their teaching using Online@UT tools. To apply, interested individuals must submit a proposal about how they would redesign their class. Winners receive $1,000 for travel or other purposes and work with an IT graduate student assistant mentor to implement their redesign ideas.

MBA student Nate Buchanan has the idea for an online platform that helps students build good credit scores. Credit Virgin provides students with the tools necessary to make good credit decisions and manage their credit scores. Learn more at the Credit Virgin website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJgtwJM4sNM

Wilson, who teaches a class that deals with cultural ideologies and social issues, will supplement assigned readings with online videos and presentations and incorporate some online assignments. This way, Wilson can spend less time lecturing and more time helping his students apply the concepts to the real world.

GTA@OIT grants are awarded twice annually to graduate teaching assistants or associates who have sole responsibility for teaching a class and want to enhance their teaching using Online@UT tools. To apply, interested individuals must submit a proposal about how they would redesign their class. Winners receive $1,000 for travel or other purposes and work with an IT graduate student assistant mentor to implement their redesign ideas.

Evan Meaney, an assistant professor of art, and Amy Szczepanski, an assistant research professor in electrical engineering and computer science, had the big idea of turning large-scale data and information into art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8GE7tca6Bc

Taking Action for Social Conscience (TASC), founded in summer 2011, tries to raise awareness about global issues and also work to improve the Knoxville community. It chooses one global issue to focus on each year, called its “TASC Mission.”

This year, the group is partnering with Sustainable Cambodia, an organization that has helped rebuild Cambodia since the genocide that occurred there in the late 1970s. Last year, TASC helped provide meals for preschoolers in Cambodia through this partnership. This year they hope to fund water wells, send school supplies, and fight malnourishment in the country.

Locally, TASC has worked with groups including Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Salvation Army, and Wesley House.

TASC will be holding two interest meetings for potential members—one in the International House at 5:30 p.m. on January 28 and one in the Humanities Building, Room 56, at 5:30 p.m. on January 31.

New member applications are due by February 3 and can be sent to tascforce.utk@gmail.com.

For more information about the group, visit the website.

Elizabeth Tiller, a recent graduate in public administration and Spanish, has the big idea of improving the lives of the homeless and radically underprivileged through a 5K fundraiser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guC0trcDPWc

Woody Paige, UT alumnus, ESPN broadcaster, and Denver Post columnist, has the idea of naming the women’s basketball Final Four trophy in honor of Lady Vols basketball head coach emerita Pat Summitt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-ngXSkzkNw

Jazz for Tots, a charity event for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign, will feature jazz ensembles performing holiday classics. This year’s concert begins at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, in the James R. Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building. Admission is a new unwrapped toy to donate to the Toys for Tots campaign.

“The concert is always fun,” said Brown. “The students’ arrangements of the songs are very creative.”

Brown, an adjunct associate professor of music and director of the Jazz Big Band and other small jazz combos, first organized the performance twenty-four years ago with the idea of incorporating jazz ensembles in a concert benefiting the Toys for Tots campaign.

Lindsay Lee, a junior majoring in Spanish and math, has the big idea of starting Disability Awareness Week at UT. The week begins November 26 and includes events such as an art show and public forum. Read more about Disability Awareness Week in Tennessee Today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctAgtf9bn3Q

Russ Coughenour, director of career services, has the big idea of the Greater Knoxville Area Consortium of Employers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFge4q5KOW4

The first group of the pins will be given out today at an orientation session for veterans who are preparing to start classes at UT in the spring as transfer students.

The pins aren’t for widespread distribution; they are for student veterans.

Blamey said she hopes student veterans will wear the pins on their backpacks, shirts, or jackets. When they see someone else wearing the same pin, they’ll know they’ve found another veteran.

“We look for ways we can help them feel connected and recognized while also acknowledging they may be surrounded by classmates who do not share their same life experiences,” said Blamey, who also chairs the Task Force in Support of Student Veterans. The task force was created last fall to coordinate campus resources and link support services for student veterans.

UT has 799 student veterans or their dependents enrolled this year—a jump of more than 70 percent since 2009.

Students who are serving or have served in the military are invited to contact call 974-5725 or email ashleyblamey@utk.edu to get a pin.

Do you have a Big Idea to share? Now is your chance!

The Office of Communications and Marketing will be filming “What’s Your Big Idea?” videos from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, November 28, at the television studio in Communications Building Room 91.

Participants are asked to share their ideas in two ways—first, tell us about your idea in about a minute for a video that will appear on the university’s homepage; and then tell us about your idea in about twenty seconds for a video that could appear on the jumbotron during the Vols’ home basketball games.

For examples of past videos, visit UT’s YouTube page.

Melahnie Springfield, an advertising graduate student, had the big idea to start a popular blog about self-segregation in social media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XUwedSYUdg

So they organized the Barefoot Benefit 5K, which invited barefoot runners and walkers alike to participate in the 3.1-mile race. The third annual event, which took place last month in Maryville, drew about 150 participants and raised roughly $5,000 for Samaritan Place.

“This whole experience has been such a blessing to me,” said Heather Lin, a UT junior and member of the Barefoot Benefit team. “I can firmly say that being a part of the team has taught me more than all of the classes I have taken combined. It has meant more to me than just a learning experience. I truly feel like I have grown to become a responsible young adult throughout the planning process.”

From left, Martin Leamon, Natalie Rammer, professor Ernie Cadotte, Nicole Rammer, Heather Lin, and Garret Daniel.

The students organized the benefit as part of a service-learning course taught by business professor Ernie Cadotte.

Martin Leamon, a UT junior and Barefoot Benefit team member, said he wanted the money raised to impact as many seniors as possible at Samaritan Place.

“I have high hopes that a significant amount of public awareness was also raised for the Samaritan Place,” he said.

For more information about the Barefoot Benefit, visit the Facebook page.