A look back at our successes.

CGE had a very successful academic year in 2023-24. Several major accomplishments stand out highlighting a university on the rise!

Launching COIL Initiative

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a transformative pedagogical approach that integrates global learning experiences into the curriculum through online collaboration. In late 2023, with support from the Provost, CGE launched a designated COIL office, a first among SEC institutions.

By connecting students and faculty from different cultural and academic backgrounds, COIL fosters mutual understanding, enhances digital literacy and prepares students for the complexities of a globalized world. The virtual exchange format also enhances access to global learning for students in impactful ways.

Five faculty have served as COIL champions to launch the initiative, with multiple additional projects now in development. Reach out to dwalter4@utk.edu to learn how you can participate.

Implementation of Online Language and Culture Courses

The English Language Institute is positioning itself for the future. Three language learning and cultural orientation courses are now available for anyone in the world to access. The launch of online courses using AI-generated avatars exhibits our capacity to be nimble in the changing landscape of English language instruction. The courses include fundamentals of academic English, business communication and orientation to American culture. All the resources are accessible worldwide through UTK’s Canvas Catalog. For more information on how we can collaborate, please reach out to us at eli@utk.edu.

Support for UT Talent Acquisition

In support of Chancellor Plowman’s cluster hiring initiative, four of the nine hires completed have been sponsored by the ISSS office. In addition, ISSS has saved Colleges and Divisions $250,400 in cost through H-1B sponsorship support.

Leveraging partnership funding to support students

The Programs Abroad Office received more than $45,000 in funding from affiliates and direct enroll partners that was used for for student facing initiatives in Programs Abroad. This includes things such as scholarships, passport giveaways and workshops, Global Ambassador (peer advisor) position cost-sharing, and pre-departure orientation and re-entry programming sessions.

Launching of the First 2+2 Transnational Program

At UT, we launched the first 2+2 dual degree program in 2022 and welcomed the first cohort of our students this fall as third year undergraduate students in the College of Communication and Information. As a university on the rise, UT continues to lead the way in becoming a destination for global education.