University of Tennessee

University of Tennessee names interim chancellor at Southern

June 17, 2022 GMT

PULASKI, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee's newest campus will get an interim chancellor beginning July 1.

University of Tennessee announced on Thursday that Linda C. Martin will step into the role at UT Southern after current Chancellor Mark La Branche said he plans to retire.

University of Tennessee Southern chancellor to leave role

May 11, 2022 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The chancellor of the University of Tennessee Southern plans to retire from his role at the new campus.

The university system says in a news release that Chancellor Mark La Branche plans to retire effective June 30, and will serve as a special assistant to university system president Randy Boyd before full retirement.

University of Tennessee to resume requiring test scores

May 9, 2022 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Students applying to attend the University of Tennessee next fall will be required to submit standardized test scores, the school said.

2 killed in southeastern Kentucky house fire

March 27, 2022 GMT

MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (AP) — Two people have died in a house fire in southeastern Kentucky, authorities said.

Diana Poff, 75, and Willina Risner, 46, were found dead inside a burned house in the Colmar community of Bell County on Saturday, Kentucky State Police said in a news release.

Tennessee National Guard rescues Smokies hiker amid illness

March 17, 2022 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee National Guard says it sent a medical flight crew to rescue a hiker whose illness rendered him unable to walk or stand while on the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

UT’s Pride of the Southland bands getting new director

March 7, 2022 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Michael Stewart has been selected as the next director of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's Pride of the Southland Marching and Athletic Bands. Beginning July 1, Stewart will lead the 340-member team of musicians and majorettes, the School of Music announced recently.

UT-Knoxville draws $10M pledge for engineering scholarship

February 23, 2022 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has drawn a pledged donation of $10 million to support an engineering scholarship.

The state’s flagship campus says the gift from Dwight Hutchins of the information technology company Accenture will support the Fred D.

University reinstates professor acquitted of ties to China

February 3, 2022 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has reinstated a professor who was acquitted of federal charges that had accused him of hiding his relationship with a Chinese university while receiving NASA research grants.

4 women shot, wounded in East Tennessee

January 15, 2022 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Four women were wounded in a shooting early Saturday in East Tennessee, police said.

Two of the victims suffered serious wounds and two had non-life-threatening injuries, news outlets reported, citing a statement from Knoxville Police.

Oral history of deadly Gatlinburg fire going online

November 30, 2021 GMT

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — An oral history of a deadly wildfire that began in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and devastated Gatlinburg in 2016 will be easily accessible to the public beginning on Tuesday.

Tennessee frat gets 5-year suspension for hazing, alcohol

November 23, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The oldest fraternity chapter at the University of Tennessee has been suspended for five years over repeated hazing and alcohol violations, the university says.

Alpha Tau Omega will be suspended until the fall 2026 semester, university spokesperson Tyra Haag told the Knoxville News Sentinel.

USDA announces $20.2M for dairy business innovation

November 12, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced $20.2 million in investments in dairy business innovation efforts, including in the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center in Vermont, that it says will help small dairy farms as they recover from the pandemic.

University of Tennessee system proposes veteran tuition rate

November 12, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee system is proposing a break that would let military veterans attend its campuses at the discounted in-state tuition rate.

The university says the board has shown support for President Randy Boyd’s proposal and a request for approval from state lawmakers to make the change possible across the university’s system.

Sonny Osborne, bluegrass banjoist behind ‘Rocky Top,’ dies

By The Associated PressOctober 25, 2021 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bluegrass musician and singer Sonny Osborne, whose fast banjo licks turned “Rocky Top” into a hit with The Osborne Brothers, has died. He was 84.

Alison Brown, a Grammy-winning banjo player, told The Tennessean that Osborne died on Sunday.

University of Tennessee expands scholarship eligibility

October 22, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee system has increased the amount a family can earn and still have a student qualify for a UT Promise scholarship, the system announced Thursday.

UT Promise is a last-dollar scholarship that guarantees free tuition and fees after other financial aid is received.

Tennessee plans 8 town halls on education funding formula

October 22, 2021 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee will hold eight town hall hearings as officials review the state's K-12 education funding formula.

University offers to rehire prof acquitted of ties to China

October 17, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has offered to reinstate a professor who was acquitted of federal charges that had accused him of hiding his relationship with a Chinese university while receiving NASA research grants, a letter obtained by the Knoxville News Sentinel says.

U of Tennessee health center lands $3.2M for lab upgrade

October 6, 2021 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee Health Science Center has landed $3.2 million in federal money to upgrade a laboratory used for research on infectious diseases.

In a news release, the Memphis campus says the the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the money for equipment and infrastructure improvements at the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory.

Visitor use survey begins at Daniel Boone National Forest

October 6, 2021 GMT

WINCHESTER, Ky. (AP) — Officials have begun a yearlong effort to survey visitors at the Daniel Boone National Forest.

A team from the University of Tennessee began conducting the National Visitor Use Monitoring survey on Saturday and will continue through Sept.

Glass leading COVID-19 support at UT Medical Center

September 27, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's assistant adjutant general-air will lead the Defense Department's COVID-19 support at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, the National Guard announced.

Federal judge acquits Tennessee professor with ties to China

By TRAVIS LOLLERSeptember 10, 2021 GMT

A federal judge on Thursday threw out all charges against a University of Tennessee professor accused of hiding his relationship with a Chinese university while receiving research grants from NASA.

University of Tennessee system extends COVID mask mandate

September 7, 2021 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee system has extended a mask requirement at its campuses amid the state’s continued spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the delta variant.

Farm gift pledge to UT-Martin worth a system record $79.5M

August 23, 2021 GMT

MARTIN, Tenn. (AP) — University officials say a former equestrian Olympic gold medalist’s commitment to donate her family farm to the University of Tennessee at Martin after her death is valued at a record-breaking $79.5 million.

UT to conduct vaccination outreach in 6 rural counties

August 10, 2021 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee's nursing school has received a grant to conduct COVID-19 vaccination outreach in six rural counties in the state.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Nursing said Monday it has received more than $76,000 to help improve vaccination rates in rural and underserved communities in Benton, Fentress, Hardin, Lawrence, McNairy and Wayne counties.

University of Tennessee biologists await corpse flower bloom

July 22, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The public is invited to come see, and smell, the rare blooming of a corpse flower at the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Hesler Biology Building.

Zinc mining accident in Tennessee kills 1 worker, injures 2

July 14, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — One worker was killed and two others were injured in an accident at an underground zinc mine in Tennessee, authorities said.

The accident occurred Tuesday at Nyrstar’s Immel Mine in Knox County, news media outlets reported.

University of Tennessee board OKs tuition increases, budget

June 25, 2021 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees on Friday approved tuition increases at two campuses and finalized its operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The board met in person for the first time since February 2020, the university said in a news release.

Mistrial declared in case of University of Tennessee prof

June 16, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case of a former University of Tennessee researcher charged with hiding his relationship with a Chinese university while receiving research grants from the federal government.

Testimony: Professor noted ties to China in reports

June 9, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A University of Tennessee professor charged with hiding his relationship with a Chinese university to get research grants from a federal agency filed multiple reports with the school detailing his ties, according to court testimony.

Professor charged with hiding China ties claims innocence

June 8, 2021 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A University of Tennessee professor charged with hiding his relationship with a Chinese university while receiving research grants from the federal government is innocent of the federal charges, his attorney said during a trial in Knoxville.