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Academic and External Relations

A beauty shot of campus and downtown showing the Sunsphere, Ayers Hall and mountains. Photo by Steven Bridges/University of Tennessee.The purpose of Academic & External Relations (AER) within the Division of Access & Engagement is to strengthen UT’s commitment to its land-grant mission. Its Office of Engagement & Outreach fosters meaningful, mutually beneficial and reciprocal partnerships between the university and local, regional communities as well as the state. AER supports faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students who use community-engaged pedagogy in their research methodology. Signature initiatives that drive impact include:

  • Annual Engagement & Outreach
  • Community Engaged Scholarship
  • Faculty Recruitment & Retention
  • Divisional Communications
  • Advancement & Alumni Relations
  • Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Elective Designations