Detailed Table of Contents

Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management

GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND HUMAN SCIENCES

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE

2023-2024

___________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Welcome Statement ..............................................................................................2

Chapter 1 Introduction ...........................................................................................3

Chapter 2 General Duties and Responsibilities of Faculty and Graduate Students

..............................................................................................................................5

Chapter 3 Admission Requirements/Application Procedure ..................................6

Chapter 4 Financial Support ................................................................................ 10

Chapter 5 Registration and Advising ................................................................... 15

Chapter 6 Degree Requirements ........................................................................ 20

Chapter 7 Examinations ...................................................................................... 25

Chapter 8 Standards, Problems, and Appeals .................................................... 29

Chapter 9 Departmental Personnel Support ....................................................... 35

Appendices ......................................................................................................... 39

Appendix A. Plan of Study Form

Appendix B. Dissertation Proposal Evaluation Form

Appendix C. Dissertation Final Defense Evaluation Form

Appendix D. Annual Review of Doctoral Students

Appendix E. Graduate Assistant Work Performance Evaluation

Appendix F. University of Tennessee Online Resources

WELCOME STATEMENT

Welcome to the Ph.D. program in the Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism

Management at the University of Tennessee. You have elected to embark on a path of

knowledge generation and dissemination as an academic scholar. Your journey will be

fascinating, rewarding, challenging and most likely different from your professional and

academic experiences of the past.

In this program, you will gradually work towards becoming a full-portfolio scholar. This

means that you will learn to be an accomplished researcher, author, teacher and

committed citizen to serving others including students, your department, the college, the

university and the community. You will learn to understand, leverage and critique

existing scholastic literature in a way that helps you identify opportunities to advance

knowledge about relevant business and societal problems. You will gain an

understanding of theories and research methods in order to conduct rigorous studies

that help to close those knowledge gaps as well as learn how to become a scientific

writer in order to get your research published in appropriate academic journals. So, you

are becoming both a scientist and an author. You will find the process both extremely

challenging and fascinating.

As a teacher, you will learn to share your passion for knowledge with students in order

to be instrumental in preparing them for their careers upon graduation. The faculty in

this department are extremely proficient in preparing you for success. They and your

graduate student peers are here to assist you. We hope that you also thoroughly enjoy

your time here and make life-long friends.

We look forward to helping you manage your journey through the coursework and

eventually through your own dissertation project. Upon successful completion of your

Ph.D., we hope that you will join us as a colleague in another fine university as a

professor and enjoy the privilege of having a successful career in this noble profession

we call academia.

I wish you all the best!

Dr. Junehee Kwon

Professor and Department Head

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

GRADUATE SCHOOL INFORMATION

To serve the mission and vision of the Graduate School and preserve the integrity of

Graduate Programs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, information related to the

process of graduate education in each department is to be provided for all graduate

students.

Based on Best Practices offered by the Council of Graduate Schools, it is important that

detailed articulation of the information specific to the graduate degrees offered in each

department/program be disseminated.

The Department Graduate Handbook does not deviate from established Graduate

School Policies (tiny.utk.edu/grad-policies) noted in the Graduate Catalog, but rather

provides the specific ways in which those policies are carried out.

PURPOSE OF HANDBOOK

This Handbook seeks to provide students with basic information about graduate study in

the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management. Graduate students are

expected to be aware of and satisfy all regulations governing their work and study at the

university. Students should be directed to the Graduate Catalog (tiny.utk.edu/grad-

catalog), to Hilltopics (hilltopics.utk.edu), and to the publications on the Appeals

Procedure (gradschool.utk.edu/graduate-student-life/understanding-your-rights-and-

obligations/).

The University of Tennessee (UTK) Graduate Catalog is the official document that

contains information applicable to all graduate students. The catalog may be found

online at http://catalog.utk.edu/. This document is recognized as the final authority

concerning graduate school policies, procedures, programs, and curricula. Students

should heed the prominent warning within the catalog that they must assume full

responsibility for knowledge of rules and regulations of The Graduate Council

and departmental requirements for the chosen degree program. Students should

note that they are held to the requirements in existence at the time of graduation rather

than at the time of first enrollment and are responsible for knowledge of those

requirements.

Most departments maintain requirements beyond those published in the Graduate

Catalog. Requirements for the RHTM department are presented in this RHTM Graduate

Student Handbook. The Handbook may be obtained from the Department of Retail,

Hospitality, and Tourism Management (RHTM) in room 110 Jessie Harris Building (865-

974-6831) or RHTM’s web site (http://rhtm.utk.edu). This document contains information

for both graduate students and faculty. Graduate students are responsible for

information in the Handbook. Much of the text which is reproduced in this Handbook

was abstracted from the Graduate Catalog for the convenience of the reader. However,

both the Graduate Catalog and Graduate Student Handbook should be consulted to

fully acquaint the reader with pertinent information. Students should consult with the

Director of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Administrative Assistant, or other

appropriate persons if they have any question or concern regarding the RHTM graduate

program.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE FOR GRADUATE ADMINISTRATION

This section provides information regarding the functions and responsibilities of

individuals and committees in our Ph.D. program. The Director of Graduate Studies

(DGS, currently Dr. Michelle Childs) coordinates the activities of the committees and

oversees the graduate program as a whole. The DSG offers academic advising for the

first-year students until they select a major professor. The Graduate Administrative

Assistant (currently, Marcia Lane) offers administrative aids such as admission

documents, class registration, etc.

The Graduate Committee, chaired by the DGS, consists of tenure-track faculty in our

department. The Graduate Committee is responsible for developing and implementing

guidelines that help and monitor the successful progress of a graduate student towards

his/her degree. The Graduate Committee evaluates new Ph.D. applications and makes

recommendations concerning the admission and the awarding of assistantships.

CONTACT INFORMATION

1215 W. Cumberland Ave.

110 Jessie Harris Building

Knoxville, TN 37996-1911

Email: [email protected]

Fax: 865-974-5236

Phone: 865-974-2141

Department Head

Dr. Junehee Kwon

Email: [email protected]

Director of Graduate Studies

Dr. Michelle Childs

Email: [email protected]

Support Staff

Marcia Lane, Graduate Administrative Assistant

Email : [email protected]

Phone : 865-974-6831

Graduate and International Admissions

218 Student Services Building

Phone: 974-3251

CHAPTER 2 GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF

FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FACULTY

All faculty members in the department have responsibilities to provide the best training through

coursework, seminars, and opportunities to develop teaching and research skills. The graduate

faculty will mentor, but a student’s major professor will serve as the main channel to provide

advice based on policy and regulations. The graduate faculty should monitor the progress of the

graduate students to ensure the graduate students’ timely graduation. In this process, all faculty

members should advise the graduate students based on all university, Graduate School, and

departmental guidelines.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

All graduate students should strive to meet all the requirements listed in the current Graduate

Catalog, in the Hilltopics Student Handbook, and in this Graduate Student Handbook. Students

are responsible for keeping informed about any changes in the department’s requirements. Any

changes to the department’s requirements will be sent to students through email and listed in

the future editions of the RHTM Graduate Student Handbook.

Graduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic performance and actively

participate in Departmental functions and professional activities. We also expect students'

professionalism and work ethics as students fulfill their academic and professional activities on

and off the campus.

Students with Graduate Teaching Assistantships or Associateships bear extra responsibilities

because they are regarded as the university's teaching faculty. Graduate Teaching Assistants

(GTA) with a half-time assistantship are expected to work ten hours per week for each assigned

faculty supervisor to assist a faculty supervisor's teaching. GTAs are responsible for promptly

contacting a faculty supervisor so that they can be informed of their duties and responsibilities.

Graduate Teaching Associates teach their own course. Graduate Teaching Associates are

responsible for undergraduate students' learning in the assigned course. If a Graduate Teaching

Associate must miss a class lecture for some reason, he/she must find someone to teach the

class and inform the appropriate faculty member in charge of the overall course of their

absence. Both Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Teaching Associates should

comply with all university regulations.

CHAPTER 3 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The department offers the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Retail, Hospitality, and

Tourism Management. The Ph.D. degree is primarily oriented toward research. The UT

Graduate School specifies minimum requirements for admission to the University and

these are provided in the Graduate Catalog. Many programs such as ours maintain

admission requirements beyond those of the Graduate School and these also are

provided here. Application procedures specified in this Handbook reflect both sets of

admission requirements. Please remember that an application must be approved by

The Graduate School and the RHTM department before admission is granted.

GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the Ph.D. program normally requires a master’s degree with a satisfactory

grade point average from a college or university accredited by the appropriate regional

accrediting agency or foreign equivalent.

Admission to graduate study requires a minimum grade point average of 2.7 out of a

possible 4.0, or a 3.0 during the senior year of undergraduate study. Applicants with

previous graduate work must have a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or

equivalent on all graduate work. Many programs require a higher average. Applicants

with work experience or who are entering graduate study after many years away from

an educational institution, usually five years, will be considered with greater flexibility

relative to GPA. An international student graduating from a United States institution

must meet the same requirements as those for domestic students.

An applicant whose GPA falls between 2.5 and 2.7 may be admitted on probation, upon

recommendation of an academic unit graduate committee. The probationary status will

be removed after completion of 9 or more hours of graduate credit with a minimum GPA

of 3.0. Failure to maintain a 3.0 while in this status will result in dismissal. An

international student may not be admitted on probation.

The stated criteria are minimums. The actual averages required for admission may be

higher, depending on the number and the qualifications of applicants.

When a student is admitted to graduate study before having received the master

degree, that degree must be awarded before the date of first registration in doctoral

courses.

The Office of Graduate Admissions must be notified of any change in the entering date

after admission has been granted. Individual departments and colleges may have

further restrictions on admission dates. For this information, students should contact the

department they wish to enter. If a student does not enroll within one year after the

requested admission, the application process must be repeated.

Enrollment in graduate programs is a privilege which may be withdrawn by the

university, or any area of graduate study if it is deemed necessary by the Dean of

Graduate Studies to safeguard the university's standards. For further information, refer

to the Graduate Catalog.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The applicant should submit his/her application online to the Office of Graduate

Admissions at https://gradschool.utk.edu/admissions/. The applicant should meet

Graduate School requirements to be considered for admission to the RHTM

department. To apply for admission in RHTM, the following materials must be submitted

to The Office of Graduate Admissions through the online application submission

process (see https://gradschool.utk.edu/admissions/applying-to-graduate-

school/admission-requirements/):

• The completed Graduate Application for Admission

(http://admissions.utk.edu/graduate)

• The $60 non-refundable application fee. When you submit your application, all

applicants will be asked to provide the credit card information to pay the

nonrefundable application fee. This fee must be paid online, and your application

will not be received until it’s paid.

• One unofficial transcript from all colleges and universities attended. Official

transcripts are required after being admitted.

• Scores from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if native language

is not English (refer to the section on English Certification)

In addition to these, the graduate program in the RHTM department requires the

following materials to be submitted:

• Three Graduate Rating forms compiled by individuals who can attest to your

potential for graduate education

• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management

Admission Test (GMAT)

• Personal goal statement regarding your intentions upon earning the degree.

• If applying for an assistantship, statement of intent is also needed.

All documents submitted become the property of the university and will not be returned.

Admission of Domestic Students

Domestic applicants may apply up to two weeks before the beginning of the desired

term of entry. However, application materials must be complete to be considered for

admission. It is recommended to apply at least eight months before the desired term of

entry to be considered for graduate assistantships. Offers of assistantship are normally

made in late February but may occur as late as June.

Admission of International Students

International applicants can find specific information regarding admission procedures

and requirements for international students at https://tiny.utk.edu/PDqF4. For

admission to a graduate program, an international student must have an equivalent 2-

year master’s degree. Individuals with degrees from foreign institutions must have

earned a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate work and a minimum of

3.3 on a 4.0 scale on all graduate work. US degree holders must have earned a

minimum 2.7 out of a possible 4.0 GPA or a minimum of 3.0 during the senior year of

undergraduate study and a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all graduate work.

International students may apply for admission any semester but normally enter the fall

semester. The department does not offer admission for the Summer term. The

deadlines for submission of applications to the Office of Graduate Admissions are:

Term Deadline File Completion Deadline

Fall February 1 May 15

Spring June 15 October 1

The Office of Graduate Admissions must be notified of any change in entering a date

after admission has been granted. Individuals applying online must pay the application

fee by credit card.

In addition to all materials required above, international students should submit the

following items to be considered for admission:

• Official or attested university records, with certified translations if the records are

not in English (notarized copies are not accepted).

• Confirmation of degree(s). Confirmation must be received by the Office of

Graduate Admissions at least 2 months before the term of first enrollment.

• Documented evidence of financial resources sufficient to support the student, as

stated on the financial statement form supplied to the applicant. This form is

available at the Graduate and International Admissions Web site at

By the file completion deadline, admission must be granted and copies of passport, financial

documentation and degree confirmations must be received.

http://admissions.utk.edu/admissions/graduate/shtml or will be sent to the

applicant after receipt of application.

English Certification

Any applicant whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of

English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing

System (IELTS). A minimum score requirement for admission to the Graduate School is

(1) a total score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or (2) a 6.5 overall band score

on the IELTS. The score must be no more than two years old from the requested date

of entry. Applicants who have received a degree from an accredited U.S. institution

within the past two years are exempt from this requirement. All prospective Graduate

Teaching Assistants and Associates whose native language is not English must take

and pass the oral proficiency test, OPIc, before assuming teaching responsibilities. The

OPIc test results will be used to determine the level of Graduate Teaching Assistantship

(GTA) duties in the department.

Evaluation of Applications

The procedure for evaluating an applicant’s file is as follows:

1. The Graduate Committee discusses and votes on each applicant’s application for

admission. The Graduate Committee also makes a recommendation concerning

assistantship awards to admitted applicants.

2. Admission recommendations are forwarded to the Director of Graduate Studies

and then to The Graduate School for final action. Applicants will be informed of

Department recommendations on his/her application by a letter from the Director

of Graduate Studies and will be informed of final action by another letter from

The Graduate School.

3. In this procedure, superior students deficient in one or more of the above

requirements may be admitted at the discretion of the department’s graduate

faculty. Deficiencies may need to be addressed through undergraduate

coursework.

Applicants can view their status by logging into the application portal

https://gradschool.utk.edu/admissions/application-status/

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

Degree Admission

Admission to a degree program requires that a person meets the minimum admission

requirements and any additional program requirements (see Admission Requirements).

Refer to the appropriate department for specific requirements for admission to the

degree program.

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, applicants at the doctoral level must

have demonstrated a potential for superior academic performance. To be considered

are such criteria as performance in prior undergraduate and/or graduate studies, an

achievement on graduate admission tests, letters of recommendation from professors

who are familiar with the applicant’s capabilities, and other evidence of scholarly

achievement.

A student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to continue enrollment in a degree

program (see Academic Standards).

An applicant may not be admitted simultaneously to more than one-degree program.

Two or more applications cannot be considered concurrently. For admission to dual

programs, applications are processed consecutively.

Transient Admission

A student who is enrolled in good standing in a graduate degree program at another

institution and who wishes to take courses for transfer to that institution may be

admitted after submitting a completed Graduate Application for Admission, the $60

application fee, and a Transient Student Certification form 10 days prior to registration.

Only one semester, or a maximum of 12 hours, of coursework, can be taken in transient

status. Necessary forms may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Postdoctoral Admission

Persons who hold an earned doctoral degree and desire to take graduate courses may

be admitted in the postdoctoral status. A completed Graduate Application for Admission,

the application fee, and confirmation of the doctorate are required for admission.

Admission in the postdoctoral status does not constitute admission to a degree

program. The student who seeks to enter a degree program must meet all admission

requirements and be recommended by the program.

CHAPTER 4 FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Several types of financial aid are available. These include assistantships, fellowships,

student loans, veterans’ benefits, graduate student travel grants, and part-time

employment opportunities. Also, the University participates in the Academic Common

Market.

Students in the department may apply for graduate assistantships. These awards are

limited in number and are offered to full-time doctoral students.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The University of Tennessee offers several types of financial assistance for which

graduate students may apply.

Assistantships

All assistantships are governed by the Policy for the Administration of Graduate

Assistantships (see https://tiny.utk.edu/UArbd).

Departmental Assistantships

An assistantship is a financial award to a graduate student for part-time work in

teaching, research, or administration while pursuing study toward an advanced degree.

Appointments are normally on a one-quarter to one-half time basis (25 percent or 50

percent full-time equivalent, FTE). A graduate student on a half-time assistantship is

expected to provide teaching/research assistance that consists of approximately 20

hours of assistantship activities per week. A graduate student on a quarter-time

assistantship is expected to provide teaching/research assistance that consists of

approximately 10 hours of assistantship activities per week. Teaching assistantships are

in two types:

1. Graduate Teaching Assistant. Graduate teaching assistants work under the

direct supervision of faculty members and may be assigned only to duties related

directly to instruction. These include such activities as assisting in the preparation

of lectures, leading discussion sections, conducting laboratory exercises, grading

papers and keeping class records. Assistants may not be given primary teaching

and/or evaluation responsibilities nor should they be given duties to support

faculty research or those basically clerical in nature. In consultation with the

supervisor, the graduate teaching assistant works to gain teaching skills and an

increased understanding of the discipline.

2. Graduate Teaching Associate. Graduate Teaching Associates are advanced

graduate students who have been given primary responsibility for teaching

undergraduate courses, including the assignment of final grades. No other

category of graduate assistant may be so charged. Associates may not be

assigned primary responsibilities for teaching and student assessment in courses

approved for graduate credit. Associates must have met the Southern

Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) 18-

credit hour guideline for teaching undergraduate courses. See the section

Qualifications of Graduate Teaching Associates (see https://tiny.utk.edu/UArbd).

In general, Ph.D. students are guaranteed four years of funding in a form of

assistantship, conditional upon satisfactory performance. Renewal of assistantship will

depend on (1) satisfactory performance of teaching assistance, (2) maintenance of

good academic standing in graduate courses, and (3) satisfactory progress toward

completing degree requirements. In the end of every semester, each Graduate

Assistant’s performance will be evaluated by the assigned faculty supervisors. Refer to

Appendix D and E for a formal evaluation process and criteria. If the overall academic

and work performance is below the expected level, this issue will be first addressed to

the faculty supervisor and the graduate student, and DGS will report to the graduate

committee. As a result, the student may be placed on probation for the following

semester, which may incur reduction or loss of the assistantship. Also, if a graduate

student is placed on academic probation, the assistantship may be terminated or

discontinued until the probation is removed.

Rights of Graduate Assistants

As specified in the HR0105 Employment Status, a student is, “One viewed by the

university as being at the university primarily to be enrolled in academic courses.” Thus,

the priority of all graduate assistants must be satisfactory progress in their scholastic

academic program. At the same time, acceptance of an assistantship is predicated on

the belief that satisfactory progress can be concurrently achieved in work assignments

and scholastic academic programs. Collaborative efforts between graduate assistants

and their supervisors should be focused on the goal of satisfactory performance in

these areas.

Graduate assistants are classified as student employees. As stated in HR0105

Employment Status, in addition to fee waivers, graduate assistants are entitled to

workers’ compensation (see HR0397 Worker’s Compensation).

On occasion, to meet the needs of the department/school, students may be placed on

an assistantship for one semester.

In all cases of appointment and reappointment, the faculty supervisor is responsible for

notifying the graduate assistant as early as possible. When an assistantship is not to be

renewed, the graduate student should be notified in advance. In most cases, this notice

must be given no later than one month before the end of the appointment. Specific

reasons for not renewing the contract should be given (e.g., discontinuation of the

program or grant, significant neglect of duty, unsatisfactory academic performance or

progress toward a degree, non-compliance with university policies, etc.). In cases where

an assistantship is for one year only, the student should be told this at the time of

appointment. In some circumstances, graduate assistants may be given a conditional

appointment such as an appointment in which funding of a grant is pending.

As students, graduate assistants’ rights and responsibilities as students are defined in

the Student Code of Conduct. In cases where graduate assistants feel that they have a

legitimate complaint about any aspect of carrying out their assignments (work hours,

duties assigned, pay, work conditions, etc.), they have a right to pursue all established

channels to resolve the conflict. In the order that follows, students should speak to their

immediate supervisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, the appropriate department

head/school director, the appeals committees in the home unit or college, and the dean

of the college involved. If the student feels that a resolution should be sought beyond

the department/school/college level, the Dean of the Graduate School should be

contacted.

Fellowships

The Graduate School provides a number of fellowships each year to graduate students

that have been nominated by their departments. For example, Tennessee Fellowship

for Graduate Excellence is the signature graduate fellowship program at the University

of Tennessee. This prestigious fellowship is offered to top incoming doctoral and

terminal-degree students at UT; Endowed Graduate Fellowships are provided through

endowed accounts managed through the Graduate School; The Access and Diversity

Fellowships are provided to recruit students to UT in support of our educational mission

and diversity goals. For more information, visit https://tiny.utk.edu/4aB6o.

Academic Common Market

UT is a member of the Academic Common Market, which enables out-of-state students

to pursue college degrees at discounted, in-state tuition rates. The Academic Common

Market is an agreement among Southern states for sharing unique programs.

Participating states can make arrangements for their residents who are fully admitted to

specific programs at the University of Tennessee to enroll on an in-state tuition basis if

these programs are not available in the state of residence.

Cooperating states in the Academic Common Market are Alabama, Arkansas,

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma,

South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

If you have questions regarding Academic Common Market at the University of

Tennessee, please contact [email protected].

Employment

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships coordinates the Federal Work Study

Program which provides part-time off- and on-campus jobs for U.S. citizens or

permanent residents who have demonstrated financial need by completing the Free

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A wide range of jobs is available in

academic units, administrative offices, and non-profit agencies.

Graduate Student Travel Award

Graduate students are encouraged to present their research at professional meetings.

The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) Travel Award is administered by the Dean of the

Graduate School in coordination by the Graduate Student Senate. Allocations from this

fund provide travel awards for University of Tennessee graduate students attending

professional meetings to present original research. The awards, distributed three times

a year, are made based on both need and merit, and allow for partial reimbursement of

transportation, lodging, and conference expenses.

Travel award requests must be filed using the current Graduate Student Senate Travel

Awards application. Review the process, application, and deadline dates below. Note

that the college deadline is normally earlier than the GSS deadlines listed below.

Further information can be found at https://gss.utk.edu/travel-awards/information/.

TRAVEL DATES

DEADLINE

Fall: September 1 – December 31

August 27

Spring: January 1 – April 30

November 26

Summer: May 1 – August 31

April 8

Departmental Financial Support for Travel and Research

The department provides financial support for students’ travel to professional meetings.

Also, the department provides grants to assist doctoral students with costs associated

with their dissertation research. To apply for any departmental funding, contact Amy

Clayton ([email protected]), Accounting Specialist.

Loans

Students must apply through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for all loan

programs. Loans are limited to U.S. citizens and certain permanent residents. Additional

paperwork is required on subsidized/unsubsidized Stafford Loans, including the Free

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must be admitted into a degree

program and be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester to receive

student loans.

Four types of loan programs are administered by the Financial Aid office.

• Federal Perkins Loan (FAFSA must be on file).

• Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan (FAFSA must be on file).

• Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan (FAFSA must be on file).

• The University of Tennessee Loan.

Processing time varies from one loan program to another. All students receiving

financial aid are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress standards to

remain eligible to receive aid. Also, all students receiving federal financial aid must have

a social security number. Information on these standards, applications, and additional

information are available from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, 115 Student

Services Building.

Veteran’s Benefits

Veterans, reservists and widows or children of certain deceased or disabled veterans,

who have been admitted to a degree program, may apply for benefits by contacting the

Veterans Affairs Office in Room 209, Student Services Building. Maximum benefits are

paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs for course loads of 9 or more graduate hours

each semester.

CHAPTER 5 REGISTRATION AND ADVISING

REGISTRATION

Registration is required of all graduate students when using university facilities and/or

faculty time. The minimum number of hours for registration is one. Registration allows

the use of services such as library checkout, laboratories, and recreation facilities not

open to the public.

Information concerning registration is available at the One Stop Student Services web

page (http://onestop.utk.edu/class-registration/). Registration is accomplished via the

web through the MyUTK (http://my.utk.edu/) student portal (you will be asked to login

using your UT NetID and password). During priority registration, the VolXpress

statements are delivered electronically (e-VolXpress). Students will receive an email at

their UT email address indicating their e-VolXpress statement is available for viewing.

The e-mail will include the website address where the student may view the statement

at MyUTK (http://my.utk.edu/). Payment is due by the deadline noted on the bill. A

graduated late fee is assessed to any student who fails to register during priority

registration. Additional information can be obtained from the One Stop Express Student

Services Office, (865) 974-1111, online (http://onestop.utk.edu/), or in person at Hodges

Library.

Failure to pay tuition and fees before the deadline, as noted each semester on the bill

(VolXpress statement), will result in student’s being dropped from all courses. Students

may not attend and credit cannot be earned for classes without proper enrollment

registration.

Conditional Admission Registration

Applicants who appear to meet the admission requirements for graduate study may be

allowed to register for an initial term after submitting the Graduate Application for

Admission form and application fee. Time is allowed to obtain transcripts and additional

requirements for admission. Students who fail to gain admission within seven weeks

after registration will not be permitted to register again until all admission requirements

are met. International students may not register conditionally.

Registration for Use of Facilities

Students using university facilities, services or faculty time, including summer term,

must be registered. Normally, students are registered for coursework or

thesis/dissertation credit. Students who are not taking coursework and are not yet

eligible to register for thesis or dissertation hours must register for course 502 (Use of

Facilities) if they wish to have borrowing privileges in the University Library or to use

computer labs, other labs, or other university resources.

INITIAL ENROLLMENT

Upon arrival at the University of Tennessee, graduate students should report to Marcia

Lane, Secretary of Graduate Students in RHTM (Room 110, Jessie Harris Bldg.) to

acquire and provide general information. The Director of Graduate Studies will serve as

a temporary advisor for new students until they appoint a major professor. The incoming

student should contact the DGS to be advised for courses he/she should take in the fall

semester.

CONTINUED ENROLLMENT

All degree-seeking students are expected to make a full commitment to their graduate

and/or professional study to ensure that they can complete all degree requirements

without unnecessary delay. Graduate students are therefore required to maintain active

status through continuous enrollment from the time of first enrollment until graduation.

(Doctoral students registered for course 600 Dissertation have the option of exemption

under special circumstances of full-time internships not related to the dissertation. See

the section below Exemption from Continuous Enrollment of Course 600.

Continuous enrollment is maintained by registering for a minimum of one graduate

credit hour per semester (excluding the summer, unless stipulated otherwise by the

program or department). However, students who have started taking dissertation hours

(course 600 Dissertation) must maintain a minimum of 3 credit hours per semester

during all semesters, including the summer, to comply with the Continuous Enrollment

requirement.

Special Note for International Students. The minimum enrollment for international

students may be different, and international students always need to check with the

Center for International Education (CIE) to determine what minimum enrollment they

need to maintain to satisfy all enrollment requirements attached to their specific visa.

For information of exemption from a continuous enrollment of course 600 dissertation,

see https://tiny.utk.edu/hQTKm.

RHTM REQUIRED CORE COURSES AND COURSE CREDIT

RHTM 590 Seminar (3 credits)

Research topics and professional development in retail, hospitality, and tourism

management.

RHTM 604 Qualitative Research Methods in RHTM (3 credits)

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the broad field known as

qualitative research focusing on its application within retail, hospitality, and tourism

disciplines. Since a field this large cannot be covered in one semester, we will examine

theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of qualitative research by focusing on

the areas of naturalistic observation, interviews (individual and group), and document

analysis.

Course Objectives:

1. Explore the basic principles and purposes of qualitative research, and identify the

range of problems addressed by the field.

2. Explore the appropriateness of choosing and utilizing qualitative methods for

research projects within RHTM.

3. Unpack the fundamental role of the researcher’s self in qualitative research, as both

problem and resource, and reflect on their role in the research process.

4. Identify types of qualitative research approaches and traditions (i.e. phenomenology,

focus groups, ethnography, narrative analysis, etc.) and their goals and

presuppositions within RHTM.

5. Consider basic research planning and design issues, including ethical issues, in

qualitative research within RHTM.

6. Explore various options for re-presenting qualitative data and justifying research

findings.

RHTM 614 Theories (3 credits)

Course Description: Analyses and evaluations of theories in the retail and hospitality

environment and their applications to research.

Course Objectives:

1. To explicate the role of theory in the solution of problems in retail, hospitality, and

tourism management.

2. To identify and analyze theories, models, and conceptual frameworks that can

impact retail, hospitality, and tourism management.

3. To develop the ability to think and evaluate critically theoretical, conceptual, and

methodological issues in retail, hospitality, and tourism management.

4. To synthesize theoretical perspectives to formulate research questions/propositions.

5. To synthesize research skills to develop a new theoretical research paper.

RHTM 615 Literature (3 credits)

Course Description: Evaluation of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management

literature with emphasis on research literature development of scholarly thought, and

identification of potential areas of further study.

Course Objectives:

1. Develop skills in evaluating and critically analyzing research literature in retail,

hospitality, and tourism.

2. Enhance critical thinking, reading and listening skills.

3. Identify the trends of research in retail, hospitality, and tourism.

4. Equip their professional and scholarly writing styles.

5. Foresee the needs of future research in RHTM areas.

RHTM 616 Quantitative Research Methods in RHTM (3 credits)

Course Description: Comprehensive overview of quantitative research methods in

Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management.

Course Objectives:

1. To examine a variety of research methods currently in use in the fields of Retail,

Hospitality, and Tourism Management.

2. To demonstrate critical evaluation skills of research with a focus on the

appropriateness of research question/hypothesis development, research methods,

and discussion of findings.

3. To create a research proposal and develop the writing skills necessary to pursue

research in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management.

4. To understand the ethical issues involved in research in Retail, Hospitality, and

Tourism Management.

RHTM 625 Strategies (3 credits)

Course Description: Decision-making orientation that integrates strategic framework

components with preparation and analysis of specific retail, hospitality and tourism

situations.

Course Objectives:

1. To identify and analyze theories, models, typologies, taxonomies, and conceptual

frameworks used to study retail, hospitality, and tourism management strategy.

2. To identify emerging research areas in retail, hospitality and tourism strategy and

decision making.

3. To synthesize theoretical and industry perspectives to formulate hypotheses for

future retail, hospitality and tourism strategy research.

4. To understand strategic decision-making orientations/processes used by retail and

hospitality firms.

5. To analyze specific retail, hospitality and tourism strategies.

6. To increase critical reading, writing, thinking, and listening skills.

RHTM 641 Consumer Behavior (3 credits)

Course Description: This course is designed to provide the opportunity to learn theories

and concepts from social science in relation to the ultimate consumer's behavior.

Lecture, discussion, and student presentations will be utilized to disseminate the

information relative to consumer behavior. The success of this course will depend on

each student's thorough and insightful reading of the required readings, and active

contribution, as well as, constructive discussion of ideas and insights.

Course Objectives:

1. To understand the domain of consumer behavior from a theoretical and conceptual

viewpoint.

2. To identify the research stream of consumer behavior from early classics to recent

state-of-the-art research.

3. To evaluate the various constructs within consumer behavior as it relates to B

businesses.

4. To critique a variety of methodologies utilized in consumer behavior research.

5. To understand the terminology associated with consumer behavior research.

COURSE LOADS

The maximum load for a graduate student is 15 credit hours during fall and spring

semesters. While 9 credit hours are considered full time, the typical full academic load

varies by discipline. For the summer semester, graduate students may register for a

maximum of 12 credit hours in an entire summer semester or a maximum of 6 credit

hours in a five-week summer session. Students may enroll in only one course during a

mini-term session.

Students holding a one-half (50 percent full-time equivalent, FTE) time assistantship

normally should enroll in at least 6 credit hours during the semesters of the

assistantship. A one-fourth (25 percent FTE) time graduate assistant normally should

take at least 9 credit hours during the semesters of the assistantship. A student must

be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours to be considered full-time for federal

financial aid purposes, even if the student has an assistantship. It is not

recommended for students to take 15 credit hours if they are provided an assistantship.

A student should consult with DGS before registration if the student wants to take 15

credit hours. The section entitled Policy for the Administration of Graduate

Assistantships contains additional information about assistantships.

Registration for more than 15 credit hours during any semester, or for more than 12

credit hours in the summer semester, is not permitted without prior approval. The

academic advisor may request registration of up to 18 credit hours during a semester if

the student has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 or better in at least 9

credit hours of graduate work with no outstanding incompletes. The Graduate Course

Overload form can be found on the Forms Central page on the Graduate School

website.

Courses audited do not count toward minimum credit hours required for financial aid

purposes.

SELECTION OF ADVISOR

Each student must select a major professor based on common interests and

qualifications within their second year in the program. The major professor directs the

student’s dissertation research and chairs the dissertation committee.

CHAPTER 6 DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The doctoral degree is evidence of exceptional scholarly attainment and demonstrates

the capacity for original investigation. Students can choose to focus on either Retail and

Consumer Sciences (RCS) or Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM).

Requirements for the degree include completion of course requirements, examinations,

a period of resident study, as well as sustained, systematic study and superior

competency.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR Ph.D. CANDIDATES

• 65 hours of coursework, including 24 hours of dissertation hours. See the section

of Ph.D. Course Requirements.

• Successful completion of the comprehensive examinations

• Continuous enrollment while working on the dissertation

• A successful defense of the dissertation

PH.D. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 65 credit hours of coursework, which

includes 18 credit hours of RHTM core courses, 6 credit hours of statistics, 6 credit

hours of research methods, 9 credit hours of a cognate area, 2 credit hours of

instructional methods, and 24 credit hours for dissertation (RHTM 600) completion.

Also, 3 hours of RHTM 590 Seminars are required for students with an assistantship.

Courses must be completed within eight years from the time of a student's first

enrollment in a doctoral degree program. Students pursuing a minor will take a

minimum of 15 hours of coursework or as required in the minor field. Students who have

not attained a master's degree from an RHTM-related area are required to take 21

additional credit hours of electives. These courses must be approved by the DGS.

Hours

RHTM required courses

Statistics

Research methods

Cognate area

Instructional Methods

Dissertation (RHTM 600)

Total

RHTM 604, 614, 615, 616, 625, 641

Three hours of STAT 537 or 571 or Psychology 521 or Social Work 605

Three hours of STAT 538 or 572 or Psychology 522 or Social Work 606

Six credit hours must be taken from methods-intensive courses not including RHTM616 and

RHTM604.

Cognate hours must include at least 3 hours at the 600 level.

A graduate-level course that will help develop students' instructional capabilities.

The program of study should be approved by the student’s dissertation committee and

by the DGS when the student completes his/her Admission to Candidacy Form which

can be submitted normally after having passed the comprehensive examinations.

DISSERTATION HOURS REQUIREMENTS

A student who has completed the required coursework and passed all comprehensive

exams should begin registering for RHTM 600 for the dissertation hours. The student is

required to complete 24 hours of dissertation credit and to remain continuously enrolled

in dissertation hours, including during the Summer terms. The dissertation represents

the culmination of an original major research project completed by the student. The

organization, method of presentation, and subject matter of the dissertation are

important in conveying to others the results of such research. A student should be

registered for the number of dissertation hours representing the fraction of effort

devoted to this phase of the candidate’s program, for spring, summer, and fall

semesters.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS

Residence is defined as full-time registration for a given semester on the campus where

the program is located. The summer term is included in this period. During residence, it

is expected that the student will be engaged in full-time on-campus study toward a

graduate degree.

For the doctoral degree, a minimum of two consecutive semesters of residence is

required. Individual doctoral programs may have additional residence requirements. A

statement as to how and during what period of time the residence requirement has been

met will be presented with the Application for Admission to Candidacy along with

signatures of approval from the major professor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and

the department head. More information about the rationale for the residence

requirement may be obtained from the Graduate Council report available on the

Graduate School website.

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION COMMITTEE

A student and his/her major professor identify a doctoral dissertation committee

composed of at least 4 members. The dissertation committee should include at least 3

faculty members in RHTM and at least one member from outside of RHTM.

A doctoral student normally begins to form the committee during the second year of

study. The student should prepare and submit a Ph.D. Committee Form. Subject to

Graduate Council policies and individual program requirements, the committee must

approve all coursework applied toward the degree, certify the student’s mastery of the

major field and any cognate fields, assist the student in conducting research, provide

comprehensive exam questions and evaluate them, and recommend the dissertation for

approval and acceptance by The Graduate School. For further information, refer to

https://tiny.utk.edu/t5qjk.

Responsibilities of the major professor are:

a) schedule advising appointments when contacted by the advisee.

b) assist advisee in developing a plan of study that is commensurate with the

advisee’s background, interests, and goals and complies with the approved

curriculum and policies.

c) guide the advisee on the selection of faculty committee members.

d) assist the advisee in meeting The Graduate School requirements and deadlines.

e) guide in developing a research project suitable for a doctoral dissertation.

f) coordinate oral and written examinations required by the specific program.

Responsibilities of the advisee are:

a) consult the Plan of Study and other Graduate School related News, from The

Graduate School, and the registration information from the Office of Registration

Services to become familiar with all procedures and deadlines.

b) become familiar with departmental procedures and requirements as described in

this Handbook.

c) schedule an appointment with the major professor before registering for classes.

d) notify the major professor and Secretary of Graduate Studies of any change in

address or telephone number.

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

After a student passes the comprehensive exam, the student must begin to develop the

dissertation proposal. Before a proposal meeting, it is optional to have a pre-proposal

meeting with his/her dissertation committee. A primary goal of a pre-proposal meeting is

to discuss the research project with the committee members collectively. Although the

pre-proposal does not require any formal presentation, it is advised that the student

prepares a dissertation prospectus that provides a preliminary description of the

proposed dissertation and consult with the major professor regarding the length and

format. Students should disseminate the dissertation prospectus to the committee

members no later than two weeks before the pre-proposal meeting.

A proposal meeting will be open to the dissertation committee, the RHTM graduate

faculty, and RHTM graduate students. It is highly recommended that all RHTM graduate

students and faculty attend the proposal meeting to provide input as well as support.

The student should prepare a formal oral presentation for this meeting. The student

must send the proposal to the dissertation committee members no later than two weeks

before the proposal meeting. The student can start conducting data collection after

receiving the committee members' approval of a dissertation proposal. A dissertation

proposal evaluation form is presented in Appendix B.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

Admission to candidacy indicates agreement that the student has demonstrated the

ability to do acceptable graduate work and that satisfactory progress has been made

toward a degree. This action usually connotes that all prerequisites to admission have

been completed and a program of study has been approved.

A student may be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree after passing the

comprehensive examination, and maintaining at least a B average in all graduate

coursework. Each student is responsible for filing the Admission to Candidacy Form,

which lists all courses to be used for the degree, including courses taken at the

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, or at another institution before admission to the

doctoral program, and is signed by the doctoral committee. The student’s doctoral

dissertation committee must be officially established through the Graduation Specialist

by submitted a Doctoral Committee Form before the student’s Admission to Candidacy

will be approved. Admission to candidacy must be applied for and approved by the

Office of the University Registrar at least one semester before the date the degree is to

be conferred.

DISSERTATION DEFENSE

Based on the proposal results, the student pursues his or her dissertation project. After

the student completes his or her dissertation, paper or electronic submission will be

approved by the student's committee before final preparation of the dissertation

defense. The paper or electronic version of the student's dissertation must be submitted

to the major professor so s/he can distribute to the dissertation committee, RHTM

graduate faculty, and RHTM graduate students no later than two weeks before the

dissertation defense. In the dissertation defense, the dissertation committee will vote for

Pass/Fail. If the student passes, the student must make revisions agreed upon by the

committee. The approval of the dissertation may occur after revisions are made. If the

student fails the defense, the dissertation committee will discuss to set the requirements

and timeline that the student must adhere to for a reexamination. A dissertation final

evaluation form is presented in Appendix C. A final defense meeting will be open to the

dissertation committee, the RHTM graduate faculty, and RHTM graduate students. It is

highly recommended that all RHTM graduate students and faculty attend the final

defense meeting to provide input as well as support.

DISSERTATION SUBMISSION TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

When the dissertation is approved by the dissertation committee, it has to be submitted

in electronic format to the Dissertation Consultant in the Graduate School for

examination. The consultant will review the material and assure that it is appropriately

presented, free of technical errors in format, and reflects credit upon graduate education

at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. If the dissertation is not accepted, the student

must make corrections and resubmit the material.

The student, major professor, and committee share responsibility for the accuracy and

professionalism of the final product of the student's research. The student should confer

with the Thesis/Dissertation Consultant regarding problems and questions in advance of

preparing the final copy. The Guide to the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations

provides the correct format for theses or dissertations. Workshops are held periodically

throughout the academic year. The date for each workshop is announced on the

Graduate School website (http://gradschool.utk.edu/CurrentStudents.shtml).

TIMETABLE FOR COMPLETION OF DEGREE

Students enrolled in doctoral programs must take comprehensive examinations within

five years and must complete all requirements within eight years from the time of first

enrollment in the doctoral program.

CHAPTER 7 EXAMINATIONS

Doctoral examinations include a comprehensive examination and dissertation defense.

Successful completion of a comprehensive examination and a defense of dissertation

are required for all doctoral degrees. Registration is required for the term in which a

dissertation is defended.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

The comprehensive examination is normally taken when the doctoral student has

completed all six RHTM core courses (RHTM 604, 614, 615, 616, 625, 641). Thus, its

successful completion indicates that, in the judgment of the doctoral committee, the

doctoral student can think analytically and creatively, has a comprehensive knowledge

of the field and the specialty, knows how to use academic resources, and is deemed

capable of completing the dissertation. The comprehensive examination must be

passed prior to admission to candidacy. The student's doctoral committee will determine

the content, nature, and timing of the comprehensive examination and certify its

successful completion. Students should carefully review the written statement that

details the timing, areas covered, grading procedures, and provisions for repeating a

failed examination (see below).

Guidelines for Comprehensive Examination

Preparation and writing the comprehensive examination are designed to be a learning

experience. It provides the student with the opportunity to integrate or “pull together”

information and knowledge acquired. Much of the overall purpose is served by the study

and organization that precedes writing the examination. Successful completion of the

exam indicates that, in the judgment of the faculty, the student can think analytically and

creatively, has a comprehensive knowledge of the field and the specialty, knows how to

use academic resources, and is deemed capable of completing the dissertation.

The comprehensive examination consists of six RHTM core courses. The questions for

the exam are requested by the student’s major professor. The comprehensive

examination must be passed prior to admission to candidacy and at least one semester

prior to the date the degree is to be conferred. The exams are administered twice a year

(August and January). Once a student has taken the first component of the

comprehensive exam, the student cannot change the catalog year.

The general procedure for taking the comprehensive examination is as follows:

1. The student shall notify the major professor one semester prior to the semester

the student wishes to schedule the examination. A formal written request from

the student for the examination must be filed with the major professor and the

Director of Graduate Studies no later than 6 weeks before the first examination

day.

2. The major professor contacts the members of the student's dissertation

committee and requests questions. The committee members must submit exam

questions to the major professor no later than 2 weeks before the first exam day.

3. The comprehensive examination requires two weeks to write, with three courses

per week.

4. The examination will be administered by the Director of Graduate Studies or the

Graduate Program Secretary.

5. A student’s answers to each question are submitted by the Graduate Program

Secretary to the major professor, via email. The major professor then sends the

student’s answer files, via email, to the respective committee member for

evaluation. Each committee member who contributes a question(s) decides

whether the student passed or failed that portion of the exam. For example, for

Part 1 (RHTM Core), more than one committee member may be asked to

contribute a question or questions. In that case, each member is responsible for

only the question(s) personally submitted. The committee member’s assessment

must be formally documented in a written memorandum or letter, or via email to

the major professor within 2 weeks after the exam. All assessment documents

will be distributed electronically among a student, a major professor, committee

members and the Director of Graduate Studies by email, and the digital

documents will be considered official.

Decisions by the committee member may take the following form:

1) Passed: In this case, the student passed that portion of the exam.

2) Not-passed/rewrite needed: In this case, the committee member is not

satisfied with the student’s answer (for any reason), and clearly states

what is missing from the student’s answer. The rewrite may take one of

the two following forms:

a) An oral examination regarding the question

b) A written examination regarding the question

In both cases, there is NO new question submitted. In effect, the

committee member is asking the student to more clearly demonstrate

knowledge and understanding of the original question (or concept, etc.).

In the case of option “b,” the committee member has the right to require

the student to:

i. complete the rewrite in the same format as the original

examination (e.g., departmental location, computer), or

ii. complete the rewrite on his/her own with no location or other

restrictions.

c) If the student fails the rewrite (i.e., the committee member is not

satisfied with the student’s additional written response), the student

must follow the guidelines outlined in 3), below.

3) Not passed/retake needed: In this case, the committee members are

unsatisfied with the student’s answer to the point that the student has

demonstrated a level of knowledge or understanding insufficient to proceed

to candidacy. The committee members will meet to decide whether the

student will be given another chance to retake. The retake can take only

one from:

a) The student must sit for another written examination, following the

precise format prescribed for the original comprehensive exam.

b) The examination question(s) will be materially different from the first

examination while maintaining the goal of testing knowledge in the

original area.

4) Failed: Upon failure of a comprehensive exam (first time or rewrite), the

committee can decide whether or not to offer the student a chance to

retake the exam. If the student does not pass retake, the student’s

dissertation committee will meet to discuss what options, if any, should be

afforded to the student to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the area.

The student’s committee will then submit its recommendation in writing to

the Director of Graduate Studies.

5) Dismissal: If the student’s committee recommends dismissal, the Director

of Graduate Studies will call a meeting of all RTHM graduate faculty

members to discuss and vote on the student’s continued status. A 2/3 vote

of the RHTM graduate faculty is required to dismiss the student from the

RHTM doctoral program. If the decision is dismissal, the student will be

denied candidacy from the RHTM department.

6) Final Evaluation: The final decision regarding the successful completion of

all parts of the comprehensive exam will be made by the student's

dissertation committee. The major professor will notify the student in writing of

the outcome. A copy of this memorandum or letter must be sent to the

Director of Graduate Studies for the student’s file. Together, the major

professor and the Director of Graduate Studies may choose to seek an

independent evaluation of the student’s answers on any portion of the exam.

In this case, the major professor makes an appropriate judgment considering

both the original and independent evaluations. If the major professor

“overrules” a committee member’s evaluation, this decision must be formally

documented in a memorandum or letter, indicating the specific reasons for

the decision, to the Director of Graduate Studies.

6. Students will have 30 days to complete any portion(s) of the exam that must be

rewritten. For any failed portion, the student must retake the respective

examination no earlier than the following semester, and no later than two

semesters after the initial exam. In either case, the student must sit for the retake

during the department’s regularly scheduled examination period.

7. The student may appeal any decision on any portion of the

comprehensive examinations. The initial appeal must come no later than 30 days

after the formal dismissal from the RHTM graduate program. Students should file

a formal written appeal with the Director of Graduate Studies. Students may

appeal on the basis of one or more of the following allowable grounds: (1) A

clearly unfair decision (such as lack of consideration of circumstances clearly

beyond the control of the student, e.g., a death in the family, illness, or accident);

(2) Unacceptable evaluation procedures, such as deviation from: stated policies

on grading criteria; announced order of exam topic; other written examination

policies; (3) A conflict within the student’s committee which has been previously

reported to the Director of Graduate Studies and/or Department Head. Students

with grievances related to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, or handicap

should file a formal complaint with the Office of Equity and Diversity with a copy

to the appropriate academic department head.

If the appeal is denied or is determined to be outside the purview of the

department, the student may proceed to appeal the decision following the

guidelines of the Graduate School.

CHAPTER 8 STANDING AND APPEALS

DEFINITION OF GRADUATE TERMS

• Cognate – A limited block of courses or hours required outside the unit in which

the major is offered.

• Concentration – A collection of courses within a major that focuses on a

particular subject area. The term concentration describes the nature of the set of

courses.

• Major – The principal educational interest of a student as represented by one of

the curricula prescribed by the various units at the University of Tennessee,

Knoxville. The major specifies the minimum requirements for a degree.

• Minor – An area of interest secondary to the major that is represented by a

specified set of hours and/or courses. Differs from concentration in that a minor is

not a subdivision of the major.

• Option – The means of designating thesis/non-thesis requirements.

• Specialization – A sub-collection of courses within a concentration that focuses

on the specific subject matter. The term "specialization" describes the nature of

the set of courses.

• Tool – A limited block of courses or hours required to enhance research or

methodological expertise.

• Track – A separate route leading to the same degree but with different

requirements.

ACADEMIC STANDING

A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required on all graduate coursework taken at

the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to remain in good standing and to receive any

graduate degree or certificate from the university. All coursework taken for graduate

credit is computed into the GPA.

Grades in the graduate study have the following meanings.

• A (4 quality points per semester hour) superior performance.

• B+ (3.5 quality points per semester hour) better than satisfactory performance.

• B (3 quality points per semester hour) satisfactory performance.

• C+ (2.5 quality points per semester hour) less than satisfactory performance.

• C (2 quality points per semester hour) performance well below the standard

expected of graduate students.

• D (1 quality point per semester hour) clearly unsatisfactory performance and

cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.

• F (no quality points) extremely unsatisfactory performance and cannot be used to

satisfy degree requirements.

• I or incomplete (no quality points) a temporary grade indicating that the student

has performed satisfactorily in the course but, due to unforeseen circumstances,

has been unable to finish all requirements. An I is not given to enable a student

to do additional work to raise a deficient grade. The instructor, in consultation

with the student, decides the terms for the removal of the I, including the time

limit for removal. If the I is not removed within one calendar year, the grade will

be changed to an F. The course will not be counted in the cumulative grade point

average until a final grade is assigned. No student may graduate with an I on

his/her record.

• S/NC (carries credit hours, but no quality points) S is equivalent to a grade of B

or better, and NC means no credit earned. Courses in which NC is received may

be repeated for a grade of S. A grade of Satisfactory/No Credit is allowed only

where indicated in the course description in the Graduate Catalog. The number

of Satisfactory/No Credit courses in a student’s program is limited to one-fourth

of the total credit hours required.

• P/NP (carries credit hours, but no quality points) P indicates progress toward

completion of a thesis or dissertation. NP indicates no progress or inadequate

progress.

• W (carries no credit hours or quality points) indicates that the student officially

withdrew from the course.

The grading system available for a course is based on the level of the course. Courses

numbered 100-499 are graded letter grade or Satisfactory/No Credit, except where

noted otherwise in the catalog. Courses numbered 500-699 are graded letter grade

only, except where the Graduate Catalog indicates Satisfactory/No Credit only or

optional Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade. Veterinary Medicine courses are letter

grade only except where noted Satisfactory/ No Credit only. Law courses are numeric

except where noted otherwise. There are restrictions regarding the use of Satisfactory/

No Credit graded courses, including the number of hours that may be used toward any

degree program.

No graduate student may repeat a course for the purpose of raising a grade already

received, with the exception of No Credit. A graduate student may not do additional

work nor repeat an examination to raise a final grade. A change of grade may occur

only in cases of arithmetic or clerical error. An instructor may not initiate a change of

grade as a result of a reevaluation of the quality of the student’s performance nor as a

result of additional work performed by the student.

ACADEMIC STANDING AND GRADES

Graduate education requires continuous evaluation of the student. This includes not

only periodic objective evaluation, such as the cumulative grade point average,

performance on comprehensive examinations and acceptance of the thesis or

dissertation, but also judgments by the faculty of the student’s progress and potential.

Continuation in a program is determined by consideration of all these elements by the

faculty and the head of the academic unit.

The academic records of all graduate students are reviewed at the end of each

semester, including the summer term. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative

grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on all graduate courses taken for a letter

grade of A-F. Grades of S/NC, P/NP, and I, which have no numerical equivalent, are

excluded from this computation.

Departments and programs may have requirements for continuation or graduation in

addition to the minimum requirements outlined in this catalog for all graduate programs.

It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the special requirements of the

department or program.

Academic probation

Upon completion of 9 hours of graduate coursework, a graduate student will be placed

on academic probation by the Graduate School when his/her cumulative GPA falls

below 3.0. A student will be allowed to continue graduate study in subsequent

semesters if each semester’s grade point average is 3.0 or greater. Upon achieving a

cumulative GPA of 3.0, the student will be removed from probationary status. Also, a

graduate student will be placed on term probation by the department when his/her term

GPA falls below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters. To clear the probationary status

and return to good standing, the student should attain a grade point average of 3.0 or

greater in the following semester.

Dismissal

If a student is on academic probation, the degree or non-degree status will be

terminated by the Dean of Graduate Studies if the student’s semester GPA falls below

3.0 in a subsequent semester. When the particular circumstances are deemed to justify

continuation, and upon recommendation of the appropriate academic unit and approval

of the Dean of Graduate Studies, a student on probation whose semester GPA is below

3.0 may be allowed to continue on a semester-by-semester basis.

Dismissal of a graduate student by a department or program is accomplished by written

notice to the student, with a copy to Graduate Student Services. In the case where the

department’s requirements for continuation are more stringent than university

requirements for graduate programs, the Dean of Graduate Studies will evaluate the

student’s record to determine whether the student is eligible to apply for a change of

status and register in another area of study. Registration for courses in a department

from which a student has been dismissed will not be permitted, except by written

authorization from that department.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Academic integrity is a responsibility of all members of the academic community. An

honor statement is included in the application for admission and readmission. The

applicant's signature acknowledges that adherence is confirmed. The honor statement

declares

An essential feature of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a commitment to

maintaining an atmosphere of intellectual integrity and academic honesty. As a student

of the university, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate

assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and

integrity.

Plagiarism (Hilltopics, page 12)

Students shall not plagiarize. Plagiarism is using the intellectual property or product of

someone else without giving proper credit. The undocumented use of someone else’s

words or ideas in any medium of communication (unless such information is recognized

as common knowledge) is a serious offense subject to disciplinary action that may

include failure in a course and/or dismissal from the university. Some examples of

plagiarism are:

• Using without proper documentation (quotation marks and a citation) written or

spoken words, phrases, or sentences from any source.

• Summarizing without proper documentation (usually a citation) ideas from

another source (unless such information is recognized as common knowledge).

• Borrowing facts, statistics, graphs, pictorial representations, or phrases without

acknowledging the source (unless such information is recognized as common

knowledge).

• Submitting work, either in whole or in part, created by a professional service and

used without attribution (e.g., paper, speech, bibliography, or photograph).

Extreme caution should be exercised by students involved in collaborative research to

avoid questions of plagiarism. If in doubt, students should check with the major

professor and the Dean of Graduate Studies about the project. Plagiarism will be

investigated when suspected and prosecuted if established.

APPEALS PROCEDURE

The Graduate Council Appeal Procedure can be obtained at the website of the

Graduate Council. Normally, grievances should be handled first at the department level

through the student’s academic advisor, the graduate liaison, or the department or

program head. Further appeal may be made to the dean of the respective college, the

Graduate Council through the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and ultimately to

the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Appeals may involve the interpretation of and adherence to university, college, and

department policies and procedures as they apply to graduate education and the

issuance of grades based on specific allowable reasons stipulated in the Graduate

Council Appeal Procedure. Appeal procedures regarding allegations of misconduct or

academic dishonesty are presented in Hilltopics under “Disciplinary Regulations and

Procedures.” Students with grievances related to race, sex, color, religion, national

origin, age, disability or veteran status should file a formal complaint with the Office of

Equity and Diversity.

DEGREE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The following are the Graduate Council’s minimum requirements for degree programs.

Refer to the college and academic department for additional program requirements.

Transfer Credits

Courses taken at another institution may be considered for transfer into a master’s or

EdS program as determined by the committee and approved by the Dean of Graduate

Studies. At the doctoral level, courses are not officially transferred although they may be

used to meet degree requirements. Where a requirement has been met through

coursework in another program, the student may petition the academic unit for a waiver

of the requirement at the doctoral level. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the

Office of the University Registrar from all institutions previously attended before any

credit will be considered.

To be transferred into a master’s or doctoral program at the University of Tennessee,

Knoxville, a course must:

a) be taken for graduate credit.

b) carry a grade of B or better.

c) be a part of a graduate program in which the student had a B average.

d) not have been used for a previous degree.

e) be approved by the student’s graduate committee and the Dean of Graduate

Studies on the Admission to Candidacy form.

Courses transferred to any graduate program will not affect the minimum residence

requirements for the program, nor will they be counted in determining the student’s

grade point average. Credits transferred from universities outside the University of

Tennessee system cannot be used to meet the thesis or dissertation requirements or

600-level coursework requirements. Credit for extension courses taken from other

institutions is not transferable, nor is credit for any course taken at an unaccredited

institution.

Auditors and Audited Courses

Persons who wish to attend certain classes regularly, without taking examinations or

receiving grades or credit, may do so by completing a graduate application as a non-

degree student, paying the application fee, registering as an auditor, and paying regular

fees. Graduate students paying regular fees also are entitled to audit courses.

The names of all auditors properly registered will appear on the electronic grade rolls,

but will be removed from the final grade report. No record of audited coursework will

appear on the permanent record.

Persons may not attend class without being properly admitted to the university and

registered in the class.

Correspondence Study

No graduate credit is accepted at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for work done

by correspondence study at any university.

English Proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English must pass an English proficiency

examination given by the university prior to initial registration. Students whose

performance on the examination indicates a need for additional English study must

enroll immediately for English 121 English Grammar Review for Non- Native Speakers

or another course assigned by the English Department for undergraduate credit and

pass with a grade of C or better. A student may not take more than 9 additional hours of

coursework while enrolled in English 121. Students whose scores indicate that they are

not prepared to enter English 121 will be referred to a program of intensive English

study prior to enrolling in an academic program.

Applicants whose native language is not English must pass an oral test in English (the

SPEAK Test) before they can be assigned to classroom duties in connection with their

assistantships. The SPEAK Test is administered on campus as part of the programs

offered by Graduate Student Services. Scores from the Test of Spoken English (TSE)

may be accepted in place of the SPEAK Test.

Prerequisites

Graduate work in any program must be preceded by sufficient undergraduate work in

the major and related areas to satisfy the department that the student can do graduate

work successfully in the chosen field. Individual undergraduate records are examined

and evaluated by the appropriate department before admission to a degree program is

granted. Questions about program prerequisites should be addressed to the advisor.

CHAPTER 9 DEPARTMENTAL PERSONNEL SUPPORT

STAFF SUPPORT

The Department of RHTM offers staff support to graduate students. Currently, the

department has three staff support personnel. Following is a list of the staff support

personnel and their responsibilities.

Annette Beets, Administrative Support Specialist II. Secretary to the Department Head.

Serves as liaison to the Department Head. Assist students with general office

procedures.

Amy Clayton, Business Manager. Assists the department head in overseeing and

administering the fiscal, human resource, and data management responsibilities for the

department.

Marcia Lane, Administrative Support Specialist II. Assist prospective graduate students

with completion of a graduate application file. Assist new graduate students upon

arrival at the UT campus. Serve as an assistant of Director of Graduate Studies, help

students complete graduate school requirements (e.g. forms and deadlines), and

maintain fee waiver information. Serve as direct contact to all graduate students

needing assistance. Responsible for managing the graduate students’ folders, and

grade sheets.

DEPARTMENT GRADUATE FACULTY

Faculty by Subject Area

Faculty members in the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management are

listed below according to the subject area. Those who are eligible to serve on students’

faculty committees are marked with “c” and those who are approved to serve as major

professors are marked with “d.”

Retail and Consumer Sciences

cd Childs, Michelle, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of North Carolina-

Greensboro

cd Ha, Sejin, Professor, Ph.D., Ohio State University

cd Kim, Youn-Kyung, Professor, Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Greensboro

cd Lim, Heejin, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Purdue University

Hospitality and Tourism Management

cd Benjamin, Stefanie, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of South Carolina

cd Jin, Dan, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of South Carolina

cd Kwon, Junehee, Professor, Ph.D., Iowa State University

cd Kai-Sean Lee, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. Oklahoma State University

cd Williams, James, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Iowa State University

c Zhang, Hongping, Clinical Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Florida

Areas of Current Scholarly Activity

Areas of current scholarly activity for department faculty members are summarized

below:

Stefanie Benjamin, Ph.D.

• Heritage Tourism

• Film Induced Tourism

• Sustainable Tourism

• Race, Ethnicity, & Gender Issues

• Event Management

Michelle Childs, Ph.D.

• Brand strategy: Brand Extension and Collaboration

• Consumer Response to Corporate Brand Behavior

• International Retailing

Sejin Ha, Ph.D.

• Retail and Service Marketing

• Consumer Adoption of Technology

• Customer Relationship Marketing

• Sustainability

Dan Jin, Ph.D.

• Service Resilience and Value Co-creation

• Consumer Transformative Research

• Ethic and Solidarity in Service Ecosystem

• LGBTQIA+ Representation in Hospitality Service

Youn-Kyung Kim, Ph.D.

• Consumer Experience

• Branding

• Sustainable Consumption

• Cultural and Ethnic Influences

Junehee Kwon, Ph.D.

• F&B Operational Issues (HR, customer service, minority leadership)

• Food Safety Training for Foodservice Employees and Consumers

• Food Allergy Prevention in Foodservice Facilities

• Sustainability

Kai-Sean Lee, Ph.D.

• Culinary Arts

• Gastronomy and Culture

• Food and Beverage Management

• Qualitative Research Design and Methodology

Heejin Lim, Ph.D.

• Consumer Behavior in Computer-Mediated Environment

• Consumer Information Processing

• Consumption Communities

• Consumer Culture

• Consumers’ Cultural Social Movement

James Williams, Ph.D.

• Leadership

• Human Resource Management

• Hospitality Management

• Soft skills, Mentorship/Training

• Legal Issues

Hongping Zhang, Ph.D.

• Educational Tourism

• Youth Development

• Sustainable Tourism

• Tourist Experiences

APPENDIX A. PLAN OF STUDY FORM

RETAIL, HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT

PLAN OF STUDY WORKSHEET FOR PH.D.

Student Name ________________________ Beginning Semester __________

Core Courses (18 hours) Semester

(3) RHTM 590 Research Seminar __________

(3) RHTM 604 Qualitative Research Methods in RHTM __________

(3) RHTM 614 Theories __________

(3) RHTM 615 Literature and Thought __________

(3) RHTM 616 Quantitative Research Methods in RHTM __________

(3) RHTM 625 Strategies __________

(3) RHTM 641 Consumer Behavior __________

Statistics Courses (6 hours) Semester

(3) STAT 537 or Psychology 521 or Social Work 605 __________

(3) STAT 538 or Psychology 522 or Social Work 606 __________

Research Methods (6 hours) Semester

(3) ________________ _________________________ ______________________

Six hours must be from method-intensive courses not including RHTM 604 and RHTM 616

based on a student’s dissertation focus. The student, faculty advisor, and Director of Graduate

Studies must agree on which courses meet this requirement.

Cognate Area (9 hours) Semester

(3) ________________ _________________________ ______________________

Instructional Methods (2 credits) Semester

(3) ________________ _________________________ ______________________

This course should help develop student's Instructional capabilities.

Dissertation (24 hours) ENROLLMENT PLANNED WITH DOCTORAL ADVISOR

RHTM 600 Dissertation

Students can enroll for dissertation hours after completing comprehensive exams and

establishing a focus for the dissertation. An exception can be made under extraordinary

circumstances, as determined by Director of Graduate Studies and the student’s major professor.

Below is an example of how to plan the dissertation component in our Ph.D. program.

- 6 hours: Proposal development

- 6 hours: Chapter 1 and 2 writing

- 3 hours: Chapter 3 writing and data collection

- 6 hours: Chapter 4 and 5 writing

- 3 hours: Finalizing dissertation and preparing a final defense

Total course hours must be no less than 65.

Refer to the Graduate Student Handbook Chapter 5 for further information.

APPENDIX B. DISSERTATION PROPOSAL EVALUATION FORM

RETAIL, HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION PROPOSAL FORM

Student Name:

Dissertation Proposal Date:

Committee Signatures

Date Name of Committee Member Approved, as is Approved with Changes

__________ ______________________ ______________ ________________________

Committee members should send a note of recommended changes to the student and his/her

major professor before or after the proposal meeting.

APPENDIX C. DISSERTATION FINAL DEFENSE EVALUATION FORM

Evaluation of [Student’s Name] Ph.D. Dissertation

[Date of a final defense]

Please mark ( X ) the rating of each of the five criteria.

Learner Outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct, present and publish their research.

Criteria

Rating

Unacceptable

Poor

Good

Exceptional

1. Use of appropriate theories to explain the

phenomena in question

2. In-depth knowledge of relevant literature and of

prior work on the specific research problem

3. Use of research design and methods appropriate for

objectives

4. Synthesizing different components into a coherent

whole

5. Quality of written communication

Please see the next page for details of each measurement item.

Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct, present, and publish their research.

Criteria

Rating

Unacceptable

Poor

Good

Exceptional

Use of appropriate theories to

explain the phenomena in

question

Failed to use appropriate

theories to explain the

phenomena in question

Used appropriate theories to

explain the phenomena in

question, but many theories

are missing or did not explain

the phenomena.

Used appropriate theories to

explain the phenomena in

question, but some theories are

missing or did not well explain

the phenomena.

Used all appropriate theories to

explain the phenomena in question

In-depth knowledge of relevant

literature and of prior work on

the specific research problem

Failed to review appropriate

literature relevant to the study.

The information is not clearly

tied to the research.

Relevant literature is

reviewed but many

information pieces are not

tied to the study and do not

address the specific research

problem.

Relevant literature is reviewed

but some information pieces are

not tied to the study and do not

address the specific research

problem.

Comprehensive, well-organized

review of scholarly literature. The

information is clearly synthesized

to address the specific research

problem.

Use of research design and

methods appropriate for

objectives

Inappropriate and unclear

description of research design

and methods. Do not support

objectives.

Minimum level of

appropriate, clear and

detailed description of

research design and methods,

somewhat supporting

objectives.

Moderately appropriate, clear and

detailed description of research

design and methods, mostly

supporting objectives.

Appropriate, clear, and detailed

description of research design and

methods, well supporting

objectives.

Synthesizing different

components into a coherent

whole

Different components (e.g.,

theory, framework, objectives,

research model, research

design, and analyses) do not

support each other.

Some of different

components (e.g., theory,

framework, objectives,

research model, research

design, and analyses) support

each other, but many

components do not contribute

to a coherent whole.

Most of different components

(e.g., theory, framework,

objectives, research model,

research design, and analyses)

support each other, but some

components do not contribute to a

coherent whole.

Different components (e.g., theory,

framework, objectives, research

model, research design, and

analyses) support each other and

they are synthesized to make a

coherent whole.

Quality of written

communication

Writing style is immature and

lacks structure and

organization. There are

extensive spelling and

grammatical errors.

Writing style is not mature

and has limited structure and

organization. There are many

grammatical and spelling

errors.

Writing style is mature and has

some structure and organization.

There are some grammatical and

spelling errors.

Clear, concise, and logical writing

style. Writing flows naturally,

presenting information in a clear

and precise manner. Very few

grammar and spelling errors.

APPENDIX D. ANNUAL REVIEW OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS

ANNUAL PROGRESS REVIEW OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS

DEPARTMENT OF RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT

Student’s Name:

Faculty Advisor:

Reporting Period:

Please report your academic and professional progress in the following areas:

1. OVERALL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Term GPA

Fall semester:

Spring semester:

Cumulative GPA:

2. COURSE WORK

List courses that you have taken during this period and the grades earned for each course.

3. RESEARCH

List your conference presentation/proceeding, journal publication, and grant. List only your

work that has been done during the academic year. Do not list conference/journal papers

“under submission.” Use APA style.

4. TEACHING

Provide a brief reflection on your TA or teaching performance. Submit your teaching

evaluation (SAIS) if available.

5. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

List service provided to the profession such as a conference reviewer and service to

professional organizations.

6. AWARD

List internal and external award that you have received during the reporting period.

Please return this form with your current curriculum vita to Director of Graduate Studies

([email protected]) by May 31.

APPENDIX E. GRADUATE ASSISTANT WORK PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE

DEPARTMENT OF RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT

GRADUATE ASSISTANT WORK PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Student’s Name: ___________________________________ Semester _________Year _________

Supervisor’s Name: _________________________________ Course Assignment: _____________

Please evaluate the performance of each graduate assistant under your supervision using the scale below.

After completing the evaluation, discuss it with your graduate assistant and have the student sign below.

(3=Exceeding expectations, 2= Meeting expectations, 1=Below expectations, NA=Not Applicable)

Task Performance

Evaluation

Quality of work

Executed assignments according to a faculty supervisor’s instruction

Reliability/Dependability

Ability to accomplish assigned tasks

Willingness to learn new skills

Attention to detail

Attentiveness and vigilance in class and meetings with a faculty supervisor

Professionalism

Relations with faculty and students

Punctuality

Work ethic in a doctoral program

Problem-solving skills

Receptive to direction and constructive criticism

Overall Performance

Additional comments:

GA’s strengths

Areas to improve

I recommend

reappointment for this

student’s assistantship

______________________________ __________________________ __________________

Faculty Supervisor’s Signature GA’s Signature Date

APPENDIX F. UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE ONLINE RESOURCES

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

• Center for International Education (international.utk.edu)

• International House (ihouse.utk.edu)

• ITA Testing Program (tiny.utk.edu/ita-testing)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING

• Office of Graduate Training and Mentoring (gradschool.utk.edu/training-and-

mentorship)

• Best Practices in Teaching Program (tiny.utk.edu/bpit)

• UT Libraries Information for Graduate Students (libguides.utk.edu/graduate)

• Center for Career Development (career.utk.edu)

• Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center (teaching.utk.edu/utcirtl/)

FUNDING

• Costs and funding opportunities (tiny.utk.edu/grad-funding)

• Graduate Student Senate Travel Awards (gss.utk.edu/travel-awards)

• Financial Aid and Scholarships (onestop.utk.edu/financial-aid)

STUDENT RESOURCES

• Counseling Center (counselingcenter.utk.edu)

• departments and college websites

• Graduate School (gradschool.utk.edu)

• Graduation Deadlines (tiny.utk.edu/grad-deadlines)

• Graduate School Forms (gradschool.utk.edu/forms-central)

• Graduate Catalog (tiny.utk.edu/grad-catalog)

• Student obligations and appeals process (tiny.utk.edu/rights-obligations)

• Graduate Student Senate (gss.utk.edu)

• Office of Graduate Admissions (gradschool.utk.edu/admissions)

• Student Conduct and Community Standards (studentconduct.utk.edu)

• Office of Equity and Diversity (oed.utk.edu)

• Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking (sexualassault.utk.edu)

• Office of Multicultural Student Life (multicultural.utk.edu)

• Office of Research Integrity (research.utk.edu/compliance)

• Thesis/Dissertation Consultant (gradschool.utk.edu/thesesdissertations)

• Office of Information Technology (oit.utk.edu)