Whether it’s an issue about pay or safety, employee representatives are always ready to listen. “We’re a voice for the employees,” said Valerah Hodges, chair of UT Chattanooga’s Employee Relations Committee. “They trust us, and so employees may come to us privately or as a group with an issue.” Representatives often find that administrators are … Continued
Learn about UT’s Tuition Waiver Benefit If you’ve been thinking about enrolling in for-credit courses offered by UT or a TBR institution, here’s a quick explanation of your tuition waiver benefit: Regular full-time employees can: Enroll in up to 9 hours of undergraduate or graduate courses per semester at any UT campus without paying tuition fees Enroll … Continued
Focusing on health and wellness begs the question, “How healthy are we?” Here’s a look at some statistics provided by the state’s Working for a Healthier Tennesseeinitiative. How do We Compare? Tennessee is the 44th healthiest state—just six spots from the bottom.1 Physical Activity Nearly two-thirds of Tennesseans get less than 2 ½ hours of aerobic … Continued
Ready to Quit? Quitting tobacco is difficult—and quitting for good often requires several attempts—but the benefits of quitting are significant, and the state of Tennessee offers a range of cessation services to help employees who want to quit. MORE THAN 23 PERCENT OF TENNESSEANS CURRENTLY SMOKE. NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 18.4 PERCENT1 1 IN 5 DEATHS IN THE U.S. IS DUE TO … Continued
Whether you may be experiencing divorce, loss of a loved one, financial crisis, or other personal issues, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to you. The program provides free, confidential counseling to help employees and family members in times of need. All regular UT employees working 75 percent time or more and their spouses … Continued
On average, phones in the Human Resources Call Center ring about 20,000 times a year—or seventy-seven times a day—and callers frequently have questions about benefits, retirement, policies, and employment. Dan Trentham leads the center, and chances are he’ll be the one who answers when you call. Following are parts of a discussion with Dan to see what it’s … Continued
By Alex Cate It’s been almost seven years since Roger McDonald’s nephew was killed during a shooting in Central High School’s cafeteria, but McDonald’s commitment to keeping his nephew’s memory alive only intensifies with each passing year. In 2011, he established the Ryan McDonald Toy Drive to ensure families throughout East Tennessee will have a … Continued
From volleyball team banquets to Lions Club dinners, Carole Thomas’ goal is to make it easy for her community to come together. As manager of UT Space Institute’s dining hall, known around town as “The View,” Thomas serves the Tullahoma community by offering superb food and service that have people from all over driving out … Continued
By Alex Cate Through acting, singing and dancing, Steve Ray is helping improve the lives of Chattanooga’s homeless population. Ray volunteers with a safe haven ministry run by the Salvation Army that offers refuge to the homeless during the day while shelters are closed. The ministry, ReCreate Café, also focuses on the social and spiritual … Continued
By Alex Cate Whether she’s helping teach disabled community members to cook or strengthening mother-daughter relationships through group meetings, Shelly Barnes says her job doesn’t feel like work. “Really it’s a service career that gives me a lot of enjoyment and excitement,” she said. As a UT Extension agent specializing in family consumer sciences, Barnes … Continued
