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Vol Study Center Policies

At the Vol Study Center, we are committed to providing our students with the most supportive environment to help them excel throughout their academic journey. To ensure all students have fair use of and access to our resources we have developed the following policies. Please see the policies below. If you have any questions, please email us at VolStudyCenter@utk.edu.

Appointment and Attendance Policy

  • Number of Study Sessions: Students may schedule up to three study sessions per class at any given time.
  • Advance Scheduling: Study sessions can be made up to three weeks in advance.
  • Duration: Each study session is 30 minutes long.
  • Attendance Method: Students have the option to choose in-person or virtual (via Zoom) study sessions.
  • Group Sessions: If two students are from the same class, they may choose to attend the same study session together. However, no more than two students are permitted in one session.

  • No-Show: A student will be marked as a “no-show” if they fail to arrive or if they are more than 10 minutes late for their study session.
  • Late Cancellation: A student will be marked as a “no-show” if they cancel within one hour of their study session.
  • Excessive No-Shows: After four “no-shows,” a student may lose the privilege to schedule study sessions.

  • Short Notice Period: To avoid loss of scheduling privileges, students must cancel at least six hours before their study session. Cancelling study sessions within the short notice period more than 3 times may lead to loss of scheduling study sessions privileges.
  • Excessive Cancellations: Cancelling more than six times over any period of time may also lead to the loss of scheduling privileges.

  • Students who have lost the privilege to schedule their own study sessions will be required to visit the Vol Study Center in person to schedule future study sessions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The Vol Study Center’s mission is to help students build confidence as learners – not just earn a passing grade in a course, though this is a welcome outcome. Our sessions foster collaborative learning and the development of critical thinking and study skills that will help students thrive. AI can aid in the learning process, but it is not meant to replace or supplant the originality of a student’s work.

The Vol Study Center is aware that Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is prevalent and accessible in society and at institutions of higher learning. Our staff is prepared to discuss AI technology with UTK students. However, we established certain criteria as safeguards for our staff and students regarding the use of AI in an academic setting.

Before engaging an AI platform (such as UT Verse, etc.), we ask students to provide the syllabus or written permission from the instructor for students/staff to be able to utilize it.

  • If an instructor approves the use of AI, we will follow the instructor’s guidelines.
  • If there is no policy, we will ask a student to verify with the instructor the approval to use an AI platform for instructional purposes only.

If Vol Study Center staff uses AI during study sessions or in developing lesson plans, they will use it ethically and appropriately. Examples of ethical and appropriate use are*:

  • Developing practice questions to review content with students.
  • Creating lesson plans and/or outcomes for SI, Review Rallies, or study sessions.
  • Exploring definitions or synonyms.
  • Creating instructional examples similar to the content in the lesson or course materials.
  • Rewording difficult concepts into more accessible language or “chunks” of information.
  • Using AI tools to help brainstorm, outline, or refine; the content must be generated by the student and citations will be incorporated where appropriate.

* This is not an exhaustive list.

Vol Study Center staff will not use AI to:

  • Find the answers to homework or quiz questions, write essays, or respond to instructor prompts, etc.
  • Use AI software to generate material without documenting which software was used, and for what purposes or for which material. Additional help regarding citations can be sought at the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center.
  • Write or create any materials that are presented as original work.

You can also view the Vol Study Center AI Policy document by clicking the button below.

Vol Study Center AI Policy

These policies will be reviewed annually but are subject to change at any time based on need, currency, and relevance. Please check back regularly for updates.