Fall Kickoff is your exclusive first step into life at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville!
This dynamic pre-orientation experience will be held August 11-15 and is designed specifically for students in the UT Success Academy, UT Promise on Rocky Top, Flagship Scholars, and Academy for Global Scholars.
Fall Kickoff is a free program and is your chance to jumpstart your college experience with purpose, preparation, and community.
“At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in an uncertain world, we believe in the potential of every student.”
-Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success
During Fall Kickoff, you’ll connect with fellow scholars, engage with campus leaders, and explore the essential resources that will support your success from day one.
You’ll build meaningful relationships, sharpen key academic and life skills, and discover what it means to be a part of the Volunteer family — grounded in tradition, driven by excellence, and united in purpose. We’ve packed the week with exciting events and plenty of fun to help you settle in and start making memories – Fall Kickoff sets the tone for an unforgettable college journey.
Come ready to learn, connect, and celebrate, and by the end of the week you’ll be ready to navigate college life with confidence and pride.
Kick Off Schedule
Monday, August 11
| Event Name | When | Where | What’s Happening? |
| Move-In | Residence Halls | Schedule Your Move-In Appointment in the Housing Portal. | |
| Check-In Opens | 5 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | Check in to Fall Kickoff |
| Family Dinner | 6 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | We’d like to invite you and your closest supporters to a Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of Fall Kickoff! Feel free to invite up to two supporters to attend with you! |
| Campus Tour | 7 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | Enjoy a specialized campus tour focused on academic resources hosted by our Orientation and Fall Kickoff Leaders. |
| Paint the Rock | 8 pm | The Rock | Participate in a favorite UT tradition! |
Tuesday, August 12
| Event Name | When | Where | What’s Happening? |
| Breakfast @ Rocky Top | 8:30 am | Rocky Top Dining Hall | Enjoy breakfast on your own at Rocky Top Dining. |
| Check In | 9 am | Student Union, Room 180 | Check in to our first event! |
| Authoring Your Story | 9:30 am | Student Union, Room 180 | Learn How to develop your own UT story in this personalized session led by Director of First-Year Experience Adam White. |
| Pump-Up and Overview of Fall Kickoff | 10:30 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Start off the morning with our Fall Kickoff leaders and learn what you can expect from this week. |
| Community Building-Escape Room | 11 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Participate in a fun activity to get to know your peers. |
| Lunch | 11:30 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Taco bar |
| Resource Fair | 12 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | Learn more about all the opportunities UT has available to support your academic journey. |
| Cohort Session | 1 pm |
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Connect with your program cohort and learn more about your specific programs. |
| CliftonStrengths at UT | 3 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | Learn how your individual strengths contribute to your academic success and wellbeing! Be sure to have taken your CliftonStrengths assessment before the session! |
| Break | 4:30 pm | ||
| Main Event Trip | 5:30 pm | Neyland Plaza | Meet at Neyland Plaza, outside the stadium, to catch the bus to Main Event and enjoy dinner, arcade, bowling, ropes course – lots of fun ahead! |
Wednesday, August 13
| Event Name | When | Where | What’s Happening? |
| Breakfast @ Rocky Top | 8:30 am | Rocky Top Dining Hall | Enjoy breakfast on your own at Rocky Top Dining. |
| Check In | 9 am | Student Union, Room 272 | |
| Morning Pump-Up | 9:30 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Start off the morning with our Fall Kickoff leaders! |
| Financial Wellness through Strengths | 9:45 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Learn how your unique strengths can support your financial wellness throughout college. |
| Community Building | 10:30 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Participate in a fun activity to get to know your peers. |
| Lunch | 11:15 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Hot dogs & burgers |
| Student Panels | 12 pm |
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Hear from current students about all the things you want to know about real life on Rocky Top. |
| Cohort Session | 1:30 pm |
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Connect with your program cohort and learn more about your specific programs. |
| Break | 3:30 pm | ||
| Vols for Life Welcome Dinner | 5 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | Enjoy a special dinner with University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd, UT Chancellor Donde Plowman, and members of the alumni family – Vols for Life! |
| New Vol Hangout | 6 pm | Student Union Plaza | Connect with other new Vols at this First-Year Experience event! |
Thursday, August 14
| Event Name | When | Where | What’s Happening? |
| Breakfast @ Rocky Top | 7-8:30 am | Rocky Top Dining Hall | Enjoy breakfast on your own at Rocky Top Dining. |
| Check In | 8:30 am | Student Union, Room 272 | |
| Morning Pump-Up | 9:30 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Start off the morning with our Fall Kickoff leaders! |
| Inspiration from Campus Leadership | 9:15 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Get inspired by Vice Provost for Student Success Amber Williams! Be sure to follow her on Instagram @utk.viceprovost! |
| Why Service? | 9:45 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Learn about the impact of service on our community AND your academic and career growth! |
| Service Projects | 10:15 am | Neyland Plaza | Participate in hands-on service in the Knoxville community. |
| Service Reflection | 2 pm | Circle Park | Spend some time with your group reflecting on your experiences and what you learned about yourself and your community. |
| Break | 2:30 pm | Get some rest and check off some things on your semester prep to-do list. | |
| Dinner @ Rocky Top | 5 pm | Rocky Top Dining Hall | Enjoy dinner on your own at Rocky Top Dining. |
| Big Orange Bingo | 6 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | Connect with other new Vols at this First-Year Experience event! |
Friday, August 15
| Event Name | When | Where | What’s Happening? |
| Breakfast @ Rocky Top | 7-9 am | Rocky Top Dining Hall | Enjoy breakfast on your own at Rocky Top Dining. |
| Check In | 9 am | Student Union, Room 272 | |
| Morning Pump-Up | 9:30 am | Student Union, Room 272 | Start off the morning with our Fall Kickoff leaders! |
| Academic Success Conference | 10 am |
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Participate in small-group sessions focused on academic skills to support your success this semester. |
| Lunch | 12 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | |
| Cohort Session | 1 pm |
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Connect with your program cohort to learn more about your specific program. |
| Closing Celebration | 3:30 pm | Student Union, Room 272 | Celebrate completing Fall Kickoff 2025! |
Big Orange Welcome Events
| Event Name | When | Where | What’s Happening? |
| New Vol Fest | Friday, August 15 at 7pm | HSS Plaza | Enjoy dinner and connect with other first-year Vols! |
| College Connect | Saturday, August 16 | Click here for the College Connect schedule. | |
| Breakfast @ Rocky Top | Saturday, August 16 7-9 am | Rocky Top Dining Hall | If you do NOT have a morning College Connect, enjoy breakfast at Rocky Top! |
| Lunch @ Rocky Top | Saturday, August 16 11 am-1pm | Rocky Top Dining Hall | If you do NOT have a morning College Connect, enjoy lunch at Rocky Top! |
| Tennessee Saturday Night | Saturday, August 16 at 7 pm | Student Union |
Food. Games. Prizes. Fireworks. Drone Show. DJ Sterl. Can you think of a better way to kickoff the academic year? |
| Breakfast @ Rocky Top | Sunday, August 17 7-9 am | Rocky Top Dining Hall | Breakfast available at Rocky Top! |
| New Vol Picnic | Sunday, August 17 at 12 pm | HSS Plaza | |
| Torch Night: A New Beginning | Sunday, August 17 at 6:30 pm | Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center |
For more events designed to get you ready to start your college career off strong, be sure to check out the full Big Orange Welcome schedule!
UT’s academic-support initiatives champion the success of every scholar, including ones that—based on current data—substantially benefit from personal engagement and community building. While programs change with evolving data, participation is open to all scholars.
Why Attend Fall Kickoff 2025?
- Start Strong: Learn about all the resources UT has available to support your success from day one.
- Find Your People: Make real connections with other students, mentors, and staff who are here to help you thrive.
- Own Your Success: Get tips on study habits, time management, and what it takes to succeed in college-level classes.
- Get Involved: Explore UT traditions, values, and ways to plug into campus life and make your mark.
- Feel at Home: Enjoy a week full of fun events, games, and activities that help you feel comfortable, connected, and excited to be a Vol.
Reach Out to Your Contact Rep for Questions
- UT Success Academy – Donovan Johnson (djohn217@utk.edu)
- UT Promise on Rocky Top – Megan King (mhoak@utk.edu)
- UT Flagship Scholars – Ali Smith (dssevents@utk.edu)
- Academy of Global Scholars – Carrera Romanini (carrera@utk.edu)
FAQ’s
- Fall Kickoff is FREE!
- All meals during Fall Kickoff are provided at no cost.
- For Fall Kickoff programming you will need comfortable/active clothes and shoes, your laptop/device, and any notetaking items you prefer. We provide everything else for the program!If you’ll be moving into your room on campus, you can check out University Housing’s What to Bring page.
- After you have selected your room in the Housing Portal, sign up for your move-in appointment and select that you are participating in Fall Kickoff.The portal will then allow you to sign up for a move-in appointment on August 11.
- Register for Fall Kickoff.
- Check out the Move-In To-Do List for more details!
Click here to see the full College Connect schedule.