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Student Leadership & Engagement

University Honors offers highly accomplished students the opportunity to expand their curiosity, collaborate with peers, discover their life-career direction, hone their academic and leadership abilities, and make an impact in Tennessee and beyond. Students in University Honors find that they belong to a community of peers, faculty, and staff that share the same drive to challenge themselves and improve the world around them. We foster this sense of community, in part, through our signature student leadership and engagement programs:

  1. University Honors Peer Mentors
  2. University Honors Ambassadors
  3. Honors Student Engagement Council

If you would like more information on any of these opportunities and/or are interested in submitting an application, please refer to the dropdown tabs below. Note: The University Honors Peer Mentors application opens January 22, 2024.

University Honors Peer Mentors (PMs) serve as dedicated and encouraging role models, mentors, and resources for first-year honors students enrolled in UNHO 207: Complex Problems and Human-Centered Design. PMs collaborate with the seminar instructor, and, as representatives of University Honors, are responsible for attending their assigned section of UNHO 207 each week, providing academic support to their honors students, and meeting one-on-one with the students in their UNHO 207 section.

Peer mentors are required to complete UNHO 107, the Peer Mentor training course in the spring semester, as well as the honors course they are assigned to co-facilitate in the following Fall semester. The spring training course will begin the week of March 10th and conclude the week of May 5th. The overall commitment for this role includes Spring 2025 training and the following Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 academic year.

Peer Mentors receive biweekly compensation totaling at least $500 per semester of their involvement pending successful completion of all role responsibilities.

For more information about University Honors Peer Mentors, please email honors@utk.edu.

University Honors Ambassadors are selected each spring to serve as representatives of our programs at various events around campus. Throughout the academic year, Ambassadors are called upon to meet with prospective students during campus and attend various admissions events both on and off campus. As an Ambassador, students must participate in a weekly training course and have availability to participate in events on select weekends.

For more information about University Honors Ambassadors, please email honors@utk.edu.

Honors Student Engagement Council (HSEC) is a UH student-driven initiative that is open to all University Honors students. Each semester HSEC coordinates inclusive, innovative events and service opportunities for University Honors students to build connections and create community. 

If you have questions or want to get involved with HSEC, please email honors@utk.edu or HSEC President Anna Weis aweis3@vols.utk.edu.