The University has made some difficult decisions to help protect students, faculty, staff and our community. With the spread of COVID-19 and the transition to online courses comes a lot of uncertainty. Standing through difficult times together creates a bond that cannot be replicated. Already, I have been amazed by the dedication, care and support the finance faculty and staff have demonstrated to help the Finance Department transition to online education. The definition of a volunteer is a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. I wish you could witness the Volunteer Spirit I have seen over the past week as your faculty and staff have worked to move all our courses online and to help you, our students, be successful. I invite you to join us as Volunteers, freely offering to take part in the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee as we undertake this task together. We understand there is disappointment in not being able to spend the remainder of your semester with other students, a potential sense of isolation and anxiety over online evaluations, among other things. While we cannot control the situation, we can control how we react to it. Encourage each other, and stay connected through social media, Zoom, or some other platform. Encourage your faculty. Faculty and staff want to provide an environment for you to be successful, and they are learning new technology at a rapid pace. We are in uncharted waters, and open, positive communication is important. You have received many messages from HCB, UT and your instructors to help you be prepared, but there will be glitches. The Finance Department is embracing the pictured saying. Let us embrace this task together, and get it done!

Tracie Woidtke
Department Head | Finance
David E. Sharp/Home Federal Bank Professor in Banking & Finance