Thank you for your interest in visiting the Tickle College of Engineering! We can’t wait to have you on Rocky Top. In order to offer your group the best possible visit experience, we ask that you review the following guidelines prior to requesting your group tour. By requesting a group tour, you are agreeing to the following guidelines. We look forward to having you on campus!
General Information
Private group tours:
- May be scheduled year-round.
- Require a minimum of three weeks’ notice prior to scheduling.
- Consist of a 90-minute walking tour
- Available to high school and community-based organizations serving grades 9-12. (We may be able to accommodate middle school groups on a case-by-case basis.)
- Maximum tour size is 30 tour participants, including chaperones.
- Limited in March, July, and October due to peak tour season
Check-In
Your tour of the Tickle College of Engineering will begin and end on the ground floor of the Zeanah Engineering Complex, located at 863 Neyland Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996. Please instruct the bus driver(s) to drop your group off outside the ground floor entrance to the Zeanah Engineering Complex. Your group will then proceed into the building and will be greeted by their ambassadors.
Group Tour Parking
Small vehicles (cars, trucks, and mini vans) may use the Volunteer Hall Parking Garage (1545 White Avenue) for the duration of the visit. Parking in this garage can be validated at the UT Visitors Center (1502 Cumberland Avenue, Suite 282). Please note that the height clearance for this structure is 8’2”.
For large school or travel buses, bus parking is available at the UT Culinary Institute and Creamery (2712 Neyland Drive) or the UT Parking Office on Stevenson Drive.
Students may be dropped off and picked up by the bus driver outside of the Zeanah Engineering Complex.
Please note: Both the UT Culinary Institute and Creamery and the UT Parking Office are a substantial walk from the Zeanah Engineering Complex, so groups should not include the bus driver(s) as chaperones when planning their campus visit.
Timely Arrival
Please ensure that your group arrives on time for your tour. If your group arrives up to 15 minutes late, your tour may be abbreviated. If your group arrives more than 15 minutes late, we cannot guarantee that ambassadors will be available for your group; your group may instead be directed to pursue a self-guided tour. If your group is running late, please contact the Tickle College of Engineering at 865-974-4964 and provide the staff member with your group’s name, contact information, and expected time of arrival.
Cancellation Notice
If your group is no longer available to visit on your scheduled tour day, please provide at least one business days’ notice to the Tickle College of Engineering at 865-974-4964 or cometotce@utk.edu. The Office of Student Success is open weekdays from 8am-5pm.
Chaperones
The Tickle College of Engineering requires one chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones must accompany the group on the campus tour and are expected to ensure their students maintain order, good behavior, and attentiveness during the entire visit. The lead chaperone will need to provide a day-of-visit contact phone number that will be reachable throughout the campus visit in case of emergency. Please notify our office immediately if this person or phone number changes. Should the group arrive without an adequate number of chaperones, the campus tour will be cancelled.
Weather
Your group tour will include a substantial amount of walking outdoors. Please encourage each student/guest to dress appropriately. Tours continue, despite rain or snow, and each guest is expected to bring any weather appropriate gear they deem necessary – umbrellas, jackets, etc. In the event the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is closed, the Tickle College of Engineering will also be closed and all tours cancelled.
On-Campus Dining
If your group would like to have lunch at an on-campus dining hall as part of their visit experience, please contact the Vol Dining Office. These arrangements are not managed by the Tickle College of Engineering. The Vol Dining Office can be reached at 865-974-4111 or utdining@utk.edu.
Conduct
Please ensure that your organization’s participants show respect to the University, its faculty, staff, and students during the entire campus visit. Failure to do so may result in the early conclusion of the visit and may prohibit future visits by your school or organization.
The lead chaperone is expected to communicate the following guidelines to all student participants:
- Students will wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for inclement weather.
- Students will conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner.
- Students will use a voice level that is appropriate while inside campus buildings and classroom spaces.
- Students will not leave the group or chaperone(s) at any time during the visit.
- Students will be prepared to listen, ask questions, and engage with Tickle College of Engineering staff.
- Students will put all personal electronic devices on vibrate for the entire duration of the campus tour.
- Students that are deemed unruly or unmanageable by the Tickle College of Engineering staff will be asked to change their inappropriate behavior. If inappropriate behavior continues, the presentation, tour, or entire visit will come to an immediate end.