High Quality

Research.

High impact

outreach.

Mission

The mission of the Education Research & Opportunity Center at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is to produce high-quality research, conduct high-impact outreach, and promote effective policies and practices that increase educational success and opportunity.

Vision

Our research informs our outreach; our outreach informs our research. Our research and outreach inform–and is informed by–our strategic partnerships with policymakers, education systems and advocates. Together, we help schools and students succeed by improving policies and practices across the classroom-to-career pipeline.

Our Vision

Research

Our research, technical assistance and evaluation expertise span the classroom to career pipeline, from early childhood to adult education. Learn more about our work, our nationally recognized faculty and our commitment to producing timely, solutions-oriented research.

Outreach

We are home to five thriving, U.S. Department of Education TRiO outreach and student services programs, each designed to increase college access and success for first-generation, low-income students in the East Tennessee and surrounding rural areas.

Recent News

Second Chances: EOC’s Support for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

by Karina Beltrán For the past two years, the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) has been dedicated to empowering formerly incarcerated individuals by providing them with the educational guidance and career resources needed to successfully reintegrate into society. Many of these individuals face unique challenges upon reentry, including limited job opportunities, restricted access to higher education, […]

14th Annual Big Orange STEM Saturday (BOSS) Conference

On January 25, 2025 the UTK High School Upward Bound Programs teamed up with Dr. Thura Mack, the UTK Assistant Dean of the Libraries’ Community Services and Engagement department and Coordinator of Community Learning Services and Diversity Programs to host the 14th Annual Big Orange STEM Saturday (BOSS) Conference. BOSS is a one day professional […]

Kentucky & Tennessee TRiO Fall Conference 2024: A Milestone Event in Chattanooga

The 2024 Kentucky and Tennessee TRiO Fall Conference, held from October 27 to 30 in the vibrant city of Chattanooga, marked a milestone event for educators, administrators, and program leaders. This gathering brought together professionals dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for first-generation, low-income, and disabled students through TRiO programs. The conference offered an engaging blend […]