KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (TVC) – The University of Tennessee now has a college for innovators. 

The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies held its dedication ceremony on Tuesday. Present were UT administrators, deans of other colleges and students. A set of drones helped with the ribbon-cutting. After the ceremony, Kilic, Plowman and guests interacted with robots in their walk through the basement of the Claxton Complex. 

Speaking to the audience, Chancellor Donde Plowman said the college “was the wackiest thing we’ve done yet.” 

CECS, as known on campus, offers majors in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science. The college has worked with the College of Communication and Information, Haslam College of Business and Tickle College of Engineering to enhance opportunities on campus. 

“I’m hoping we will lean more into this success,” Ozlem Kilic, CECS Dean, said, “and show the rest of the world that higher ed can actually … work together to launch things timely.”