A Brief History of the School of Information Sciences

Library and Information Sciences Education at the University of Tennessee

1928 - 1970

• 1928 - The College of Liberal Arts initiates an undergraduate
  Bachelor of Science library education program to prepare school
  librarians.
• 1944 - The College of Education creates the Department of
  Library Service.
• 1958 - The University authorizes the Department of Library
  Service to offer a Master of Science degree with a “major” in instructional
  materials.
• 1964 - UT approves a Master of Science with a concentration in
  library service in the Department of Library Service.

1971 - 1980

• 1971 - The independent Graduate School of Library and
  Information Science (GSLIS) is established and is housed in Temple Court.
  Gary Purcell is director, and the MSLS degree is offered. Three new
  doctoral faculty hired and a new curriculum is designed.
• 1972 - First distance education courses are offered off-campus
  in Chattanooga by visiting faculty members.
• 1973 - The American Library Association (ALA) accredits the
  GSLIS with accreditation, retroactive to 1971.
• 1989 - Jose Marie Griffiths receives a joint appointment as
  professor at GSLIS and Distinguished Scientist at Oak Ridge National
  Laboratory. This further strengthens a growing and important
  relationship.
• 1989 - The School establishes the Center for Information Studies
  to seek external funding for research.

1990 - 2000

• 1994 - GSLIS adopts a new curriculum, new degree program, and
  new name: School of Information Sciences. The name reflects the broader
  mission to prepare graduates for a wide range of information
  professions.
• 1996 - UT partners with the university’s Outreach Division to
  deliver the degree program by compressed video to four University of
  Virginia sites and to Tennessee students in Memphis, Chattanooga,
  Nashville, and upper East Tennessee.
• 1996 - First doctoral student with a concentration in
  information science admitted to the College of Communications.
• 1999 - Gretchen Whitney offers first complete SIS course, IS
  567, over the Internet.
• 1999 - SIS is ranked 20th best library program in US New and
  World Report “Best Graduate Schools” issue.

2000 - present

• 2000 - First class is admitted to fully Web-based SIS distance
  education degree program.
• 2000 - Faculty ranks 2nd among accredited schools in a study of
  LIS faculty research productivity.
• 2001 - First Ph.D. student to graduate with a concentration in
  Information Sciences.
• 2002 - School receives full-seven years of reaccreditation from
  the American Library Association.
• 2002 - The School joined with the former College of
  Communications to create the College of Communication and Information. The
  School moves out of Temple Court and into the Communications Building.
• 2004 - SIS faculty make significant curriculum revisions and
  updates.
• 2005 - Ed Cortez appointed director of school. (July 1)
• 2006 - The School launches the Undergraduate Minor in
  Information Studies & Technology
• 2006 - SIS is ranked 16th best library program in US New and
  World Report “Best Graduate Schools” issue.